Jesus Loves Porn Stars Too

When Discovery Christian Reformed Church of Bowmanville, Ontario, sent a group of people to Toronto’s Everything to Do with Sex show, it certainly raised eyebrows. Even the local newspapers covered it.

Discovery CRC got involved with the show through a partnership with xxxchurch.com, a web-based ministry to people in the porn industry and those addicted to pornography. “This is the first time that xxxchurch.com has come to Canada,” said Discovery’s pastor, Rev. Martin Spoelstra. “They needed a church to partner with them at the show, to provide a team of volunteers to hand out Bibles.”

Wayne DeBoer was one of the volunteers recruited to hand out Bibles emblazoned with the slogan “Jesus Loves Porn Stars,” at the show. “The first 15 minutes or so I felt really awkward because I wasn’t sure how to go about handing out the Bibles,” DeBoer said. “After that, though, I relaxed because I realized I didn’t have to worry about anything. God was with me at the show. I put a smile on my face and cheerfully went to work.”

DeBoer said he and other volunteers handed out 2,500 Bibles during the show. “Some people avoided us like the plague,” he said, “but the vast majority of people were smiling when they left our booth. Many were genuinely interested in what a church was doing at the show and willing to talk to us about it.”

 “xxxchurch was able to meet several women involved in the porn industry and put them in contact with the Esther Fund, which helps people get out of the porn industry by providing legal aid, job-skills training, and living expenses,” DeBoer said. “We were able to encourage people who are struggling with their faith and porn addictions.”

Spoelstra admits that his congregation’s involvement was unusual, but, he said, people attending and involved in the show need Jesus too. “We can’t make this industry go away, but we can be there for people who are looking for an alternative. We can help them find hope in Christianity—even in a place like that.”