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.
I'm curious, what do you mean when you say you're asexual now? You don't find girls attractive? (I'm assuming you're a man.)
" Yeah, that's right. I find neither men nor women attractive at the moment, though I suspect that God will get to that in His own good time. In the meanwhile, I shall take advantage of that in order to keep my concentration on my classes and not on romance.
That's exactly right. It's because their "gay-ness" has become an idol to them. We as Christians tend to believe some things that the world discounts as crazy, and everyone's heard about Islam. It's only natural that the homosexuals believe some pretty odd and illogical things too. It's their religion.
And before I get flamed or something, let me clarify that I'm NOT comparing Christianity to homosexuality; perish the thought.
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