TORONTO PORN SHOW

BRANDON
We are back from Toronto and it was a great time. The highlights for me were of course seeing people rave about the bibles and them almost being completely gone on Friday night of the show. Our team which included a few volunteers from a local church in the greater Toronto area was stellar and interacted with every person as they were the most important in the world.

Joy was a retired lady who helped at the show. Who would think that a lady at her age would be willing to skip church and go to a porn show on Sunday. It was a incredible to see her in action at the show. The stark reality is there were many her age in attendance at show. Toronto was definitely the broadest audience we have seen at a show. From eighteen years of age to retirement they were there. I am amazed at what God does in midst of every porn show and what he did this weekend among fifty thousand strong in Toronto.

CLINT
Back from Toronto, it was a good time, good time, gooood time. Throughout the show we did several TV and radio show interviews, getting asked all sorts of questions, “Is there really a Christian Porn Site?”, “Does Jesus really love porn stars?”, but the main question thrown at us; “How are you received here?”. Everyone wanted to know how we were treated inside the show, most assuming that we were ridiculed or ignored, but the response inside the show was better than most of our experiences outside. We were questioned with respect on what we do which was refreshing and allowed for great conversations and new relationships. I’m hopeful to see what comes out of our time spent on the porn show floor.

KRISSEE
My experience attending the porn show was honestly life changing. Going into it I was very nervous and I was also unsure of what my role was going to be, but as soon as we walked in to the show things seemed to fall in to place. I was there to talk to people, to make friends, to be approachable… to be a light in a very dark place.

As the only girl in the group I decided to walk around and befriend some of the other female exhibitors at the show. I introduced myself, gave them some JLPS bibles and invited them to come back and hang out at our booth. A surprising number of the girls that I went to go meet actually did come by to say hello and find out more about X3. One girl in particular had just left the adult industry and was struggling both emotionally and financially. It was really amazing to be able to tell her about the Esther Fund and to just listen to her and love on her.

I also stood at the front of our booth, passing out bibles and cards and chatting it up with passers-by. Most people will take your card, walk away and smirk, but about 1 out of 10 will stop and ask you more. It can be fun, but also challenging to field all of the questions. We are asked a wide array of things ranging from, “so are you just sexually free Christians?” to “why shouldn’t I look at porn?”

Though the show was in general a very positive experience for me, it was also very sad. As I was taking a break in the back of our booth and watching the passers-by, it really hit me, I thought “When I leave this show I will feel fulfilled. I will feel closer to God, I will be one step closer to becoming the kind of person that I want to be, and when these people leave the show they will feel lonely. They will have gained nothing. They will have alienated themselves further.” And that is a very heavy thought. After realizing that, I now truly know why we have to go to the porn show, I know why we have to meet people where they are at. It is one thing to know this with your head, but it is another to have felt it with your heart. This weekend thousands of people walked past our booth with the bags they received at the door, bags full of emptiness, but now, because we were there, there is a tiny bit of hope amidst all that sadness and that is a beautiful thing.

SATURDAY – DAY TWO
Day Two was a good time. We just uploaded this video recap of our time inside the show on Saturday. The last day for the show is today, sunday, we’re wondering how many people we will run into that just came from church. We’re out of Bibles, but will still be in attendance to handout flyers and talk it up with passers by. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us and sending us emails and shout outs of encouragement. Here’s the recap from Saturday

FRIDAY – DAY ONE

Check out the pics here. For this show we opted to do video instead of writing. Below you will see Krissee, Clint and Brandon. Enjoy!

PRE SHOW

The team has arrived in Canada. We are at the Everything To Do About Sex Show. The booth is set up. More updates to come later. Please pray for the outreach that is going to take place this weekend. Check out a picture here.