When my husband, Craig, started XXXchurch 7 years ago, my eyes were quickly opened to the fact that the average Joe was looking at pornography. I guess I didn’t want to think my friends husbands or just men walking by in a store were all looking at porn. But the stats show that 40 million U.S. adults admit to struggling with pornography. I know that the struggle is there and I’ve heard numerous stories, but never this close to home.
Craig talks a lot about porn getting you to do things you never thought you would do. I have seen a real life example of this. While my friend Amy lay asleep 8 months pregnant, her husband molested her 13-year old daughter. Her daughter told Amy, who then confronted her husband. He admitted what he had done and turned himself in to the police. He admitted he has had a lust, porn and sex addiction problem for years and the current job he had was feeding into that problem. The thought ran through Amy’s head sometimes that he may have a problem, but she would just brush it off telling herself he is a good husband and a even better father. She never thought something like molestation would occur. Her husband has said he wasn’t thinking when he was in his daughter’s room. He wasn’t even thinking it was her. He was doing something he never thought he would do. This happened a year ago and he is just now serving his first month of a 6-month prison sentence and then will be on probation.
Amy is left to pick up the pieces of her children’s lives, survive financially on her own and figure out what’s next for her marriage. Amy has had moments where she beats herself up thinking she could have done something to stop this from happening or that she wasn’t a good enough wife. These are all things I have heard before from other women that have come through our ministry. To me, it’s natural to think those things, but it has nothing to do with the wife and everything to do with the grip pornography can have on a person’s life.
She is filled with so many different emotions that she has never felt before and right now it’s overwhelming sadness. Sadness that her children will not have a mom and dad to grow up with and sadness that this has to be part of her daughter’s story. Her life has been turned upside down and she has no idea what God has in store for her and the kids, but she is leaning on him and only him. She has been diving into the word and her faith has increased by leaps and bounds. She gets up everyday to try and create as much of a normal life for her 5 children. Amidst all of this responsibility that has been put on her shoulders, she handles it with such grace. She is truly seeking God’s guidance and it’s a true testimony to so many others and myself how she has handled such a huge blow to her life.
Through the Esther Fund, you have helped us pay for tuition, medical bills, spouses and kids needs for people coming out of the industry. We are asking for help with this family, especially as we are approaching Christmas time. They are coming to our house for Christmas and we want to do it up. We would like to present the family with money for rent, food, necessary bills and some Christmas gifts.
Two ways you can help:
1. Gift cards:
You can purchase GIFT CARDS for Albertson’s, Ralphs, Kohl’s, Old Navy, or KB Toys, these gift cards can be purchase HERE.
Target and Wallmart would be great places to get GIFT CARDS as well. You would have to purchase those at the store or online on their websites. If you have credit card points available you can often cash those in for GIFT CARDS.
Please mail any gift cards to: XXXchurch.com PO Box 400758 Las Vegas, NV 89140.
2. Donate money online by CLICKING HERE. In the comments box of the donation please put "Christmas" in the box.
Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for the orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. James 1:27. To me, Amy is a 21st century widow. We thank you for any help that you can give.
Jeanette Gross
