FORT MYERS: A Fort Myers pastor is on a crusade to cure people of porn addiction. A pastor and a porn producer have teamed up to send a serious message – as serious as the addiction it aims to eliminate.
Pornography is alive and well in Southwest Florida. In fact, one of the industry’s biggest stars is performing in Fort Myers this weekend. But that isn’t what the local pastor is worried about. He says it’s what lies in your own house that has him teaming up with the unlikely partner.
Sex used to sell. But these days though you don’t exactly need money to get it. You can find it online and in your own living room. Pornography has pushed its way into the hands of adults who get hooked and even children who are simply checking their email.
“This has made its way into all our homes,” said Pastor Craig Gross [pictured]. “Now, this generation is grown up – it’s in their inbox and they didn’t even ask for it.”
But Gross insists people have a way out. He hits churches across the country serving up a ministry meal he calls “Porn and Pancakes.” It’s a porn addiction wake-up call with breakfast included.
“There are people needing help, there are people wanting out of this stuff. So that’s kind of where we come in,” said Gross.
The “we” he spoke of is a group known as “X-3.”
Gross and former porn producer Donny Pauling spread their word both on tour and on their website xxxchurch.com.
X-3’s next stop is First Assembly Ministries Church in Fort Myers. This weekend, the church will be welcoming Porn and Pancakes.
“It is great assistance to be able to bring experts in who can help with those things,” said First Assembly Ministries Pastor Brad Liebe. “Sex is part of people’s lives; pornography is part of some people’s lives. So you can’t just ignore the parts you don’t like.”
With Gross’ wife and children in tow, it will be his first time preaching in Southwest Florida.
“Traveling with him is just a bonus for us,” said Gross’ wife Jeanette.
He will be giving up the goods on beating addiction to more than 1,000 people who have signed up here to do more than just listen.
“Hey, you can get free from this issue, but you have to talk about it. So, we’re going to talk about it all weekend here in Fort Myers,” said Gross.
Porn and Pancakes is open to everyone Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. and it’s $8 to get in. But X-3’s message doesn’t stop there, next week they’ll debate porn star Ron Jeremy in Colorado.