423 HAS BEEN THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR SEXUAL HEALING IN OUR CHURCH, BAR NONE.
JOHN MARK COMER Founder of Bridgetown Church, Author of Practing the Way & Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.
For pastors and church leaders
Is Your Church Ready to Care Well?
Discern your church’s readiness to address sexual brokenness, betrayal, and recovery—with clarity, care, and wisdom.
A guided reflection for pastors and church leaders
About 5 minutes • No obligation • Designed to guide, not grade
The Reality Churches Are Facing
Most churches care deeply. Few have the structure, shared language, or resources to respond well when complexity surfaces.
And when structure is missing, the weight settles heavily on pastors and families.
Men regularly access pornography.
This is a pastoral care issue, not a niche problem.
This statistic usually represents ongoing patterns—not isolated moments. Many men are caught in a long arc of secrecy, compulsion, and shame. When a church lacks a clear pathway, pastoral care becomes reactive, exhausting, and inconsistent.
Women report regular pornography use or struggle.
Women frequently carry compounded shame because support structures assume this is primarily a “men’s issue.”
Usage and struggle rates vary by age bracket, marital status, and digital exposure patterns—often increasing among younger demographics. Healthy churches create pathways that treat women with dignity, safety, clarity, and access to gender-appropriate support.
Active Christian men report pornography use.
Silence in the church increases isolation and shame.
This is why a simple “try harder” message fails. When people assume they’re the only one, they hide. Culture shifts when churches speak with clarity and hope—and when leaders know exactly where disclosures can go.
Christian men say they don’t have meaningful support.
Readiness is measured by care pathways, not good intentions.
Many churches have care—few have structure. Support becomes dependent on one pastor, one counselor, or one leader’s availability. Sustainable ministry requires trained leaders, repeatable rhythms, and a clear process for ongoing care.
Betrayed partners show clinical symptoms of PTSD.
Any ministry response must be trauma-informed.
Betrayal trauma is not “relationship conflict.” It is often experienced as a nervous system injury. Churches need language and protocols that avoid minimizing pain, rushing repair, or mishandling disclosure dynamics.
Only 10% of churches report having resources to help.
Compassion alone is not a structure.
When a disclosure happens, churches often scramble—trying to find a counselor, a program, or a plan. Readiness increases when churches know what to do first, what can wait, and what support reduces staff burden.
Average age of first exposure to pornography.
Prevention and youth pathways are essential.
By the time a teen confesses, the story often started years earlier. Churches need practical resources for parents, age-appropriate conversations, and clear routes for youth to receive help.
Kids will see explicit pornography by age 14.
Churches need a plan for parents and youth.
Many parents feel overwhelmed, ashamed, or unsure what to do. A healthy church pathway gives families practical tools, a calm response plan, and a place to be supported without panic.
Average age individuals first reach out for mental health care.
Many struggle silently for decades before asking for help.
By the time someone reaches out, patterns are often deeply formed and shame is well established. Churches that normalize early conversation and proactive care dramatically reduce long-term isolation and crisis response.
The issue is whether churches have a durable pathway for response.
And pathways can be built.
A Partner, Not a Program
Equipping the local church to care well—without carrying the burden alone
Sexual brokenness, betrayal, and addiction are already present in every congregation. The question is not whether the church will encounter these realities, but whether leaders will be equipped to respond with wisdom, safety, and hope. 423 exists to come alongside churches—carrying the weight, building the pathways, and equipping leaders for long-term, sustainable care.
We carry the internal lift
Most churches feel the weight of this ministry long before they feel ready to lead it. 423 removes the heavy operational burden— curriculum, structure, training, systems, and oversight—so pastors and staff are not left to build something complex and emotionally demanding on their own.
We help create safe, healing spaces
Recovery requires more than good intentions. We help churches establish trauma-informed environments where men, women, teens, spouses, and parents can be honest, be witnessed, and experience care that is both clinically informed and biblically grounded.
We build clear pathways, not one-size solutions
Sexual brokenness impacts individuals, marriages, families, and leadership systems differently. 423 helps churches implement clear recovery pathways—so people know where to go, leaders know how to respond, and care does not depend on crisis moments or personal charisma.
We train and disciple lay leaders
Recovery leadership is not simply a skill set—it is a discipleship journey. We equip lay leaders to become competent, compassionate guides who are themselves being formed spiritually, emotionally, and relationally as they serve the body.
We equip pastors and staff to care well
Pastors are often the first point of disclosure and the last line of care. 423 provides training, language, and ongoing support so pastoral teams can respond wisely—without overextending themselves or unintentionally causing harm.
We support long-term sustainability
This work is not seasonal or short-term. We help churches manage groups, train leaders, navigate growth, and adapt over time—so recovery ministries remain healthy, relationally grounded, and aligned with the church’s broader discipleship vision.
The question is not simply whether the church should care for these realities—but how. Below is a clear framework for how we equip churches to build sustainable, wise, and redemptive recovery pathways within their own community.