SEX WEEK AT YALE

We welcome you to XXXCHURCH. If you are visiting after hearing about us on The Nightline Face Off with Craig Gross and Ron Jeremy. You can watch the FULL DEBATE on ABCNews.com We thank you for checking the site out. Let us know what you thought about the debate!

X3 is a worldwide movement to talk openly and honestly about the issue of pornography. If you need some back story to who we are and what the Porn Debate is check out ABC News Article - "XXXchurch Founder: Porn Is Fantasy, Not Reality"

Some people started posting on ABC's website and emailing us at XXXchurch about Donny Pauling. I have know Donny for years and have plenty of emails from Donny saying things in his anger towards the church. In fact, the night before Donny gave his life to the Lord he posted on his website about how God does not even exist. All that to say, I stand by Donny and have personally seen his life change in front of me. This is not a scam. And trust me Donny is not doing this for the money. He is not paid on staff at XXXchurch and works a new business in the automobile industry.  Donny posted this in February of 2006 on an adult website months before his conversion. I was with Donny this morning in Orlando and I read this out loud to the men there and Donny talked about it.
 "My Evil Plan to go Mainstream....I'm going to go to a big church, get radically "saved", write a book about how God delivered me from producing porn, and tour all the churches in the country... making mad money from the saints."

Like I said, this was from February 2006 and reflected Donny's hurt at the time towards the church. People are trying to use this against him now. Trust me he said more things then this....please people tell us something we do not know. Donny is on the next Dirty Little Secret Podcast so listen to it next week.

This just in......

Wes Dupin, Pastor at Daybreak Church in Grand Rapids had this to say after attending the debate at Yale - I was introduced to Craig by my youngest son who served as my Student Ministries Director at Daybreak Church. He said, “Dad, you have to meet this guy and get him to speak at Daybreak.” At first I was a little apprehensive of using the pastor of xxxchurch.com but when my friend Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill, used him I felt safe. I determined then and there to do all I could to encourage this young preacher of God to give it all he had. I wished I had enlisted him earlier. Craig not only delivered a moving message but returned to speak at Porn and Pancake Breakfast with over 600 men and teens in attendance. He later spoke at my Creative Infusion Conference with a standing room only of pastors. His presence along with his teaching changed not only my mind but the lives of many of our people.

Craig invited me to go with him to debate Ron Jeremy at Bowling Green University in Ohio. I was deeply impressed with the debate on what porn has done to our culture. I had the second opportunity to accompany Craig at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. The Porn debate between Craig Gross and Ron Jeremy was filmed by ABC News Nightline to be aired the next week, hosted by Martin Bashir. This was the culmination of campus activities entitled “Sex Week at Yale.” I could not get out of my mind that this school had been started 200 years ago as a preacher training college. I wondered what the old preacher Jonathan Edwards, who delivered the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” would think if he were alive on campus for the debate? Wow!

The old hall we were using for the debate looked like it could have served another era as a church but now it was being used for an earlier lingerie show put on by the Yale students. I was quite impressed when I heard Nightline host Martin Bashir comment somewhat under his breath, “I don’t want to be in here for that,” to which he exited. After that show the cameras, lights and sound were all moved in by ABC News. Martin Bashir stood up and made this announcement, “I would like for all who are here to give their total respect to all points of view.” It was quiet momentarily and then he introduced Ron Jeremy and Monique Alexander to which there was thunderous applause. I knew then we were in for an interesting debate. Craig Gross and recently converted to Christ follower Donny Pauling were introduced with respectful applause.

I sat on the front row squarely in line with Craig as if to say I am here to stand in the line of fire. I kept praying that God would give Craig and Donny clarity of thought and the ability to communicate effectively. They were both on. God used them both to speak God’s love in an intelligent and winsome way. By the end you could tell that their message of hope and a better way to live had penetrated this young audience of intellectuals. The college student who sat next to me told me that he entertained himself with at least an hour of internet porn 5 – 6 days a week and would use this opportunity to pleasure himself. He kept his hand up for Nightline Host Martin Bashir to call on. Near the end he got his question, “Donny Pauling, what changed your life from a life of producing porn to a life of abstaining from porn?” You could hear a pin drop. That was the moment that God used in a powerful way to speak to minds forming opinions. God has set him free, no longer bound by addictive behavior and living a life of guilt. What a transforming moment!

Finally, I want to say a word about Ron Jeremy and Monique Alexander. I have spent several hours on two different occasions with Ron. I have found a man who is highly intelligent with a huge desire to hear the truth. The truth about God and his forgiveness. I believe someday the impact that Craig Gross and his ministry has, will love him into God’s Kingdom. Monique Alexander was well-dressed and very cordial to me as a minister. She shared how as a young girl she would often attend church youth camps and continues to have questions about God and religion.

