A Love Story

A Love Story

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

That is reason we share this love story: We are a couple who are believers in Christ and have struggled with Pornography and Sexual Affliction. We’ve celebrated recovery for seven years now. If you were to meet us on the street or at church, I don’t think we would stand out of the crowd.

We are married and have come through quite a journey with God's help. By sharing our story we offer hope to people struggling in the broken world in which we live. God in His love forgave and rescued us from the destruction we had created. He gave us a new life, a new marriage and a call to this ministry. If you are currently struggling; we want you to know that you are not alone and there is hope!

The love story continues: the love God gave us energized the love in our marriage and for each other. But the love didn’t stop there, God brought us into community with other Christians that gave us the love, support and help that gave us victory in the battle.

Even if this is not your struggle, will you join with us in the battle? God has put us all on this journey of life together. We are so thankful for the Lord's mercy that "came a running" to rescue us in our affliction and then challenged us to Break the Secret by Breaking the Silence.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Dale's Story

Jesus became my personal Savior when I was in the second grade. I had been brought up in the church and knew about Him, but did not know Him. Though I grew-up attending church and was active in both Young Life and youth group through my high school years, yet I had a secret life. A Full-time Savior and a Part-time Lord is a good description for a major portion of my life.

I joined the Air Force, became a medic and that began a 25 year military career, four years Active Duty, the rest Ready Reserve. During my time of service I traveled the world, experienced varied cultures and even spent some time helping in ministries overseas. I attended bible school, traveled with several ministry teams and spent several years in youth ministry for a congregation.

In recovery I've served with men's accountability groups, attended Prodigals and Celebrate Recovery, where I've led large and small groups, and step studies.

My Beginning ...

Being the youngest of three boys and living on a farm the first five years of my life, I learned how to be a "lone wolf". In that time I developed the ability to be content alone or with others. In some ways, I preferred playing alone because then I had control and I could do what I wanted to do. I enjoyed that. Being low man on the totem pole, I had to seize control where I could.

I got my first taste of pornography in elementary school. Both of my parents worked and being the youngest gave me ample time to explore this new discovery. I was about eleven years old when my cousin came to live with us. She also brought into the house women's magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour. At about the same time I discovered my brother’s “Playboy” stash, which started my journey into the dark world of pornography and the self-gratification that goes along with it.

Donna's Story

I asked Jesus into my life when I was 8 years old. Sadly, my church upbringing was largely legalistic, and though I knew who Jesus was, I did not know a personal relationship with Him. I fell from church attendance as young adult, but never forgot who Jesus was and, by His grace, He didn't forget me.

At the age of 20 I married and instantly become a full-time mom to three beautiful kids and 3 years later had a son. I worked in banking for 10 years, then insurance accounting for the next 10, while raising my family. Our lives were full, but Jesus was not at the center, and the marriage ended after 18 years. Though tragic, God worked through my brokenness and it was this that brought me to my knees and searching for Him. The Lord led me to a church where I learned about having a true relationship with Jesus. I learned that Jesus still loves me, in spite of myself, and it is never too late to accept His mercy and grace.

My Path to Brokenness ...

I was born prematurely, the youngest and the only girl in the family. Despite my size and near blindness, in my parents’ eyes; I was their perfect little princess, which did nothing to prepare me for the harsh realities of public elementary school. So naturally, when this tiny, clumsy, frizzy-haired girl with inch-thick glasses would come home in tears, Mom would hold me and tell me the story of “The Ugly Ducking”. I would look at her and say “I know I will never be a beautiful swan – I just want to be a normal duck!”

School kids are not the only ones who can be mean. When I was eleven and visiting my Granny, a cousin who had never been particularly kind to me before was taking an interest in my life. I was totally unprepared for the inappropriate advances that followed. Sadly, that encounter at Granny’s planted the seeds in my belief system that my body was my vehicle to acceptance and the determining factor of my value as a person.

Building Bridges