Students are facing so many challenges. In an increasingly sexualised society, one of these is pornography. We’ve asked our friends at the Naked Truth Project to share how student workers and church leaders can support and disciple their students so that they can find freedom through Jesus. 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

"I wrestled with porn throughout university. I hoped that freedom would be easy to find by the time I approached 20, but my journey was one marked with much frustration, shame, and isolation. I saw my faith growing publicly, but privately I was all too aware of my unwelcome relationship with porn. But praise God that wasn’t the end of the story!

In the Lord’s kindness, freedom did eventually come and, after graduating, I joined the team at the Naked Truth Project (NT): a UK based charity working to open eyes and free lives from the damaging impact of porn. The data, and our experience as a charity, tells us that my story is by no means unique amongst students. They are becoming adults in a pornified culture, with 1 in 3 consuming it at least once a week, rising to over half doing so monthly. This is having a significant impact on their assurance, relationships, zeal for mission, love for the Church, and joy in God.

Yet in this darkness, we also believe that student workers have a huge opportunity to let the light of the gospel shine brightly. Having spoken to many of you, we know that it can often feel like a task you’re under-resourced and under-equipped for. So, we want to support you as best as we can. As a start, when it comes to this issue, here are 4 things we’ve found helpful:

1. Grab a map: Porn is ever changing and is more accessible, anonymous, and affordable (and abusive) than ever before. If you feel like you’re in foreign terrain, check out our Church app for a bunch of helpful resources.

2. Understand why people get stuck: it is essentially one big hustle. At first it offers a solution to our longings, fears, and frustrations, then it leaves us with shame: hidden in the shadows they feel stuck in a cycle.

3. Proclaim and model the gospel: teach and admonish one another, but with all wisdom and love (Col 3:12-17). Share gospel truth whilst modelling our saviour, who does not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smouldering wick. Then the ugliness of sin will become plain, and the heart will be captured by the beauty of Christ.

4. Know the goal: if we try to immediately fix their behaviour or provide every answer we’ll struggle to make progress. Instead, the goal is to bring the porn use into the light of the gospel, removing shame, leading them to repentance, and helping them see why they’re using porn (Eph 5:8-14). To do this, the best place to begin is to provide a safe space and process for them to share their story, in their own time and in their own way.

This may well sound like a lot! But in all of this, know that the Lord delights to use our small but faithful acts of love. For me, the greatest good was done by older Christians who walked alongside me in small, everyday ways. In fact, some of the greatest harm was done by those who made well-intentioned and ambitious commitments, but were ultimately unable to deliver. Little reinforced my sense of isolation and shame more than that. What could starting small look like? Here’s three suggestions:

• If offering each student accountability is unrealistic for your church, that’s okay! Could you aim to offer a few struggling students 15 minutes after a Sunday service each week to chat and pray? This may seem tiny, but it could be enough to begin their process of recovery.
• If you run 1:1s, these are a great place to raise it. This doesn’t have to be too intense, but simply let them know that you’re happy to have that convo, if and when they are. On our NT Church app you’ll find our “Student 1:1 Guidance”.
• Would it be possible to run a seminar or talk on the issue? If this feels like a daunting prospect, we would love to help you make this happen. You can check the app for resources or get in touch about us coming to join you.

Finally, and very practically, if you know a student is struggling, then our on-demand CTRL-ALT-DEL course and Click to Kick programmes are both great places to start (and they’re both free!).

My prayer is that you may know God, who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20) and turn our very darkness into light (5:8-14), with you as you seek to shepherd his young flock."