When the Temple Breaks: Eric Thomas's Journey from NFL Dreams to Sexual Integrity
📻 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 – 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟖 Show Notes
Licensed counselors JJ West and Doug Barnes kick off a Season 3 mini‑series introducing Every Man's Battle facilitators by sitting down with Eric Thomas, LMFT. Eric shares his powerful story: early exposure to his father's porn stash, NFL dreams shattered by a shooting at 20, years of shame over his scarred body, transactional relationships, and deep isolation—until God met him in an RV in the Eastern Sierras and showed him he was becoming his father: a man who would die alone.
You'll hear:
- How trauma and resentment fueled years of acting out, self‑soothing with porn, and using women to avoid vulnerability.
- The moment Eric realized he'd "booked his yearly vacation with his dog" because he refused to let a woman close enough to reject him.
- How God's patient grace brought Eric from brokenness to becoming a facilitator who helps other men find freedom and wholeness.
🎟 Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 to save $100 on the Every Man's Battle Intensive—the 3‑day workshop where men like Eric lead you out of isolation and shame into brotherhood, healing, and lasting sexual integrity.
📧 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 & 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
Want extra tools and follow‑up content for Season 3?
EMBpodcast@newlife.com
with "Bonus Content" in the subject line to receive exclusive Every Man's Battle Podcast resources.
Have a question, topic suggestion, or your own story to share?
EMBpodcast@newlife.com
with "Podcast Question" in the subject line. JJ and Doug read and respond to listener emails, and your feedback shapes future episodes.
☎️ Need prayer, a counselor, or more info on workshops and groups?
👉 Call 800‑NEW‑LIFE or visit NewLife.com for counseling, groups, and faith‑based sexual integrity resources.
🎟 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 – 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄
If Eric's story resonates—if you see your own trauma, resentment, isolation, or transactional relationships—the Every Man's Battle Intensive is where healing begins. This 3‑day, in‑person workshop, led by licensed Christian counselors like Eric, creates a no‑shame zone where men bring hidden struggles into the light, find brotherhood, and receive practical tools for lasting sexual integrity.
📅 Upcoming Dates:
January 23–25, 2026: Orange County, CA
April 24–26, 2026: Washington, DC (Early Bird discount ends April 10)
February 28, 2026: 1‑Day Online Intensive (Early Bird discount ends Feb 13)
Use code 𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐏𝐎𝐃 when you register to save $100 on your tuition. If cost is a concern, ask about scholarships and financial assistance when you call 800‑NEW‑LIFE—New Life does not want money to be the reason you stay stuck.
🎧 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓: 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐒
After the Every Man's Battle Intensive, ongoing Sustained Victory groups provide weekly virtual coaching, accountability, and deeper healing with other men on the same path. These small groups, led by trained counselors, reinforce biblical truth and help you maintain momentum so you don't go back to isolation, shame, or acting out.
🎧 Discover more ways to listen & watch:
👉 Every Man's Battle Podcast hub:
https://newlife.com/podcasts/every-mans-battle/
👉 New Life LIVE & other podcasts:
#EveryMansBattle #SexualIntegrity #EricThomas #FacilitatorStories #ChristianMen #Trauma #Resentment #Grace #RecoveryJourney #NFLDreams #BrothersInChrist #EveryMansBattleWorkshop #NewLifeMinistries
Featured Offer
Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. The Every Man’s Battle Workshop is the place where men engage in the battle to get back their sexual integrity. In this intensive three-day workshop you’ll work with licensed Christian counselors who will arm you with the weapons you need for victory. The enemy may have wounded you, but the battle is not over. Register today. Too much is at stake not to take action.
Featured Offer
Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive. The Every Man’s Battle Workshop is the place where men engage in the battle to get back their sexual integrity. In this intensive three-day workshop you’ll work with licensed Christian counselors who will arm you with the weapons you need for victory. The enemy may have wounded you, but the battle is not over. Register today. Too much is at stake not to take action.
About Every Man’s Battle Podcast
Becoming a man of sexual integrity is an ongoing process, and we can help you on the journey. New Life's EVERY MAN’S BATTLE PODCAST can assist you on the pathway to becoming the man you hope to be. As all things sexual integrity; EVERY MAN’S BATTLE PODCAST is for EVERY MAN!
Use discount code EMBPOD to save $100 when you register for the Every Man's Battle Intensive.
About JJ West & Doug Barnes
JJ WEST
JJ is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Orlando. With a Master’s and Specialist degrees in Counselor Education, JJ began private practice after years of working with children, adolescents and families in outpatient settings. In 2009, he became an Every Man’s Battle Workshop facilitator, taking over as the main presenter in 2022. Before becoming a therapist, he worked for several years with college students in both Christian ministry and church settings. JJ is married with 2 adult children; and enjoys outdoor adventures, traveling to other cultures, good movies, and Florida State sports.
DOUG BARNES
Doug is a LifeCoach and Licensed Professional Counselor with Supervisor status working in private practice in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex; working primarily with men and couples in finding restoration and redemption from sexual brokenness. His journey into becoming a clinician began in his teens and cultivated into a road to healing in his early twenties after the death of his father. He has worked with Every Man’s Battle Intensive Workshops as a facilitator since 2006. His passion is to give other men what God has given him—freedom. Doug has been married for 31 years and has 2 sons. He is a rollercoaster junkie, runner, all around fitness gym rat, and sometimes even breaks out his guitars to play.
Contact Every Man’s Battle Podcast with JJ West & Doug Barnes
EMBpodcast@newlife.com
http://everymansbattle.com/
New Life
P.O. Box 1029
Lake Forest, CA 92609-1029
Phone Number
(800) NEW-LIFE (639-5433)