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The Bible presents many topics that elicit passionate and polarizing opinions. One of these is how unmarried Christians should evaluate their calling and purpose as it relates to marriage.

Our guest, PIETER VALK, has a lot to say on the subject. As a Christian who for most of his life has experienced same-sex attraction and a commitment to honor a traditional Biblical sexual ethic, Pieter has embraced a life of vocational singleness. But he doesn't think it's something only gay or same-sex attracted people should consider.

Pieter believes the calling to remain single has deep, meaningful purpose for those who would embrace it. He believes single people have a responsibility to own their lives and to pursue deep relationships outside of marriage, AND he believes the Church has a responsibility to provide real family to those who remain unmarried.

Pieter is the founder and executive director of Equip, a premier consulting and training solution for churches aspiring to be places where LGBT+ people are embraced and thrive according to historic sexual ethics. Since their inception in 2014 they have trained over 35,000 individuals on how to better love and care for LGBT+ people in their churches and communities.

• EQUIP's web site
• Pieter on Instagram
• Some of Pieter's writings
• Pieter's article on vocational singleness

#pietervalk #equip #equipyourcommunity #vocationalsingleness #christiansingleness #lgbt #gaychristian #pornaddiction #sexaddiction #healing #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation

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There are several issues that represent potential landmines for Christians. One of them is how Christians relate to the LGBT+ community. Another is the concept of singleness vs. marriage. PIETER VALK is someone who has signed up to tackle both of these issues with conscientiously and compassionately. Pieter is the founder and executive director of EQUIP, a premier consulting and training solution for churches aspiring to be places where LGBT+ people are embraced, and thrive according to historic sexual ethics.

In recent years, Pieter has written and spoken extensively on the topic of vocational singleness, and encourages Christians to consider this not as a curse, but as a calling on their lives.

Episode 45 | Pieter Valk: Singleness - Curse or Calling will be available Tuesday, September 16th!

#pietervalk #equip #equipyourcommunity #vocationalsingleness #lgbt #gaychristian #pornaddiction #sexaddiction #healing #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation

Support the show

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)

"Send us a message! (questions, feedback, etc.)"

People addicted to pornography often experience lots of shame and self-contempt ("What's wrong with me?!"). They often see their sexual desire, and the fact that they go to porn to try and satisfy it, as THE problem.

Our guest, DREW BOA, disagrees. In his new book Outgrow Porn: Find Lasting Freedom Without Fighting an Exhausting Battle, Drew says, "Your sexuality is not the problem, and the urge to watch porn is not bad either. It's a symptom of unprocessed pain. When you understand this, your journey will dramatically change."

In this great conversation with our first returning guest, we talk with Drew about how compassion and curiosity are far more helpful in outgrowing porn struggles than shame, self-condemnation, and strategies limited only to behavior management. We discuss how evangelicalism's history of unhelpful messages about sex have negatively contributed to people's struggles. And we talk about how committing to a path of healing and recovery can help us find what we've been looking for all along.

Drew is the founder of Husband Material, an online community where men can find friends, coaching, and resources to support them in their path to living as mature, healthy men.

Some of the items we discussed in the episode:

• Drew's previous episode of What We Really Want
• Sheila & Keith Gregoire's episode of What We Really Want
• Johan Hari's famous TED Talk

How to connect with Drew:

• Husband Material website
• Husband Material podcast
• Outgrow Porn book from Drew's website (discount + bonus materials)
• Outgrow Porn book on Amazon

#drewboa #husbandmaterial #outgrowporn #healtheboytofreetheman #purityculture #pornography #pornaddiction #sexaddiction #healing #recovery #grace #gospel #transformation #awaken #awakenrecovery #awakenpodcast #whatwereallywant #wwrw #connection #conversation

Support the show

Awaken website
Roots Retreat Men's Intensive
Roots Retreat Women's Workshop
Awaken Men & Women's support meeting info (including virtual)