Exclusive: Joshua Broome, Pornstar Turned Pastor, Tells The Truth About Lies

In a world where transformation stories are often met with skepticism and cynicism, Joshua Broome's sweeping change of career is undeniably unique. From the heights of adult film stardom to the humbling path of Christian ministry, he’s opening up about what it really looks like to exchange lies for the truth, one day at a time. 

Carmen Schober: Can you share a little bit about the series of events that led to your eventual transformation? 

Joshua Broome: At the height of my porn career, I had eclipsed a million dollars earned, I’d obtained popularity, and I had recently won Male Performer of the Year. I truly believed in my heart that those things would allow me to access true happiness and remove all the feelings of inadequacy I had, which were partly tied to growing up without a father. When even those things didn’t satisfy me, my anxiety was amplified and my depression deepened. 

That’s when I made a plan to take my life, but a small, simple act of kindness stopped me. I always tried to avoid talking to an actual person when I cashed checks because there was usually something disgusting on the memo line. The title of the movie, or a gross joke from the director, or something like that. I usually didn’t want people to see that, but that day, I did. I imagined handing the check to the teller and her looking at me with disgust, and I thought that would be a good sort of “last act.” That look would be a confirmation of who I really was. But instead, she looked me in the eyes and asked me if I was okay. And she called me by my actual name, which I hadn’t heard in years. 

That was the catalyst. From there, I left Los Angeles and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to work at a gym. Two years later, I met a girl who invited me to join her for a run. During the date, I was tired of lying and hiding, so I told her every bad thing I’d ever done, and her response changed my life. 

“Are you doing these things now?” she asked, and I answered no. Then she said something that shattered everything I believed to be true. She said, “You are not defined by the worst thing you’ve ever done, and you aren’t defined by the greatest thing you'll ever do. God defines you. Do you know Him?” 

We walked and talked for an hour or so, and then, after texting all week, she invited me to church. In church that day, I heard the gospel and gave my life to Jesus. That was nine years ago. That woman’s name is Hope, and we will celebrate eight years of marriage this summer and four beautiful sons together. 

CS: Based on your experience in the porn industry, what are the most common misconceptions people have about its impact?

JB: I usually break the impact of porn into a couple of different parts. First, pornography impacts the brain. It also shapes our hearts and what we believe about love. And then it colors how we see and interact with the world. 

Regarding the brain, there is mounting significant neuroscience research that shows the tangible damage to the brain from long-term porn use to the point where it’s visible on a CT scan. The effects of porn use on the brain are comparable to what you’d see in someone addicted to heroin or crack cocaine–their dopamine is completely dysregulated. This damages someone’s ability to hold their attention, and it's been tied to memory loss. It can also lead to a lack of motivation and productivity. When we spend hours consuming pornography, we have less time and energy to devote to other important areas of our lives, such as work, family, and friends.

Pornography can lead to social isolation and withdrawal. When we become obsessed with porn, we may find ourselves withdrawing from social situations and neglecting our relationships with others. This can lead to a sense of loneliness and disconnection from the world around us.

On an even deeper level, when it comes to the heart, when someone is a slave to their desires and constantly seeking immediate gratification, this can lead to an obsession with sexual pleasure that takes our focus away from what is truly important in life. The usual result is gradually engaging in more selfish behavior and caring less about the needs of others. People might begin to see people as objects to be used for their own pleasure rather than as individuals created in the image of God. Obviously, this leads to a distorted view of sexuality and relationships and damages us and other people. 

From a biblical perspective, we see that God's plan for sexuality is a beautiful and sacred thing. Sex is meant to be enjoyed as a means of greater intimacy and pleasure within the context of a committed marriage relationship between one man and one woman for one lifetime. So, when we engage in sexual immorality, including pornography, we are going against God's plan and damaging our relationship with Him as well.

CS: If you had the opportunity to speak to your former colleagues still working in the porn industry, what would you tell them? 

JB: That I love you so very much. I have been where you are, and it is so easy to lock yourself into this vortex of a lie where you simultaneously feel trapped by shame and guilt and believe that there is nothing else you could do with your life, so you make yourself believe that you love what you do. But there is real meaning and purpose to your life, and you’re robbing that from yourself. There is a God who loves you, knows everything about you, and has an incredible plan for your life. 

The world is broken and full of chaos, but Jesus came into this world to meet you where you are in the middle of your pain, hurt, guilt, and shame and offer you forgiveness through faith in Him and a new and better life as you put your faith in Him. No one could ever disqualify themselves from the love of God, but to access the healing we all need comes from realizing you were born to know God, love Him, and devote your life to Him. There’s no other way to be set free. 

CS: Transitioning from a porn actor to a pastor is a path that likely comes with criticism from all sides. How do you handle negative feedback, and what keeps you motivated?

JB: Over the last decade since leaving the industry, I’ve received a tremendous amount of backlash, but at the same time, so many people have reached out to me to ask how I did it. And I am honored that I get the repeated opportunity to point hurting people to the only one who can heal them, which is Jesus. It’s my joy to carry that burden.

CS: Obviously, the dating landscape is fraught with all kinds of challenges for both sexes. If you could leave them with one piece of advice, what would it be? 

JB: It is impossible to love someone well without loving yourself. We all carry hurt and presuppositions based on past experiences. Marriage won’t “fix” this. If we bring our addictions, unresolved trauma, and unprocessed pain into a marriage, it will just amplify it and end up hurting the person you love most. 

So, if you are single and looking for a spouse, use this time wisely. Dig into a deeper relationship with God, and find a real friend who you can process struggles, hurt, and sin in your life with. Make a plan to get out of debt, focus on your health, and work to create healthy rhythms of rest in your life. If you become a healthier version of yourself, most likely, you’ll attract someone similar, and your marriage will be healthier because of it. 

Lastly, sex is not the definition of intimacy, and if you believe it is, you will never be satisfied and you will miss out on what true love actually is. Intimacy is found in close proximity to God. If how you see yourself and how you see others is born out of loving God and overflowing from His love for you, that will change everything. 

CS: What would you say to those who want freedom from their addictions but feel too isolated? 

JB: You are only as free as you are honest. Push through your doubts and criticisms, and find a community of people who follow Jesus and love you, and then commit to a life of vulnerability and honesty. It’s not a quick fix, but that is where you will find your healing and freedom over time. 

CS: Leaving behind a well-known persona to rebuild a new identity seems really challenging. How did you navigate the process of redefining yourself?

JB: Easy. That person died when I gave my life to Jesus. I had no clue who I was after I got out of the industry, but the Bible gave me the wisdom to understand who I am and who I was created to be. My passions and purposes in life changed, and the more I connected with God and other people, the more I discovered pieces of myself I never knew were there. At the same time, other pieces of myself, like my shame from being in the industry, faded away. 

CS: Your new book is about seven lies that can ruin lives. If you had to boil it down into a single message for readers, what would it be?

JB: Essentially, my book confronts the fact that if you believe a lie, even though it’s not true, it feels true to you. And that lie is like a broken lens, so when you try to build a worldview, you’re inevitably missing important things, and that’s going to lead to more brokenness. 

When you exchange a lie for the truth, you can see clearly. You can see that you’re already wanted by God, and he’s shown that He loves you. You can see that you are a terrible god over your own life and that you can’t fix yourself by yourself. You can see that you can stop pretending that you’re okay when you aren’t. And ultimately, you can see that the truth really does set you free.

You can follow Josh on Instagram and preorder his book, 7 Lies That Will Ruin Your Life, wherever books are sold.

Evie deserves to be heard. Support our cause and help women reclaim their femininity by subscribing today.