I believe there is great hope that God is working through men like Craig and Donny and the xxxchurch.com to start a spiritual awakening in the porn industry that will eventually move to the church pew. Who knows how God might use Craig Gross like He choose to use shoe salesman like D.L. Moody or a baseball player like Billy Sunday or a dairy farmer’s son like Billy Graham. He might even choose to use a young evangelist like Craig Gross. What a future!

Wes Dupin, Lead Pastor of Daybreak
www.daybreak.tv

weiszguy wrote on February 29th 08 at 05:18PM

Is there any more of this debate? I watched part one and part two, but it seems as if the debate is only half over. Please let us know when the remainder of the debate will be published.

Suricou Raven wrote on February 29th 08 at 06:09PM

"Porn Is ‘Fantasy, Not Reality’"

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

dave wrote on February 29th 08 at 06:44PM

Who would have thought that X3 would have gone this far!

I'm pumped!

Way to go craig! Praise Jesus.

dave

Charter Wells, Jr. wrote on March 1st 08 at 06:58AM

What exactly is pornography? A photograph of any beach today would have been considered pornographic back in 1950 when I was a 16 year old boy. Many of my peers regard the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated or a Victorias Secret catalogue as pornographic. Others find now problem with an X rated movie showing frontal nudity. So where is the line?

Someone more wise than I once commented, "I can't define pornography, but I know what it is when I see it."

Mike wrote on March 1st 08 at 08:56AM

Dear Craig and Donny,
God bles you for standing on the front line in this spiritual war. When the Apostle Paul would preach the Gospel in the pagan and idolitry filled cities that he traveled to he encountered great resistance and persercution, but he always reached some with the love of Chirst. I've learned in my walk with Christ that I don't need to try to convince anybody about their need for Christ. I just need to present the Gospel, for the word of the Lord will not return void. The word of the Lord will either save or condem. God has said that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursings, choose life. For we are planters and waters and God makes the increase. I will be praying for you and your ministry.
Your brother in Christ
Mike Doolan

leonard wrote on March 1st 08 at 10:40AM

I watched the program last night. One thing that made me sad was when some of the young people said that they will still watch porn because they were not persuaded by what was said in the debate. Unfortunately, I was not fully persuaded myself, and Christ delivered me from porn 10 years ago. Plus, I was a homosexual. What I have learned when talking to people about such subjects is that statistics do not work. When presenting Christ to others, make it personal. While doing so, inject what Christ can do for them because NO ONE can successfully argue with EXPERIENCE. Just keep preaching the gospel, it will do whatever God intend for it to do.

betsy wrote on March 1st 08 at 12:42PM

I started my own personal battle against sex, drugs, rock'n'roll some years ago when my ex started wearing a bar shirt with a stylized nude woman on it that served as the bar's logo. It gave me a glimpse of the cultural demon I was fighting. Don't get me wrong - I did drugs, I still like some rock'n'roll but the whole idea of a woman or man as just a tool or means to an end and not a person totally angered me. My then husband not understanding my positgion angered me and in a way I becamd David facing Goliath. "Who is is this uncircumcised Philistine?" I know you were Daniel in the Lion's den. I don't agree that Yale represents America's brightest and most intelligent minds of the next generation. I think that is rediculous. They just bought into the idea that most expensive = smarter. My ex was considered a genius but he had no common sense. Any way there is a hierarchy of principalities that covers the ne area of this country that uses education and intellectualism to wall out the gospes and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I have been praying and am seeing the strongholds falling. The fact that what's his name said he would prefer his daughter to become president of the us first, and it wasn't even his second choice for his daughter - showed he, truly in his heart of hearts, didn't care for his life. but his back was up against the wall and if you had more time, who knows? The important thing is the seed is planted. Sex wkend or whatever is going on at colleges all over the country. OU had a thing called sex before breakfast which was a film or 2 of a more explicit nature. Whether we debate virginity or any other sexual issue the physical has gotten so interwined or focused on on instead of the heart issue - the pure of heart - the issue of sin vs righteousness is always the true focal point. WE can present and present the cost of sin - the cases you mention - but unless seen and heard they have little impact. Sex is now a form of recreation instead of the triune communication between a man and a woman - rejoined in true perfection to the honor and glory of God. So keep up the good fight keeping your eye on the mark of your high calling. Do not be disheartened. all will bow to the name of Jesus in the end but they will fight until that time.

