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Our Vision

1,000 Mentors Trained by 2030

BraveHearts began with one man's journey from recovery to redemption from sexual addiction. Since then, we've helped thousands of courageous men and women - aka BraveHearts - undertake their own Hero's Journey by pursuing freedom in Christ and a redemptive life of service to God and others.

About Us

Co-CEO, Founder

Michael Leahy

A nationally recognized author, speaker, and expert on pornography and sexual addiction recovery, Michael is the author of five books (Moody Publishing) including Porn Nation: Conquering America’s #1 Addiction. He has been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The View, Good Morning America, CNN, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and countless local media outlets. His books, articles, and speaking events have reached an audience of over 100 million people worldwide.

In addition to being a popular speaker in churches and at church conferences, Michael was one of Cru’s top evangelistic speakers on college campuses for nearly a decade. In his critically acclaimed “Porn Nation” and “Exposed” campus evangelism events, Michael used his expertise and personal redemption story to educate and share the Gospel with over 100,000 students on hundreds of college campuses worldwide, resulting in thousands praying to receive Christ.

He also served on the Board of the International Association of Certified Sexual Addiction Specialists (IACSAS) for five years, is a Certified Pastoral Sexual Addiction Specialist (CPSAS), and managed the development of IACSAS’ pastoral care counselor certification program.

Michael pioneered the creation and development of professional mentoring as a new approach to providing quality mental health care for those who struggle with sexual addiction and betrayal trauma. Hundreds of men and women, most of whom have successfully navigated their way through their own recovery journey, have received world-class training to become Certified Professional Mentors™ through Bravehearts’ critically acclaimed Launch Your Mentoring Ministry™ mentor training and certification program.

Co-CEO

Christine Leahy

Christine is an Army veteran previously tasked with special orders to train soldiers in the Army Suicide Prevention Program. She was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the distinguished honor graduate award, and the Soldier of the Cycle award. In 2014 the Joint Special Operations Command of the US Army invited her and Michael to speak on the subject of sex addiction and recovery.

A nationally and internationally experienced speaker, Christine’s past speaking engagements have included story-based evangelism events on college campuses, Masters of Ceremonies for the United States Army Birthday Ball, and narrator/presenter for a multi-million dollar tour production of the Army’s history called Spirit of America before arena audiences typically exceeding 15,000 people.

Her extensive education includes acute stress, grief, and trauma, the Community Resiliency Model, the HEART Model, assessment and treatment of PTSD, compassion fatigue, and compassion stress management. She is a member of the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology and the American Association of Christian Counselors.

While much of Christine’s professional experience is in crisis response, she’s also a self-taught website designer and digital marketer. She’s produced five successful virtual summits involving dozens of subject matter experts on everything from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma to divorce recovery, educating over 20,000 attendees from 100 countries. She enjoys teaching digital marketing strategies to mentors and faith-based non-profits who need help multiplying their mission’s message online.

Co-CEO

Christine Leahy

Christine is an Army veteran previously tasked with special orders to train soldiers in the Army Suicide Prevention Program. She was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the distinguished honor graduate award, and the Soldier of the Cycle award. In 2014 the Joint Special Operations Command of the US Army invited her and Michael to speak on the subject of sex addiction and recovery.

A nationally and internationally experienced speaker, Christine’s past speaking engagements have included story-based evangelism events on college campuses, Masters of Ceremonies for the United States Army Birthday Ball, and narrator/presenter for a multi-million dollar tour production of the Army’s history called Spirit of America before arena audiences typically exceeding 15,000 people.

Her extensive education includes acute stress, grief, and trauma, the Community Resiliency Model, the HEART Model, assessment and treatment of PTSD, compassion fatigue, and compassion stress management. She is a member of the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology and the American Association of Christian Counselors.

While much of Christine’s professional experience is in crisis response, she’s also a self-taught website designer and digital marketer. She’s produced five successful virtual summits involving dozens of subject matter experts on everything from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma to divorce recovery, educating over 20,000 attendees from 100 countries. She enjoys teaching digital marketing strategies to mentors and faith-based non-profits who need help multiplying their mission’s message online.

People Over Programs

The Core Values That Drive Our Ministry

1

Christ-Centered

We believe in the power of God and His Holy Scriptures to help guide and shape us into loving, servant-minded leaders and hero-makers.
2

Transformational Learning

We believe that people can find freedom & healing through world-class education and training that helps transform their mind and soul.
3

Democratize Care

We believe in making expert-led, psycho-educational online content available to the global Church at as low a cost as possible.
4

Connection

We create programs that deliberately connect those people who need help to those with help to give in the context of faith-based recovery.
5

Self-Care

We believe in regularly assessing our compassion fatigue and ensuring we are happy, whole, and healthy in order to serve others well.
6

Innovation

We are technological risk-takers. We look at the world of ministry, recovery, and counseling through a virtual and global lens.

20-Year History

BraveHearts Launched as Faith-based Recovery Ministry

  • BraveHearts birthed out of Michael’s redemption story, recovery from sexual addiction
  • Accepted into Ministry Ventures, a ministry incubator led by Boyd Bailey & Mike Kendrick
  • Commissioned & sponsored by North Point Community Church, Andy Stanley, Sr. Pastor
  • BraveHearts pioneers the use of teleconferencing for sexual addiction recovery groups

Ministry Focus Shifts to Increase Awareness, Education

  • Michael’s story featured on ABC’s 20/20, The View, other major media outlets
  • Strategic partnership formed with Cru for campus evangelism, discipleship events
  • Michael in Exposed sermon series w/ Andy Stanley, North Point Comm Church
  • BraveHearts produces 100th Porn Nation event, campus attendance tops 46,000

Porn Nation

Campus-wide evangelism events co-sponsored by Cru campus ministries

Exposed

Church-based sermon series increasing awareness & education

Strategic Partnerships Help Expand Global Reach, Impact

  • Moody Publishing and Michael complete Porn Nation 5-book deal
  • BraveHearts, Cru complete two Porn Nation Eastern European Tours
  • Porn Nation book voted “Outreach Resource of the Year ” by Outreach Magazine
  • Campus, church, and conference appearances exceed 300 events, and reach 135,000+
  • Michael, BraveHearts surpass 100 million impressions in national, local TV & print media

Pioneering a Bold New Approach to Recovery: Mentoring

  • Rapid growth of social media, digital porn creates an alarming increase in sex addiction, trauma
  • Ministry focus shifts from awareness and education to finding new solutions for recovery
  • Michael pioneers use of 1-on-1 mentoring and group mentoring as a new approach to recovery
  • 5-year proof-of-concept results confirm mentoring as arguably the most effective tool for recovery
  • BraveHearts University launched as global platform providing online recovery and mentor training

Train 1,000 Mentors by 2030: Responding to a Mental Health Crisis

  • “Launch Your Mentoring Ministry” Mentor Training & Certification Program debuts
  • BraveHearts produces 5 mentoring-centric virtual summits attracting 24,000+ attendees
  • Hundreds subscribe to MasterClass & Daily Disciplines online recovery training courses
  • 200 men and women trained, dozens accredited as Certified Professional Mentors™
  • Train 1,000 Mentors by 2030 is our goal in response to a global mental health crisis

How We Can Help You Find Hope & Healing

“It helped me to see my addiction & myself more clearly; it provided me with enough hope that change for me is possible & showed me direction & the way to go. It changed the way I see my recovery & that I wasn't created to live in this addiction.”

M. M.

Become a Mentor and Help Others

We're looking for courageous men and women who are conquering addiction and trauma and are ready to guide others on their own Hero's Journey towards healing and freedom.

I Want To Be A Mentor