Real Love, Real Truth

Aloha Friends,

What would you be willing to lay your life down for?

Michele recently received serious interest to bring The Brave Series to a country in South America where the international sex trade is very active. While this news is exciting, it also reminded me of a powerful word the Lord gave Michele over 10 years ago.

During worship time, while at a conference in California, the Lord spoke to Michele clearly in her mind, "Are you willing to die for the movement? It will cost you everything." She said a loud YES through her sobbing, not understanding fully what the 'movement' was about. All she knew was that she was surrendering her life anew and afresh again to God. Just about 10 SECONDS later, after the Lord spoke this to her, the main speaker that night stepped on stage unexpectedly, took the mic from the worship leader, and declared loudly, "Are you willing to die for the movement? It will cost you everything!" Michele knew she heard from God as He confirmed His message to her miraculously verbatim! I remember her calling me, her voice full of emotion, with long pauses as we processed the weight of what God asked her years ago. The conviction in her words came through the phone and settled on me like a holy burden. The Brave Series, God's idea, is part of what He wants to use to bring His healing, transformation, and protection to the generations. These publications have the potential to launch young people into their God-given purpose and at the same time, protect them from being victimized by the billion-dollar human trafficking industry. I knew then that my prayers for my friend, boss, and work-mom needed to go to a deeper level.

Will you join me in keeping Michele, her family, and The Brave Series on your prayer list?

Truth always comes with a cost. Jesus is Truth personified, yet Truth was crucified.

As believers, we are all called to live with such devotion to the Lord as stated in Revelations 12:11 NKJV: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." 

Over a week ago, we witnessed the assassination of someone who pointed to the Truth. We may not have agreed with Charlie Kirk’s style or every word he spoke, but because he pointed people to Truth, many returned to church last Sunday and opened their Bibles again. You cannot kill Truth. As the early martyrs proved, persecution only amplifies the message.

Now, you may have seen our motto: Real Love, Real Truth. That has always been our heartbeat—sharing Truth with love. We may not do it like Charlie, but we do it in the way God has called Explicit Movement to do it.

Here are some helpful tips to share truth with love:

1. Validate Before Challenging

• Start by showing you understand their perspective, even if you disagree.

• Example: “I can see why you’d feel strongly about that—it’s an issue many people wrestle with.”

• Why: This lowers defenses, because people feel heard instead of attacked.

2. Ask, Don’t Tell (Socratic Method)

• Use open-ended questions that gently expose contradictions.

• Example: “If gender isn’t connected to biology, why do people change their bodies to match how they feel?”

• Why: People resist being told they’re wrong, but are more open when they arrive at the conclusion themselves.

3. Lower the Emotional Temperature

• Slow your tone, lower your voice, and keep calm body language.

• When possible, use humor or shared humanity: “We’ve all believed something at one point that we later realized wasn’t true.”

• Why: Calmness helps deactivate the fight-or-flight response.

4. Preserve Their Dignity

• Offer an “off-ramp” so that changing their mind doesn’t feel humiliating.

• Example: “A lot of people used to think that way until more evidence came out—it’s a really common shift.”

• Why: People are more willing to reconsider if it doesn’t cost them pride.

5. Tell Stories, Not Just Facts

• Share real-life examples or analogies instead of blunt data.

• Example: “I had a friend who thought X, but when Y happened, they saw things differently.”

• Why: Stories bypass defenses and engage empathy, while raw facts can feel like attacks.

6. Focus on Shared Values

• Instead of starting with disagreement, highlight common ground.

• Example: “I think we both care about fairness and protecting vulnerable people. The question is how we best do that.”

• Why: Creates unity before addressing division.

7. Plant Seeds, Don’t Force Conversions

• Accept that most people won’t change instantly.

• End with something they can reflect on later.

• Example: “That’s a good question to think about—I wrestled with it for a while myself.”

• Why: People often shift privately when pride is no longer on the line.

We pray this encourages you to foster healthy dialogue in your families and communities. Thank you for standing with us for Truth, no matter the cost.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

John 12:24 (NLT)

With warm regards,

Joshua Kaina and The Explicit Movement Staff