Come On

An online ministry disguises itself as a porn site to draw in those who need help

Crisis hotline Love Lines began taking out ads, disguised as phone sex come-ons, in the Twin Cities’ alternative newspaper. Callers looking to satisfy their lust heard instead testimonies about how former sex addicts came to Christ. They were then referred to a counseling hotline.

The Minneapolis-based ministry is now online, faking a porn site (www.lovelines.org/sex/) that really delivers information about pornography addiction. “We don’t want to close down the porn sites, we just want all their customers,” says director Dan Morstad.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

The Love Lines site includes personal stories, a self-test, and contact information for the ministry’s 24 hour counseling center.

Christianity Today’sTangled in the Worst of the Web” examined what Internet porn did to one pastor, his wife, his ministry, their life.

Also see Christianity Today’sResources for the Ensared | Christ-centered help for those struggling with Internet pornography and sexual addiction.”

Other articles and resources about battling lust and pornography from Christianity Today include:

We’ve Got Porn | Online smut is taking its toll on Christians. What is the church doing about it? (July 5, 2000)

Internet Pornography Use Common in many Libraries, Report Says | Librarian-researcher claims American Library Association thwarted study. (March 20 , 2000)

Christian Singer Shares Struggles with Pornography | Secret sin of Clay Crosse’s youth reappears in midst of ministry (Feb. 7, 2000)

Amazon.com Pulls Book Targeted as ‘Kiddie Porn’ | But critics say other pedophilia books are still offered. (Jan. 24 , 2000)

Smut Magazine Publishers Convert | (April 26, 1999)

Curbing Smut Legally | Tough ordinances shut down porn outlets. (Feb. 8, 1999)

Christian Leaders Target Cyberporn | (Jan. 6, 1997)

Advice and experience from Leadership magazine:

Hooked | First he turned on the computer, then the computer turned on him. (Winter 2001)

Alone with my lust | Until my pastor held me accountable. (Summer 1996)

The War Within Continues | An update on a Christian leader’s struggle with lust.(Fall 1988)

Battle Strategy: Some Practical Advice | An update on a Christian leader’s struggle with lust.(Fall 1982)

Help with temptation and sex from Marriage Partnership:

Cybersex Temptation | Porn is as close as your home computer—and it’s hooking Christians. (Fall 2000)

Real Sex | By Louis and Melissa McBurney (Fall 1996)

Also in this issue

Bush's Defining Moment: The President, facing a grief-stricken nation under attack, finds his voice and his mission.

Cover Story

Bush's Defining Moment

Tony Carnes

Over Enlarged Territory

Rally Round the Flag

Christianity Today Editorial

Editorial

Blame Game

Christianity Today Editorial

Love & Marriage

Richard A. Kauffman

High Court Injustice

Jeff Sellers

Has God Played Fair?

Grounded

A Storyteller's Apologetic

Susan Wise Bauer

Power Punch Praise

Todd Hertz

Wake-up Call

Rising to the Top

Todd Hertz

Something to Talk About

Todd Hertz

Return of Kevin Max

Todd Hertz

Australia: 'Shooting Gallery' Draws Opposition

Dave Crampton

Quotation Marks

Potter's Field

Manuskipped

Readying for Takeoff

Briefs: North America

Briefs: The World

Columbia: Missing Missionaries Declared Dead

Deann Alford

Under The Sun- First Page

Under The Sun-Second Page

Andy Crouch

'Be Fruitful and Multiply'

Raymond C. Van Leeuwen

News

Extreme Days for Megiddo

News

Lord of the Megaplex

Steve Rabey

Wire Story

Moscow Bans Salvation Army

Keston News Service, Religion News Service

Young Men Gone West

Review

Something to Talk About

Todd Hertz

Review

Power Punch Praise

Todd Hertz

Review

Rising to the Top

Todd Hertz

Review

Return of Kevin Max

Todd Hertz

Blood, Sweat, and Prayers

Gordon MacDonald

Make Love and Babies

Sam and Bethany Torode

News

Go Figure

The Truth About Sex

Jenell Williams Paris

Catching Up with Hispanics

Rodolpho Carrasco

meetingGod@beliefnet.com

Lauren F. Winner

Congress: Justice Delayed

Art Moore

Vouchers: High Court to Take Up Vouchers

LaTonya Taylor

RU-486: Doctors Slow to Prescribe Abortion Pill

Medical Cost Sharing: Medical Cost-Sharing Ministry Is Recovering

Chuck Fager

Small Churches: Empty Pulpit Crisis

Ken Walker

Evangelism: Adaptable Alpha Course Draws Praise and Worry

LaTonya Taylor

Pakistan: Christians Fear Muslim Backlash

Afghanistan: Caught in the Crossfire

Sheryl Henderson Blunt

View issue

Our Latest

News

Churches Try Drones and Skydiving Bunnies for Easter Outreach

“We want to make it about Jesus and getting people excited about the Easter season and going to church somewhere.”

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Tony Dungy: What It Costs to Stand for Your Faith

Speaking up for the value of all life in the face of criticism.

The Evangelical Roots of North Korea’s Kim Family

Q&A with Jonathan Cheng on how the Christian gospel can be twisted for political aims.

SCOTUS Ruling on ‘Conversion Therapy’ Is a Win for Christians

This week’s Chiles v. Salazar ruling allows counselors freedom to serve their clients in the ways they see fit.

From Our Community

A Renewed Subscription and a Broadened Perspective

Hannah Glad

How one Texan lawyer found himself reading CT again and supporting the One Kingdom Campaign.

Public Theology Project

Easter Is Not a Zombie Story

Jesus joined us in death—and defeated it.

What $18 Would Get You

In 1979, CT investigated deceptive Christians, made the case for psychology, and watched Islam with concern.

The Eternal Meaning of the Cup

John Anthony Dunne

Across the church, our Communion practices reveal a broken world and anticipate the one to come.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube