Meet Joshua Broome
My name is Joshua Broome, and I have been in over 1,000 pornographic films, won various awards, traveled the world, and grossed over a million dollars. Some may have thought that I had it all, but during this time I was close to taking my life.
Joshua’s Childhood
I grew up in a small town outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. My mom gave birth to me when she was 16, and even though I lived in the same city as my father, we did not have a relationship as I grew up. My mother and I lived with her parents and siblings until she met a man who swept her off her feet. Unfortunately, that same man physically and mentally abused me under the influence of heavy drugs, which left us broken, poor, and abandoned yet again.
We moved into government housing, and then eventually some nicer apartments. My mom was a fighter, and I am alive today because she instilled in me an attitude of mental fortitude that did not allow me to give up. There was a two-sided coin of that, though, because as resilient as I was, I equally felt inadequate, incapable, and overlooked. My feelings of rejection both scared me and fueled me. It caused me to outwork most people, but it also made it so hard to believe in myself.
My childhood was relatively normal. I had friends; I played sports and eventually went to college. Like a lot of people, I embraced the freedom that came with college. I partied hard, I joined a frat, I hooked up with as many girls as I could, and I worked part-time jobs along the way. But, there was always something inside me that caused me to cheat on girlfriends, leave friends hanging, not show up, and find any way I could to self-destruct any opportunity or relationship I had in my life. Wrong turn after wrong turn somehow aligned with me quitting college, selling my jeep, and finding myself getting off a plane in Los Angeles, California.
Life Took an Unexpected Turn
When arriving in Los Angeles, I stayed in a hotel for the first few days, and then, I found myself buying a wrap at McDonald’s, where my debit card was declined for insufficient funds. Luckily, I found a job working at a restaurant/bar to make enough money to share an apartment with someone I didn’t even know. I was making a decent amount of money there, and then one night, a group of girls asked me if I had ever considered acting. I had done various modeling and acting jobs since I was 15, and I had aspirations of that becoming my career. They were talking about pornographic movies. I had watched porn a lot, and it seemed exciting to be part of that industry.
Joshua Becomes a Porn Actor
Next thing I knew, I was signing a contract with the most prominent adult agency, and I was promised endless fame and fortune, which made me feel seen. I have always struggled with acceptance. I was manipulated into believing I was going to fulfill my destiny. I did one film, and then another, and then another.. several years later, I had done over 1,000. I had won performer of the year and even starred on the AVN Awards Show on Showtime. My friends saw that, which led to my uncles, aunts, grandparents, mom, and every person I knew. I went from being proud of the awards I kept on a shelf in my living room to embarrassed realizing what I had done with my life. The shame and guilt rose to a point where I wasn’t numb to what I was doing anymore.
The level of manipulation by agents, directors, and all those around me was suddenly apparent. But, I truly believed that I had ruined my life to the point of no return. So, I continued to say yes to the desires and the need to be accepted. I never was attracted to guys, but they were to me. The idea of doing gay porn and the new level of fame, the money, the praise, and the attention all somehow made logical sense to me. The first time I did the things you would do to make one of these movies left me feeling incredibly ashamed. The additional free time that came with being a big contract star and extra money didn’t lessen the pain. It went on for about six months, and then one day, I found myself praying to a God I vaguely knew to let me die. I was humiliated and had let my family down. I was sure they were embarrassed and wanted nothing to do with me.
Wake Up Call
One day, I walked into a bank to deposit a check, and the clerk said, “Joshua, is there anything else I can do for you?” Because I was typically referred to by my stage name, this was the first time I had heard my real name in months, years actually. I woke up. I saw myself as someone who was broken and needed reality. I needed my mom. She welcomed me with open arms after I gave my apartment and everything but my clothes away to the first person I could find to take over my lease.
Joshua Encounters Jesus
Now I was somewhere else and could forget about all I did. But, it was only a few days until customers at the grocery store I worked at recognized me. I then took a job at a gym, but soon enough, everyone knew my secret. I tried for years to run from my past. I tried so hard to hide and forget, but it kept coming up. I had met a girl that was so pure, so perfect, so exciting, but I just knew, like many people, she would be disgusted with me if she knew. I was ready for rejection, so I told her everything. I told her all my dark secrets and her response…? She asked me if I knew who God was. She didn’t see my past, but she saw my potential. She told me that Jesus died so that I could live a different life.
That was Easter Sunday five years ago. We went to church, and I heard a sermon about a God who loved me despite my failures. He loved me, yes, a filthy sinner, so much that He wrapped Himself in flesh and came to earth to live a perfect life and then die a death that I deserved. He took on my sins and then defeated sin and death when He rose on the third day. Because of this, I have been given a new life! I am a new creation because Christ died for me.
The thing I had longed for was not fame, it was not an earthly father, it was not money, but it was Jesus who filled and restored my broken life. That woman who shared the gospel with me, we have been together ever since. We have endured countless attacks and hurts because of my past, but we’ve had far more victories. We have been married for four years, we have two sons, and I’ve been called into ministry. I have been a pastor for the last year. I’ve led many people out of darkness and have helped them walk into the light. I’ve shown them how to move past their past and live a shame-free life. The freedom that is available through a relationship with Jesus is the thing that led me out of darkness, and into my God-given purpose.
If God Did it For Joshua, He Can Do it For You Too
God is just getting started with my story, and I am excited to see where He takes us next. I have loved being a pastor within a church, but I want to spend my life reaching those who are in disbelief that there is a way out, a better experience, and a new beginning. If God has done it for me, then surely He can do it for you too!
2 Corinthians 5:17 says that the old is gone and the new is here! I pray that my story leads many to move past their failure and step into the life they were made to live. All of this is possible through a relationship with Jesus. As you take your eyes off you and place them on Him, He will teach you how to live the life you were created to live. Why? Because He is your creator. What better way to discover our purpose than to spend time with the one who created us for purpose? Next time you feel shame, remember my story. Remember that if God could give me a second chance at life, then He can do it for you too. You are not a product of your past; you are a product of God’s grace. You can walk in freedom and victory also.