Christ’s reign and rule pervades every square inch of the world, even the most secret places. Tyrel Luchies, a third-year theology student, and Kristen Hogan, a fourth-year psychology student, are not afraid to shine Jesus’ light into the darkness through Real Talk, the club they lead for students struggling with sexual sin, including addiction to pornography and masturbation.
From late elementary school until his first year of university, Luchies was addicted to pornography. After finding support, leading an accountability group with some of his friends and being part of a Redeemer men’s Bible study, he felt led to start a campus accountability group. He hosted a kick-off event in March 2023 with nearly two dozen courageous attendees. Noticing equal representation between men and women, he quickly recruited a female leader, Hogan, who had also gone through similar struggles.
Real Talk facilitates authentic Christian communities where men and women can find freedom and hope. The men’s and women’s groups have weekly meetings, as well as a group chat for regular check-ins. At meetings, members practice self-reflection and encourage one another in their sexual and spiritual lives.
But [fear] is a tactic of the enemy. If he can get us to keep our sin in the dark, that’s the best way to prevent us from finding freedom.
“At Real Talk, people not only get the chance to share about what they’re going through for the first time and realize that other people are going through it too, but they can also be received in love and be affirmed–not for the thing they’re doing, but for the possibility of breaking free,” says Luchies.
A quote by St. Irenaeus of Lyons is meaningful to Luchies when thinking about the ministry’s purpose: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” In other words, true flourishing and lasting freedom from any addiction is found in knowing one’s identity in Christ Jesus.
Real Talk’s mission verse is James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Luchies and Hogan wholly believe that the Gospel, which casts out condemnation and permanently dispels shame, has incredible healing power. Unfortunately, especially for women, shame can sometimes be amplified in church settings.
“Even in Christian communities where we’re supposed to feel comfortable carrying each other’s burdens and being there for each other, we can feel this fear of oversharing,” says Hogan. “But that is a tactic of the enemy. If he can get us to keep our sin in the dark, that’s the best way to prevent us from finding freedom.”
Equipped with the love of Christ, Luchies and Hogan are ready for this to change.