The fact that Dr. Stacy L. Spencer went into the ministry would probably not come as a huge surprise to those who know the Olmstead native. His father is Rev. Sammy Spencer, pastor of First Baptist Church at Fifth and Spring Streets in Russellville. But the fact that he has recently gained nationwide attention for a Bible study and book on sex might be a little more shocking. After all, pastors and churches aren't supposed to talk about that subject, are they?

According to Spencer they should.

Spencer said that as he counseled couples whose marriages were in trouble, three issues were often at the heart of the conflict: children, finance and sex. He realized that the church is often silent on the topic of sex.

“There is lots of secular advice on sex, but very little spiritual advice,” Spencer said. “Sex does not come up in church.”

Spencer decided to study what the Bible had to say about sex and learned that God fully supports sex in marriage. And he's not just talking about sex for procreation and only missionary style. Take Song of Solomon 2:3. Spencer says that is an allegory for oral sex.

“Those are the kind of scriptures we kind of look over and don't read,” he said. “I just thought it was time to break that taboo and the separation of spiritual life and sex.”

Spencer took what he learned in his study and first turned it into a Bible study, “40 Nights of Great Sex,” which drew over 400 married couples at New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tenn., where Spencer is pastor. He has also written a recently released book, “Naked & Unashamed: The Journey Toward Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage.”

Spencer teaches today's Christian married couples that it's in God's will for them to enjoy sex. He uses scriptures and leading expert advice to help couples learn how to please God and each other through healthy sexual interaction.

“God's desire is for marital couples to enjoy the gift of intimacy and sexual intercourse,” Spencer said. “This has been His desire since the creation of Adam and Eve.”

“Couples who have been married many years can find ways to revive the spark in their marriage,” Spencer said. “Couples who are about to marry can learn to recognize their brokenness so they may enter the union for a lifetime as two whole human beings.”

Spencer has gained national exposure for the 40 Nights Bible study and also for his book. He has been featured in Time and Essence magazines and ABC Nightline.

Spencer grew up in Olmstead and graduated from Logan County High School in 1986.

“I'm proud to be from Russellville,” Spencer said. “Growing up there gave me the grounding I needed. I made me closer to God and closer to people in a community.”

After graduating from LCHS, Spencer went on to Western Kentucky University where he received his bachelors in broadcast communication. While he was at Western, Spencer realized God was calling him to ministry. He went on to get his masters at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his doctorate of ministry at Drew University in New Jersey.

Spencer served as youth pastor at St. Stephens Baptist Church in Louisville and later served at a church in Memphis. In 2001, he started New Direction as a church plant with roughly 60 members. The church now has over 13,000 on roll and holds worship in two locations.

New Direction reaches out to all people, especially “seekers.” Seekers are people who’ve had little or no experience with or those who are disillusioned by traditional churches. The church’s culture of acceptance and fostering God’s love has proven extremely successful in reaching a core audience of “Generation X-ers”, with the congregation largely comprised of members ranging in their mid-30s or younger.

The church brings together seekers across all socio-economic levels – from the homeless and released offenders to the up and coming professionals and community leaders to worship together in more than 30 different ministries within the church, including GED/literacy programs, In the Zone Student Ministry, Boys to Men mentoring, Feed the Need and Prison ministry.

Spencer has tackled many relevant and out-of-the-box topics before, so his congregation was supportive when he began talking about sex. His wife, Rhonda, was also supportive and she taught the “40 Nights of Great Sex” Bible study with her husband. The couple have four sons: Calvin, Omari, Jordan and Jaden Lynn.

Spencer said he knows that some people may still question whether or not a pastor should be talking about sex, but he hopes people from his home county will buy his book see for themselves what the Bible has to say.

“Naked & Unashamed” is available at www.Stacy Spencer.org and in the Russellville area it can be purchased from Trevina Cage who can be contacted at tcage@cebridge.net or 270-847-3806.