The young man who rings the bell at the door of a brothel is unconsciously looking for God.
Bruce Marshall

In most American cities, the demand to purchase sex is strong. That may seem shocking to some. We immediately think, surely I don’t know anybody who would do that!

However, the demographics of sex buyers are incredibly diverse: it really is an “any man” crime. According to Shared Hope International, 99% of buyers are male; their professions widely vary (anything from CEO to school bus driver to college student); and many are married with children. Even in Fort Collins, which has been consistently ranked as one of the most desirable places to live, a pastor/high school teacher was recently arrested for solicitation of prostitution.

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Those who buy sex are opting for lust instead of love.

“[Lust] is about meeting a legitimate need in an illegitimate way,” says Pastor Aaron Stern of Mill City Church. It’s about taking instead of giving. It’s about immediate gratification, a concept to which we can all relate. Lust is the meeting of needs without regard to consequences or to the impact made on others’ lives.

To a great extent, while buying sex is seen as uncouth, many also view it as a low-level, unimportant crime. This societal norm only encourages buyers to feel justified. Furthermore, as a culture, we have been trained to tolerate any act for any reason.

But in tolerating the purchase of sex via porn, prostitution, etc., we are unwittingly perpetuating sex trafficking. Research tells us that as many as 80% of those arrested for prostitution admitted to being forced to sell sex by a pimp. The fact of the matter is that buyers (given anonymity as “johns”) have no way of knowing whether the person from whom they’re purchasing sex is under the control of someone else.

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Whether you’re the person buying sex or the one silently tolerating this behavior, we each have a part to end the demand and bring freedom to others.
Check out Part Two: Ending the Demand in Your City.
Want to know more?

Register for our upcoming workshops that will teach women and men on this issue. Check it out!

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