Here’s what we have going on at Freedom Begins Here

We haven’t sent out a full update in a while and we thought you might be wondering what has been going on around here. Things are moving so fast and it is hard for our small team to keep up with the day to day and even harder to sit down and write about it. Here's a quick list of what's been going on.

Men At The Cross News
LifeWay Youth Pastors Conference
Freedom Begins Here in LifeWay Stores
Rush of Fools Tour
New Resource
Personal Stories

Big Picture

Every day is a reminder that we are a very small team with a very big vision. Tackling the enormous crisis of pornography and sexual sin would be a colossal quest for a team ten times our size. Yet day in and day out we give it everything we’ve got, knowing that this is what we are called to do.

The encouraging news is that we are beginning to see real traction. It seems that the seeds we’ve been planting for over four years are starting to grow. For a long time it seemed like we were staring at the dirt only to see an occasional sprout or two.

What does that mean in non-metaphorical, non-cliché language? It means Freedom Begins Here is starting to get the attention of people outside of our office. Retailers are putting FBH resources in their stores. Organizations are ready to partner with us to amplify our small voice with their megaphones. Pastors and church leaders are getting equipped to help their churches begin the conversation about porn and sexual sin. Moms and dads are ready to talk to their kids about it. And most importantly, people all over the country are beginning their journey toward freedom.

But none of this would be happening without all of you who believe in us and believe in this cause. Now we need you to spread the word. With every person who signs up for our newsletter, purchases a ToolKit or submits a story, another seed is planted and the harvest gets a little bigger.

Men At The Cross – Hershey, Pennsylvania

“The sweetest place on earth” was home to the fifth Men at the Cross event and our fifth time to minister in a big way to the men who attended. We continue to meet and dialogue with men and women who are stepping up and getting equipped with the Freedom Begins Here material. Thank you for tackling this crisis in your own life, for guarding your family, and for challenging your church leadership to take action.

Our approach this time was a little more direct. We created a new sign that read, “PORN. We’re all dealing with it. It’s time to TALK about it.”

We have ideas for other banners too. How about, “Stopping at this booth does not make you a pervert” or “Find help ‘for a friend’” or “Shhhh…it’s a secret.” We’d love to hear your ideas and feedback for how we can break through the silence and stigma that surrounds this whole issue. You can always reply to our emails with your comments. We read and respond to every email that comes in.

We Have a Winner

Make sure to check out www.freedombeginshere.org/winners/ to see if you won one of the iPods from signing up.

LifeWay Youth Pastors Conference

From Hershey, we traveled to Nashville for the LifeWay Youth Pastor’s Conference. Over 300 youth pastors assembled to better equip themselves to lead their youth groups.

Sadly, there is no doubt that youth are taking the brunt of the pornography crisis. 12 to 17 year olds are the largest consumers of Internet pornography. Most of the youth pastors we spoke with are proactively dealing with this issue in their youth groups. However, we met several who were either intentionally avoiding it, didn’t think it was an issue among their kids, or were not allowed to approach it as instructed by the senior pastor. Tragic isn’t it? If a child’s first exposure to hard core Internet porn happens around age 11, and we are not helping them deal with the images that are now forever implanted in their brain, don’t act surprised when you find out five years later that they see nothing wrong with oral sex, masturbation, etc. They think, “We’re not having intercourse, so we’re not having sex.” Sorry to be so blunt, but that is the reality of what this sexually charged culture is telling our kids.

Rush of Fools Tour

As you heard in our last newsletter, our ministry partner Christian band Rush of Fools just released their new CD. “Wonder of the World” is now in stores everywhere. It is awesome! One of the songs on the CD they wrote for this cause. The song is called (oddly enough) “Freedom Begins Here.”

TotalAxxess recently did a radio interview with Kevin and Wes of Rush of Fools discussing their partnership with us. Total Axxess airs every Monday through Saturday evening from 7-Midnight on 137 radio signals.

Listen to the interview here:
TotalAxxess interview with Rush of Fools

LifeWay Stores

Freedom Begins Here will be in select LifeWay Stores beginning in October through the end of November. Our DVD ToolKits will be featured on an end cap in the store. If all goes well in the fall, we could potentially be in all LifeWay Stores beginning next year. Check the list of stores below to see if any are in your area. Go by and check it out if you can, pick up a ToolKit and help us get FBH into all LifeWay Stores!

New Resource

We are really excited to offer our newest resource, the Freedom Begins Here Small Group Pack. Many of you have expressed the desire to use the FBH material in your small groups.

The Small Group Pack includes:
• Small Group Guide
• DVD & 5 Devotional Journals
• Covenant Eyes CD (30-day trial) included in every Devotional Journal.

The Small Group Pack shows you how to use the Freedom Begins Here material to create a safe place where your group can be challenged and equipped to guard their hearts, flee temptation and find complete freedom from sexual sin. The 30-Day Devotional Journal easily adapts to 6 weeks of group meetings, the DVD's chapter divisions are easily accessible, and the addition of some simple group dynamics allows this powerful content to be discussed, digested, and activated.
Check it out here: Small Group Pack Details

Personal Stories

There's a new story up! Make sure to check it out. Christopher's story.

The power of a someone’s testimony of freedom builds hope for our own journey. We find ourselves saying, “Yes! I can have freedom from sexual sin, too.”

However, an honest soul knows that addictive habits and behaviors rarely just disappear overnight. It is a moment by moment battle, that cries out for accountability and grace every step of the way. Being honest about the battle is often the greatest step taken out of chains that bind.

Do you have a story to tell? Don’t be shy. Your story could be key to someone else’s first step towards freedom. We have set up a specific place at www.freedombeginshere.org for your stories. Be sure to check out www.freedombeginshere.org/?page=stories to read the testimonies of others and share your own story.

Get Help. Get Equipped. Get Involved.

Your next steps? You may or may not be addicted or struggling with pornography, but you probably know someone who is. Visit www.freedombeginshere.org and order a Personal ToolKit, Accountability Pack, and/or Church ToolKit to begin to make a difference today. It’s your move.

It is our hope and prayer that this e-newsletter will encourage you and those you know to make a difference.

Our Mission

Freedom Begins Here™ was created in response to countless emails and phone calls from pastors and individuals looking for resources to really help with the problem of pornography and sexual addiction. Not just another book to read or a twelve-step program. Not a band-aid to cover the wound or a pill to mask the pain. We need to begin to shine the light of truth on the darkness by honestly talking about the problem, admitting our weaknesses and failings, and walk together in ruthless accountability.