Baylor’s FM72 Challenges and Equips Students to Overcome Pornography Addiction and Sexual Sin
For those of us helping others walk in freedom from sexual sin, it can be disheartening to encounter the sobering stories and statistics of the level of porn addiction among Christians. But what we often don’t hear is how God is at work in powerful ways. On the campus of Baylor University in Waco, Texas, local college ministry leaders dared to address sexual sin and porn addiction that most spiritual leaders don’t want to address. They didn’t just rail against the topic but they used some Freedom Fight resources as part of the discipleship they offered them and the response was incredible.
Waco College Ministries Identify the Need
Jacob Lackey, a Baylor University alumnus, college ministry leader, and member at Highland Baptist Church in Waco, shares a compelling story. A church-conducted survey revealed that roughly 70% of ministry leaders struggled with sexual sin. This alarming statistic prompted action. Highland collaborated with other local churches and campus ministries to establish small groups. These groups use Freedom Fight’s resources to provide a safe space for confession, repentance, and discipleship that leads to freedom. They foster a movement towards outgrowing porn and other sexual sin by growing and developing in key areas of their lives that address the roots of porn or sexual addiction. Currently, there are 12 active Freedom Fight groups that God is using to bring freedom from the destructive grasp of sexual sin.
A church-conducted survey revealed that ~70% of ministry leaders struggled with sexual sin.
The Power of Collective Prayer: FM72
FM72 is a 72-hour prayer and worship event held on Baylor’s Fountain Mall each spring. This event, organized by local college ministries since 2018, draws thousands of students each year who seek spiritual renewal.Students gather to sing songs, hear from various speakers, and spend extended time in prayer. According to the Baylor University website, over 6,000 students attended FM72 in 2023 with an estimated similar turnout in 2024.
Charles Ramsey, Associate Chaplain at Baylor explains, “The goal of FM72 is to stir a passion for Jesus Christ in the Baylor community.” Isaiah 62:10-12 was the basis for this year’s theme: Lord, Make Us Ready.
10 Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones;
lift up a signal over the peoples.
11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
12 And they shall be called The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken.
Necessity Meets Opportunity at Baylor’s FM72
Campus ministers from different ministries and churches agreed that pornography and sexual sin were one of the biggest issues that were holding students back in their walk with Christ and Kingdom living. . The college ministry leaders introduced a novel approach to address the issue during FM72 this March. They distributed business cards with a QR code to all who attended. These cards discreetly invited participants to The Freedom Fight’s 30-Day Challenge. This strategy proved effective. 480 students registered their commitment to breaking free from the bonds of sexual sin. They wanted help. Leaders of church college ministries followed up with those who signed up to connect them in community as they go through The Freedom Fight’s 30-Day Challenge.
The Future is Bright in Waco
The groundwork laid during FM72 is just the beginning. Local church college ministries “are preparing now to encourage more students to join recovery groups at their churches, including starting more Freedom Fight flagship groups this fall to build on the 30-Day Challenge they experienced in April. This ensures that both current participants and future Baylor students have access to continual support for overcoming the shame and destruction of sexual sin in their lives. The initiative’s success at Baylor shows the transformative power of community and the passionate commitment of leaders like Jacob and others who are willing to address the sin that is keeping students stuck from a deeper walk with Christ and impact for Christ. Through the obedience of these leaders hundreds, if not thousands, of students have the opportunity to find freedom from a sin that is destroying lives, ministries, marriages, and testimonies like nothing we’ve ever seen.
A Call to The Freedom Fight Supporters
As champions of The Freedom Fight, your support is instrumental in this kind of impact happening. Each prayer, and each donation, contributes to larger battles of helping to set people free to run after Christ and His purposes (Hebrews 12:1).. Your continued partnership empowers us to continue to give these resources to ministry leaders on the front lines.
Your investment in the Freedom Fight is being felt at campuses like Baylor across the country. If you have not done so, please consider contributing to the work of The Freedom Fight so that more and more men and women can experience the same life change as part of their discipleship.
