Ep.30 Breaking Free: Accountability and The Healing Church with Sam Black

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Pornography addiction is one of the most misunderstood struggles in the church today, often shrouded in shame and secrecy. Sam Black, Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes and author of The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography and How to Fix It, joins us to share how real freedom comes through accountability, grace, and informed support. Drawing from his journalism background and over 70 interviews with pastors, counselors, and people in recovery, Sam offers practical wisdom for churches, couples, and individuals navigating the path to healing.

Key Takeaways:

1. How Covenant Eyes Works – Sam explains how the software uses screen accountability and ally relationships to help individuals break free from pornography.

2. What Makes Accountability Effective – Data shows accountability is most potent when allies are engaged, supportive, and focused on deeper heart change—not just behavior monitoring.

3. Support for Spouses—Sam offers compassionate advice for wives who hope software will cure them, emphasizing that while it's a helpful tool, healing requires a broader process of trust-building and recovery.

4. What Churches Get Wrong – Drawing from The Healing Church, Sam reveals common missteps ministry leaders make—like placing blame on spouses or assuming more sex will “fix” the problem—and how to shift toward grace-filled support.

5. The Power of Collaboration: Sam shares why he invited Dr. Sheri Keffer to author a chapter in his book, emphasizing the importance of including voices from the betrayal trauma community in the healing process.

Resources Mentioned:

• Covenant Eyes

• The Healing Church by Sam Black

• Allied: Fighting Porn with Accountability, Faith, and Friends – Free eBook

Connect with Sam Black:

• LinkedIn

• Read Sam’s Articles at Covenant Eyes

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