Donny was a porn producer who owned many porn sites.  We met Donny at the AVN porn show while we were doing outreach to the industry.  Donny let us know that he had been raised a pastor's son but that he was perfectly happy living the life of a porn producer.  We continued to share the love of Christ with Donny and would continue to see him at shows.   Donny called us several years later telling us that he couldn't do it anymore.  He was deeply convicted about the impact his "shoots" were having on the women he was paying for photos and web content.  He witnessed terrible things including watching lives be shattered and had come to a fork in the road.   We were able to send a team pastor out to stay with Donny for several days as he cleaned up all loose ties with his work in the industry.   This is what Donny had to say:

"What happens when people leave the porn world for God? Do they all just live happily ever after?

Unfortunately, the answer is a very loud "no". It's hard to leave a life where the money is so easy to make. Believe me, I know this very well from personal experience. Through the years I produced porn, I'd often feel God pulling on my heartstrings. But I was afraid to lose everything I owned, and terrified I wouldn't be able to support my ex-wife and son. I told Him there was no way I could ever leave because it would be too difficult to make a living outside of the porn world.

The Pastors of XXXchurch "get it". They know the first few months, even the first year, after an individual leaves their former life is the most crucial, difficult time that individual is likely to face. That is the time they need God's people to give them a bit of help re-establishing their life.

When I left, God miraculously took away my desire to shoot even one more image or one more minute of video footage. When I finally surrendered my life to Him, my biggest fear was no longer losing my possessions, because I knew that would happen and had resigned myself to it. My biggest fear was that I wouldn't be able to provide for Wendy (my ex-wife) and Caden (my son). XXXchurch came through. I have no idea where the money came from, but they let the need be known and checks started showing up in my ex-wife's mailbox. She was deeply touched by the generosity of those who cared enough to help."

We're happy to report that Donny never looked back.  He took his photography skills and allowed God to lead him into a new business- designing used car websites for dealerships.  Donny's life has not been perfect but he continues to pursue the things of God and he sure is an example of God's love and grace.