Jenna Presley, whose real name is Brittni Ruiz, was interviewed on ”The View” Monday about the impact that Jesus Christ has made in her life. Craig Gross’ XXXChurch played a pivotal role in her coming to know Christ as her Savior, and the former porn star turned away from a lot of money and fame in the pornography industry when she ran into His arms of grace.
Brittni Ruiz started stripping at a young age. She says she didn’t have a very good childhood and was searching for love in “all the wrong places.” At the age of 18, she began working in the pornography industry. She averaged about three sex scenes per day, and had made hundreds of adult videos. Despite making a lot of money in the industry, she has turned it all away for the sake of something infinitely more valuable – mercy, love, forgiveness, joy – a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Co-host of “The View” Sherri Shepherd asked Ruiz if she felt empowered during her career as a porn star. Ruiz assured her that she did not. “In the beginning, I felt ‘beautiful,’ I felt like I had found my self-worth, and after a while I felt destroyed, hopeless. I felt helpless – I tried to commit suicide several times. I was miserable,” she said. Ruiz’s grandmother had tried to get her to change her lifestyle and to go to church, but it was to no avail.
God used the XXXChurch organization to help Ruiz begin to see her need for Him. The online community and volunteer base helps point people in the industry, as well as those struggling with pornography addictions, to the saving and powerful love of Christ. The organization goes to all of the largest adult expositions in the country, giving out Bibles and “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” t-shirts. Gross started XXXChurch after realizing that the topic of sex and pornography was the biggest issue he faced as a Youth Pastor.
XXXChurch staff member Rachel Collins formed a caring relationship with Ruiz at an adult expo, and eventually helped her come to know Jesus. The former porn star finally understood that she was loved and valued – so much so that the Son of God would come to earth Himself to die for her sins and to restore her fellowship with God. His fulfilling love is what she had been searching for all of her life.
Ruiz now works with XXXChurch, talking to women in the industry about how Jesus can help them start a new life. Shepherd asked Ruiz if she ever misses the industry work or wants to go back. “No, absolutely not,” Ruiz answered -“I’ve encountered the love of God, and through encountering His love, I know my self-worth.” She exclaimed with a joyful smile on her face, “I love myself, I respect myself, and I found that void – the void that I was searching for was found in Jesus, and I could never go back!”
