In what could easily be dismissed as yet another Christian book, Love Always Ministries' Richard and Brittni De La Mora preach the game changing acts of purifying one's life. Considering their life histories, they both walk the walk, and talk the talk.
Before they found God, Brittni was a pornographic performer. She spent seven years in the business, making hundreds of videos. She also was prostituted, suffered from mental illness and drug addiction, and witnessed a boyfriend's murder. Her transformation was not an overnight event, her relationship with God is an ongoing relationship that must be nurtured everyday. Her husband, Richard, also tells a story. His family had a successful business in California, and Richard was set to take it over and continue in his hard-earned, wealthy lifestyle until God called him to minister to others. The book mentions while some people find God when they hit rock bottom, Richard found the Lord while he was on top of his game. He was also a disc jockey, but gave that up as well so he could minister as best he could- taking odd jobs around the church behind the scenes. Richard also suffers from alopecia, the absence of hair on the body (not just male pattern baldness), and dealt with that just as he was taking on more public responsibilities where people would be looking upon him.
The word "purity" has taken on a different meaning lately, i.e. purity of a sexual nature. While Brittni De La Mora could probably write an entire book about her old life and experiences, she and her husband have put together a book that promotes purity of the spirit as well. There is a sexual, non-explicit chapter here about sexual purity, but what about purifying your life through the people you call your friends? Living a pure life involves everything from sexual purity to physical purity to a consistent purity even after you have given your life to God. The De La Moras preach without getting preachy, and acknowledge the difficulties of ministering to others, even if it's friends and family who feel abandoned as you go on a holier-than-thou ego trip. The book is dedicated to their daughter, and they are prime examples not only of the adage that you really can change your life, but that God can do amazing things in your life.
While Brittni does not back down from her past, she isn't flippant about what she went through, and the difficulties of finding a life partner in Richard. It's heartbreaking to read the chapter about Confession and Accountability where Richard finally asks Brittni about her past, and her internal struggle to tell him everything. I felt for the both of them. They are to be commended for their brutal honesty throughout the book, and the knowledge that someday their children will have questions. It's sad in this day and age that an internet troll once sent an image of Brittni and another man from a porn video to Richard. Their ministry is active online, but so are Brittni's former fans, some of whom can't be happy for her life's turnaround and their need to personify the word "troll." The book's main drawback is sometimes not knowing who was "speaking" what I was reading, despite the authors' and editor's best efforts. While Brittni has the more flamboyant past, she and Richard seem to share writing duties equally, drawing some incredibly appropriate Bible quotes into their lives.
The De La Moras are to be commended. They aren't holier than thou, they acknowledge the continuous struggles involved with their walk with God and their dealings with the secular world. They make the call to purity a possible aspect in your life, and God is waiting for you to come back to Him. More information can be found at lovealwaysministries.com
