Pornography is not just a problem in the secular world-it's invaded the Christian church as well, devastating marriages and tearing families apart.
In response to this serious epidemic, a group of Christian filmmakers have created a DVD curriculum called the "Conquer Series," a five week program which teaches men how to conquer porn addiction and find freedom through Biblical counsel and guidance.
"The shocking statistics were the game-changer for me," director Jeremy Wiles told Christian Newswire, referencing a recent survey which revealed that 50% of pastors and 68% of Christian men confessed to looking at online porn on a weekly basis.
"So, we spent two years developing a 5-hour discipleship curriculum, interviewing top Christian leaders on this subject and shooting battle reenactments to illustrate the war that every man faces with sexual temptation. I wanted to give men proven principles on how to find freedom. We can be the generation that changes the statistic," adds Wiles.
Dr. Ted Roberts, a former U.S. Marine fighter pilot, hosts the Conquer Series, which features the bold tagline, "The battle plan for purity." A former pastor and head of Pure Desire Ministries, Dr. Roberts has counseled men for over 30 years -- mainly dealing with pornography issues.
"Our goal with the Conquer Series is to give men a battle plan for purity. We've got a great tool here that will change lives, but we need pastors to partner with us to fight this battle," Dr. Roberts said.
The Conquer Series website states that the program "is not about behavior modification, but heart transformation." The 5-week curriculum provides insights from top Christian leaders, pastors and scientists who give Biblical strategies and practical advice to teach men how to maintain sexual purity. Each video also features cinematic reenactments of real experiences in Dr. Roberts' life, such as aerial fights over Vietnam.
Although discussing the problem of porn within the church has historically been taboo, its devastating effects on the family have lately caused it to become a frontline issue.
"It's ruining marriages, destroying relationships, harming youth, and hurting the body of Christ," Pastor Charles Swindoll lamented, calling it the #1 secret problem within the church. "Our churches are in trouble. This is no time to simply wait and pray."
Dawn Hawkins, executive director of Morality in Media, says that the kind of videos the porn industry produces has grown more violent in recent years due to its popularity among consumers.
"Spousal violence is also one of our greatest concerns - the husband consuming violent porn and then living out the pornographic scenes in his marriage," said Hawkins.
"It's destroying families. Children are becoming a lot more involved," said Hawkins
Wiles says he believes the Conquer Series-which is the first of its kind-will be significant in reducing the problem of pornography within churches and empower Christian men to resist sexual temptation.
"Pornography is a really tough subject for a lot of pastors to openly confront," said Wiles. "This cinematic Series will give them confidence that they can restore men using proven Bible-based principles."
Paul Cole, President of Christian Men's Network, also endorsed the series, saying, "When the Conquer Series begins to be a part of who we are, it will begin to change what we do and who we are as a church."
Learn more about Conquer Series at http://www.conquerseries.com/
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