A Red Deer man who credits God for helping him conquer his pornography addiction now wants to help other males fight their own assorted demons through his on-line ministry.
Scott Janzen started a free website, www.jtalk.ca, “to help men become the man of God they are meant to be.” Through his blog and posted interviews with various high-profile Christians, Janzen hopes to help other males be better husbands and fathers.
Among the people he’s spoken to about their Christian beliefs are NFL running back Shaun Alexander, hip hop artist Fresh I.E., PGA golfer Aaron Baddely, Edmonton Eskimo Patrick Kabongo, and several pastors — including former Colorado pastor Ted Haggard, who was disgraced after admitting to soliciting a male prostitute and illegal drug use.
Janzen said helping others through inspiration is “my heart’s desire” because of his own troubled background.
The RDC Motion Picture Arts graduate who also holds a theology degree in pastoral ministries from a Caroline Bible college, is a 36-year-old married father of two, with his addictions long behind him. But many years ago, he said he turned to pornography at a young age because it helped quiet his many fears. Porn ended up skewing his perspective on relationships, putting the focus on lust and not love.
“Being in a relationship was a strange feeling; I longed to be loved and accepted, but yet I wanted lust to be the centre as well. My mind had become so accustomed to lusting, that I thought it was a normal part of any boyfriend/girlfriend relationship,” writes Janzen on his website.
Fearing that pornography was ruling his life, Janzen became depressed. He started seeking solace in religion but still found himself acting more “sinfully” after stumbling upon pay-for-sex massage parlours while in Calgary.
It took years of internal struggle, sessions with a Christian counsellor, reading the Bible and Christian texts such as Grace: The Power to Change, by Dr. James Richard, for Janzen to find the strength to overcome his habits.
He recounts on his website feeling a divine urging one day to read a particular Biblical passage that states: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
“Wow! All I could do was stare at this scripture and read it over and over again. God answered me! God spoke to me! God was giving me HIS formula to being free.”
Janzen started the website a year and a half ago to help others also find their way out of addictions and marital problems. He believes it’s a good first-step for people who might be too embarrassed.
As well as posting the celebrity interviews, he offers some on-line “teachings” and the opportunity for men to email him about their problems.
Janzen stressed he’s not a counsellor, so would refer severely troubled people to appropriate counselling agencies or churches. “I don’t think the answer is just to read the Bible and pray. God gave us people to help us.”
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com
