Posted on 05/23/2004 4:54:17 PM PDT by scripter
On Sunday, May 16, I invited a young man to speak at Thomas Road Baptist Church because I believe he has a message of healing and hope that needs to be heard by many Americans. However, if we are to listen to the influential mainstream media and Hollywood community, this young man's message is completely illegitimate and without merit. You see, this man, Mike Haley, lived for 12 years in the homosexual community. But he is no longer there. He is living a life of steadfast faith that the homosexual community deplores. But Mike's message is so important I wanted to detail it in this column.
Today, Mike Haley works as manager of the Gender Division within the Legislative and Cultural Affairs Department at Focus on the Family. Since 1992, when he returned to his faith, Mike has shared with audiences totaling tens of thousands, both nationally and internationally, on the issues surrounding homosexuality. In addition to his role at Focus on the Family, he serves as chairman of the board of Exodus International, the world's largest Evangelical Christian organization helping men and women overcome homosexuality. He is also author of the new book, "101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality," which I believe will uniquely impact the church in regard to addressing the needs of recovering homosexuals.
Space limitations prevent me from recounting Mike's full story, but to synopsize, he found himself empty and alone after 12 years of seeking satisfaction in homosexuality. He "believed the lie" that he was born gay because that is considered conventional wisdom in today's world.
But, as Mike notes, to believe that misinformation requires one to believe that there is "no possibility of change." And the simple fact is that thousands of people have turned their backs on homosexuality.
Mike made this revolutionary turnaround by immersing himself in the faith he had known as a boy. While the return to his faith was a sometimes rocky road, Mike was mentored by Christians who loved him, sacrificed for him and steadfastly prayed for him. One of those Christians, Jeff Konrad, pursued Mike for five long years prior to Mike's ultimate return to his faith. Jeff is the author of "You Don't Have to Be Gay," a book that offers hope and freedom for males struggling with homosexuality or for those who know of someone who is.
Mike and Jeff point out that the book is not an attack on those who have embraced homosexuality. Rather, the purpose of this book is to help those who are not happy as homosexuals to change their identity. The book features a series of letters from Jeff to Mike during Mike's period of recovery.
During this critical time in his life, Mike also had a family that never stopped praying that he would open his heart to the gentle tug of the Savior. But even after he came back to his faith, Mike struggled mightily for quite some time with sexual temptations. And then he met a group of Christians who had been out of homosexuality for five, 10, even 15 years. They were open about their faith and their struggles; Mike had discovered a group of believers he could count on to help him continue through his full-circle journey back to Christ.
And then Mike met Angie, a young woman who intrigued him in ways he had never experienced in his life. And they were married. What's more, they now have two boys. Life has indeed come full-circle for Mike Haley. He has dedicated his life to communicating this victorious story to young people struggling with same-sex attraction and with adult homosexuals who are dissatisfied with their lives. It is a unique ministry that is essential for the 21st century church that is facing issues that earlier generations never imagined.
I recount Mike's story today not because I hate homosexuals, but because I want to offer hope to any people who have embraced that lifestyle and are seeking spiritual freedom. I have personally mentored several people who have made this dramatic decision and I consider that a wonderful privilege to be involved in their lives and new ministries.
To read Mike's full testimony from the May 16 service, I encourage readers to visit my National Liberty Journal website: http://www.nljonline.com. Also, anyone wishing to purchase a copy of Jeff Konrad's book, "You Don't Have to Be Gay," may do so at Focus' website.
Ping
I bet that would make a great tag line.
Ping.
More on homosexuality and genetics. Science tells us the major factor behind homosexuality is environment, not genetics.
Homosexual Agenda Ping - Sounds like a good book and a good link.
Check it out even if Jerry Falwell is not your favorite cup of tea.
The important thing is the homosexuality is really Same Sex Attraction Disorder - and people with it can and do change.
let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
WOW, I urge all to read the full testimony. Very powerful.
This should go without saying, but I don't hate homosexuals either. I do this out of compassion.
| What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda |
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| Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1) |
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| Myth and Reality about Homosexuality--Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues" |
All things are possible through God. Glory be to Him who can help us overcome lifes obstacles, no matter how overwhelming they appear.
Yep. Yep. Broke free of it myself. Wondering why the other people refuse to even try to break free, no matter how loudly they scream that they want to be out of the gay lifestyle. Especially after I relate stories about people who have gotten out of it. The response I get most often is, "Well, they/you weren't really gay."
But, as Mike notes, to believe that misinformation requires one to believe that there is "no possibility of change." And the simple fact is that thousands of people have turned their backs on homosexuality."
Exactly. To keep their numbers high and gain new recruits, homosexuals spread the lie that their homosexuality is genetic.
I saw Jerry Falwell on a program(it cold have been Nightline), with former homosexuals who had changed and whose stories were much like the one above. There are thousands of like stories. Homosexuality in most instances is a disorder and was defined by most psychiatrists as such until it was removed from their official list of mental illnesses and disorders.
Defining it as a disorder means people can be cured. But the homosexual community and the liberals in general do not want people to be cured. They would prefer using gays to destroy the institution of marriage and eventually with the family destroyed, children will become wards of the state, subject to all the left's propaganda from which a liberal nirvana on earth will emerge.
I'm always glad to hear of folks breaking free from homosexuality (or any destructive behavior). Thanks for speaking up.
Nice article. It's interesting that you can have a difficult time recovering from any disease - cancer, flu, schizophrenia - and it won't change the perception that you have a disease to be healed. But let someone leaving the gay lifestyle have one homosexual fling, and the homosexual support corps will say, "See, he really hasn't changed."
Just because homosexuality is hard to heal does not mean we should not try.
Shalom.
God bless you, Luircin.
Of course, if you claim to be gay and I claim you are not really gay they will loudly protest, "Luircin is the only one who knows what his sexual orientation is." But the minute your cliam doesn't match their dogma, then you really don't know what you are talking about.
Shalom.
Paging Aldous Huxley. Would Aldous Huxley please come to the podium to claim your prize.
Shalom.
Sounds like a Brave New World to me ~ give them all a little Soma and everything will be perfect. :):)
I am sure you have noticed that some FReepers can be very vocal and almost vindictive against homosexuals, without compassion for them. I find it nice that there are true Christians on this thread who understand that sin is sin, no matter what it is, and who ADMIRE you for your strength.
Sure, it takes help from Jesus - but you'd never done it if you hadn't really wanted to. When you get to Heaven, Jesus will personally tell you ... WELCOME HOME. YOU FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
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