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Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family calls Internet Pornography the “New Crack Cocaine.” Just as with cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, many adult addicts of pornography started their addiction as young children exposed to pornography at an early age. To assist parents in protecting their children online, we provide free Internet filtering software. We realize that for parents, just having software is not enough, because parents need to be trained on all strategies for protecting their kids online.

1. Install an Internet filter (see our Internet filtering recommendations in this manual under “Software Tools for the Home”). If the software allows for different settings for each user, we recommend blocking all chat rooms for children under 16.

Family Internet Safety Pledge

(This is provided as a sample for you to use.  If you wish to modify it, you may download a copy from safefamilies.techmission.org/safetypledge.php.)

What is Social Networking?

Reviews the major Internet filtering and monitoring software programs available.

Pornography is a new epidemic in the church. James Dobson of Focus on the Family calls it "the new crack cocaine."

57% of pastors say that addiction to pornography is the most sexually damaging issue to their congregation. A 1996 Promise Keepers survey at one of their stadium events revealed that over 50% of the men in attendance were involved with pornography within one week of attending the event. 51% of pastors say cyber-porn is a possible temptation and 37% say it is a current struggle.

We recommend using the following strategy to address the issue of online safety and media sobriety churchwide.

Preamble

The use of computer equipment and access to the internet is a privilege. With that privilege comes a responsibility for the ethical and appropriate use of these resources. The following details this more fully.

1. How many close male friends do you have (“close” meaning you can expose your weaknesses?)  

In early 2000, The National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families surveyed students at 5 Christian colleges regarding pornography: 48% of the males admitted to current porn use. At a Christian men’s retreat in Idaho the men who were struggling with pornography were asked to stand up – and half of the men in the room came to their feet.

In March of 2002, Rick Warren’s Pastors.com website conducted a survey on porn use of 1,351 pastors. 54% had viewed Internet pornography within the last year, with 30% admitting they visited a porn site within the last 30 days. In a poll Focus on the Family took October of 2003, 47% of families said pornography is a problem in their home.

A sermon outline, statistics, and recommended resources for fighting pornography.

Sample Confidentiality Form for Church-based Peer Support Groups

[Program Name]/[Ministry Name] Confidentiality Policy [Program Name] leadership will hold as confidential all disclosures made in the context of the [Program Name] program with these three exceptions:

1) All small group leaders reserve the right to discuss matters disclosed by group members for the purpose of receiving supervision and oversight. This oversight will occur in group supervision meetings held by the group coordinator and attended by other small group leaders, and in supervision sessions held between the ministry director and an outside supervisor.