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“HAVE YOU ever felt God tell you to do something, and he just won’t leave you alone about it?” Amanda Carrasco asked. “That’s pretty much how this started.”
Carrasco is a 30 year old, happily married mother of two who will be graduating
with a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Life Bible College in April 2010.
She had become aware of a American web ministry called XXXChurch.com, and
wondered if some of its personnel would be interested in ministering at a major
Vancouver event aimed at promoting pornography.
She sent an email to the ministry; but she got no response, and figured she had
done her part.
But “that just wasn’t enough for God,” she recalled. The assistant pastor at her church – Northside Foursquare in Port Coquitlam – gave a sermon, asking: “If you knew God was coming in one year, what would you do?”
Carrasco’s answer was, “I would be at the porn show in November.” She knew she had to keep trying.
Carrasco wrote XXXChurch again, and also made an appointment to see her pastor.
Both responded positively.
As a result, a team of Christians will have a booth at the annual Taboo Naughty
But Nice Sex Show, scheduled November 5 – 8 at Canada Place.
They will be there to counteract the show’s message in a non-confrontational manner, offering those in attendance a way
out of the increasingly popular trap of pornography.
They will be handing out Bibles, and telling the crowd of 45,000 people that
Jesus loves them – no matter what their involvement with porn.
XXXChurch was founded in January 2002 by Mike Foster and Craig Gross, as a means
of reaching out to people addicted to pornography.
The ministry goes to churches, sex shows and the media, offering help to those
who are addicted, and advice to those who are merely tempted.
For the Vancouver show, XXXChurch will provide two trainers and all the needed
supplies. The booth at the show will be staffed by Carrasco and a team of eight
local trained volunteers.
They will give out scripture, stickers and temporary tattoos to patrons and
vendors.
They will also take advantage of opportunities for discussion and/or prayer, and
make referrals for people who need help.
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Carrasco said the initiative requires mature Christians to staff the booth – people who are able to resist temptation and maintain their focus on bringing
the gospel message into such a challenging context, in a non-threatening or
condemning way.
The team also needs to raise $8,640 to cover renting the booth and other costs.
Northside Church has agreed to handle processing donations for the effort.
Even more important, Carrasco suggested, are churches and individuals who will
cover the entire effort with prayer support.
When XXXChurch approached the organizers of the sex show, the Taboo officials
said they knew about the web ministry. Further, they enthusiastically welcomed
XXXChurch participation in the show – and, remarkably, imposed no restrictions.
That can only be explained as “the favour of God,” Carrasco asserted, adding: “Why else would a porn show want a bunch of Christians there?”
Anyone interested in helping can contact Carrasco at tabooministry@gmail.com.
– Jim Coggins
October 2009
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