Originally published in Church Leaders
Joshua Broome, a pastor who left a lucrative career in pornography, says walking with God and being fruitful for His Kingdom is a daily process—one that leads to purpose, freedom, and purity of heart. Broome, who leads The Good News Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recently spoke with Richard De La Mora on the “Let’s Talk Purity” podcast. The men discuss topics such as intimacy, lust, friendships, loneliness, and ministry challenges.
As Church Leaders has reported, Broome spent six years in the porn industry. The career brought him success and wealth as well as feelings of profound isolation and worthlessness. After walking away, he struggled to find a job and maintain relationships.
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But now Broome, 40, is married and has two children. He often travels to speak about purity, recently leading chapel for the Los Angeles Chargers. In a September 7 Facebook Live post, Broome requested prayers for his first trip to Hollywood in almost 10 years, where he’d be stepping into “the tension of people remembering me for who I used to be.”
Spiritual refinement
On the podcast, Broome emphasises that the Christian walk is a “step by step” process. Like Joseph in Genesis, he says, we must be patient and allow God to refine us and prepare us for what He has planned next.
Part of the search for purpose, he says, involves asking God to search your heart. You have to “pray that dangerous prayer: ‘God, show me my inadequacies. Show me how I’m offending You. Bring that to my attention because I want to submit to You.’”
Broome warns: “Don’t be fooled to believe that your heart is pure just because you’re not succumbing to pornography.” He describes how replacing God with anyone or anything –even ministry — leads to loneliness and discontent. True intimacy comes only through an active relationship with God, he says, and solid, supportive friendships are key.
When asked for advice on finding trustworthy friends, Broome recommends looking for evidence of fruit. Pointing to John 15, he says we need to cut off unproductive branches. That, in turn, requires self-awareness: “Is this friendship producing fruit? Is it…benefiting me? Is it edifying me higher?”
‘Don’t make ministry an idol‘
While discussing purity, Broome and De La Mora talk about more than just physical temptations. After leaving adult entertainment and becoming a Christian, Broome says, he struggled with wanting to be accepted and approved. Previously, his accomplishments had been the source of his happiness.
But then he focused on Psalm 23, including David’s message “I shall not want.” The pastor says he needed a reminder that “it’s not about me; it’s about furthering [God’s] Kingdom.”
That’s important for pastors, says Broome, because “in ministry, there’s a lot of big wins, but that’s not every day. That’s not every season.” When temptations arise to “just go back to Egypt,” he says, ministers need a “Caleb” to offer support and perspective.
“My relationship with God is the absolutely most important thing in the world,” Broome says. If that relationship isn’t right, he can’t serve his wife, kids, or congregants. To keep his priorities straight, Broome maintains regular devotion times, both alone and with his wife.
He also sets boundaries on social media usage, sharing passwords and other information with his wife. “Don’t do dumb things,” he advises regarding the internet. “Don’t let curiosity lead you in a way that you shouldn’t” go.
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