Mike wrote on March 1st 08 at 11:06PM

I remember finding your guys website back around 2003 or 2004 I can't remember. Nevertheless I can't believe how God has used you all in a major way. If 3X church wasn't around there probably would have been no debate about porn at yale. I pray that God continues to use you guys to bring the truth of Jesus to a lost and dying world.

Jackie Jerles wrote on March 2nd 08 at 10:00PM

I was very disappointed in the youth at Yale University, but I also know that it takes sometime for ideas to change. I am a bit older than the students, but I would like to give my input on how I have felt in the past. When allowing my husband and or boyfriend, to view porn, I never felt I could be what they were watching. I felt left out. I did not feel any connection and do NOT see it as an aid in a relationship, but rather a barrier. I became bulemic and anorexic. I had to drink to hide the pain I was feeling, just so he would be happy.I felt dirty ugly and much less than. They never looked at me that way, and I am not a bad looking person. But I am not perfect. I finally asked myself, how can it be a loving experience when you have to have someone else involved? My hunch is that I was not alone and many of the women allowing themselves and their significant other to engage in porn, have more problems than the porn stars. It is very refreshing to see you guys and your mission. What you may want to focus on in some aspect is the effect that it has on an older population, than the late teens, early twenties, who are still struggling with hormones and finding values in their lives. It really discussed me that the two porn members were so focused on money, that they could care less about individuals feelings and lives. I pray that God will one day open their eyes. Thanks for all you do.
Sincerely,
Jackie

PS. Have you ever read the book the Mismeasure of Women. There are some stats in there that are good.

OA wrote on March 3rd 08 at 02:49PM

Great debate guys. Keep putting the word out there for those who still think porn is okay.

I read about the death of UK porn baron Paul Raymond today. The report ends thus:

But money did not buy him happiness. His marriage broke up acrimoniously after an affair with the model, Fiona Richmond.

He was estranged from his son, and his daughter Debbie, who ran his empire for a time, died aged 36 from a drugs overdose in 1992.

He ended his life a virtual recluse in a penthouse flat behind the Ritz Hotel.

You can read the full article via: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7275177.stm

(Can someone post the above info on Paul Raymond on the ABC Nightline page relating to this debate? Would have done so but it was difficult creating a user account from outside the US)

I pray God's love will reach Ron, Monique and everyone else caught in this.

Craig, love you for your non-judgmental, love-filled approach. Keep the faith.

Millie Gaebe wrote on March 3rd 08 at 07:07PM

I saw your show at Yale, and I must say please do not stop helping girls or anyone in this horrible way of life.
Show them that God loves them and forgives them. That sick fella that has been part of the porn shows is just a servant of Satan.
please do not stop your church, and help the people who are caught up in this sick life. You will be rewarded by Our Lord Jesus Christ and Savior.

Ben Pun wrote on March 3rd 08 at 11:31PM

Craig and Donny, you guys did a great job. I was sad to see you guys basically get pummeled by the audience. They seemed predisposed to attack your case. I would like to see Ron Jeremy's stats and your stats, because it seems you were contradicting each other; how many in the porn industry admit to being hurt by it? But all in all, i just wanted to commend you guys for staying calm and civil for the most part even with such a hostile crowd.

David Olivier wrote on March 9th 08 at 11:05AM

I just wanted to comment on the following quote from Donny Pauling shown above:

”My Evil Plan to go Mainstream….I’m going to go to a big church, get radically “saved”, write a book about how God delivered me from producing porn, and tour all the churches in the country… making mad money from the saints.”

Even if it is a reflection of his motive to this day, he is still doing a tremendous amount of good and so what if he gets rich doing it. One of the inherent problems with capitalism is that it often financially rewards the wrong behaviors. As a porn producer, he was getting financially rewarded for producing a product that destroying lives. As an ex-porn producing church touring, book writing pastor; he helps restore peoples lives regardless of whether he personally buys into it and saves his own. I don't have a problem with him making "mad money from the saints" who find what he does useful and helpful. If financial rewards actually were aligned with the net benefits provided to others, Donny would make more money saving souls than he would producing porn and such rewards would be deserved. I think it is unfortunate that things don't really work out that way.

Craig and Donny, thank you for all that you do. While you may are may not ever be adequately rewarded financially in this life for your efforts, it certainly would not be wrong if you were. Assuming there really is an after life and a just God, you probably will be highly rewarded then.

Suricou Raven wrote on March 15th 08 at 01:25PM

Someone more wise than I once commented, "I can't define pornography, but I know what it is when I see it."

That would be Justice Potter Stewart in Jacobellis v. Ohio. What he actually said was "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that."

This extremally vague definition remained case law until Miller.