Porn Sunday is coming soon. If pastors Craig Gross and Mike Foster have their way, it will sweep the nation.On June 15, 2005, the two anti-porn crusaders hope to launch a new site announcing their cross-country trek to spread the word about the evils of pornography — and where better to discuss hard core porn and its manifest harm to society than a church? After spending more than three years setting up and tearing down booths at adult industry trade conventions while simultaneously trying to convince pornographers to pack up their lube and condoms for good, the duo have decided to try something new: taking their word to the people most interested in hearing The Word.
An ever increasing number of churches have begun hosting what has come to be known as “Porn Sunday” and includes invitations to Gross and Foster to screen “Missionary Positions,” their anti-porn documentary. Given the popularity of Porn Sunday, the two reformers have decided that October will see them take their show on the national road. Their goal is to sign up 200 churches for the tour.
This was not where either man expected their message to be welcome, although it was certainly where they hoped it would eventually be heard. “It’s crazy,” observes Gross. “Because before three months ago, we couldn’t get into a church. Now the doors have opened up at the churches, thanks to one church that invited us in and they said they had one of the best days they’d had in church.”
More than 13,000 people turned out to hear the hip looking young two men discuss what they believe to be the insidious and destructive nature of pornography, as well as watch their film and talk about XXXChurch.com, the website they purchased from a Pastor Tammy, the previous and decidedly porn friendly owner of the URL. Now the website proclaims itself to be the “#1 Christian Porn Site” on the Internet and insists that explicit material ruins relationships, lives, and careers. As Gross explains his mission, “We talk about the dangers. It’s fantasy, it’s not reality. Experts are concerned this is going to spoil people’s future sex lives, not enhance them. We feel like it’s getting in the way, it’s stopping people from doing the things God wants them to do.” In order to help people get back in God’s good graces, Gross and Foster avoid discussing hellfire and punishment, instead focusing on healing, repentance, salvation, and “helping people live fulfilling lives.”
The R-rated “Missionary Positions,” produced by Bill Day, a filmmaker with no particularly anti-porn opinions whose previous subjects were environmental and labor centered, earned second place at the Nashville Film Festival. Although minors will be permitted to see the film during its Porn Sunday tour, they will only be allowed to do so when accompanied by a parent or guardian who can explain the context to them. Nonetheless, all involved in Porn Sunday expect some church members to avoid the film regardless of how urgent the issue of porn’s harm on the faithful may be.
