The “Mother Teresa” of Ex-gay Ministry

Perhaps no testimony of freedom from homosexuality has been more widely circulated and read than Frank Worthen’s. He is now 78 years young.

This article, op-ed, column – call it what you like - will not likely be published in many places or read by many people, but it commands to be written.

When Frank was 13, (1942) his pastor told him “Frank, you are a homosexual." Though Frank knew he was “different” from other children, he didn’t know what homosexuality was. “I'd been called different before!” Frank had become a loner – hiding in the attic during his family’s constant arguing. “My peers called me names which I later learned meant ‘homosexual’.”

Musically gifted, he kept to himself where his loneliness lingered and his detachment from other boys deepened.

For 25 years Frank was exclusively homosexual. At age 44 he says he heard God tell him, “Today, I want you back.” “God’s voice was so real” he relinquished his life to Christ. That was 1973 and Frank has neither looked back nor held anything back from God since.

Frank became a “Mother Teresa” of sorts. While Mother Teresa took to the filthy streets of Calcutta – where few wanted to serve, Frank took to winning homosexuals to Christ – where, similarly, few want to serve.

Frank has not garnered the attention of the world, its politicians and evangelical leaders – as did Mother Teresa, but Frank has been faithful.

At the suggestion of a friend, Frank made a cassette tape of his testimony. Frank knew in the early ‘70’s what preacher Adrian Rogers would eventually say a few decades later, “A Christian with a testimony is more powerful than an atheist with a million arguments.”

Frank would use those tapes to reach people trapped in homosexuality. But how could Frank get his testimony-tape into their hands? He bought a small classified ad in what he called the “worst sex paper” in San Francisco. What a novel idea! It read “Do you want out of homosexuality? Request my testimony on tape.”

I observed Frank from a distance for many years before having opportunity to get to know him personally. Unassuming, unpretentious, and unashamed of sharing what Jesus has done in his life, it was his testimony and organizational skills that made him the “Founding Father” of what is called the ex-gay movement.

Many of us in this arena of ministry dislike the term “ex-gay” for the sole reason it focuses on what we were rather than what we are now because of Jesus Christ – an argument often asserted by Alan Chambers, the innovative President of Exodus International. Exodus International is an umbrella ministry consisting of hundreds of ministries scattered across the globe. (www.Exodus.to)

Of Worthen, Alan Chambers writes “Frank is one of the most courageous men I know. His willingness to publicly share his struggle at a time when such a topic was taboo has changed the lives of men and women all over the world.”

To me Frank is not an electrifying speaker - he is a simplifying speaker. His message is simple. “Homosexuality is one of a myriad of sins. Christ died for sin. Would you give your life to Jesus?”

I’ve stood in the tiny room where Preacher John Wesley studied the Bible - where biographies quote him saying that in that room he studied God’s Word, “and what I learn, I preach.”

Such can be said of Frank Worthen. He studies the Bible and what he learns he teaches. His rigorous study has become the substance of numerous resources.

One can not read his writings without missing his absolute devotion to Scripture and a God-given gift for application.

Frank understands surrender means we do not tell Christ what to do. Frank wrote of some homosexuals who “give God ultimatums and time limits.” Frank continued “We can never dictate to God what He should do or when He should do it.”

Frank created Love In Action (LIA) - the first ever residential program for men wishing to overcome their unwanted same-sex attractions. To those men he would ask “Have you dedicated as much time to God as you spent cruising for other men?” Talk about being frank!

I have never known Frank to draw attention to himself. He resembles what Oswald Chambers wrote of John the Baptist, “A beautiful saint may be a hindrance if he does not present Jesus Christ but only what Christ has done for him.”

Frank writes, “Like a radio or TV signal, we are stronger when close to the source and weaker when further away.” His words echo the Psalmist who wrote “But as for me, it is good to be near God.”

A requirement of Frank’s residential program was to regularly attend a specific church – where it was openly known program members attended.

Recalls Frank, “Many years ago, I was leaving church after a Sunday service. Two visitors behind me were talking. One had spotted our program members during the service. He commented to his friend, ‘Hey, did you notice? There's fags in this place!’ I was glad nobody else overheard his rude comment. I remember that weekend for another reason. Just the preceding day, I listened to a sermon on Christian radio. The speaker, who was reviewing the book of Leviticus, was someone I held in high regard as did most of the Christian world. I was shocked when he said, ‘Homosexuals are dogs and swine. Don't waste your time throwing your pearls before them. They can’t be saved because they are not the elect.’”

Frank has lovingly dealt with myriads of unbiblical responses during his life and keeps pointing broken men and women to Christ.

When answering “what causes homosexuality”, Frank wrote “Homosexuality is brought about by a multitude of root causes.” And Frank could, if he wished, launch into a lecture on causation, but what pleases Frank more is to speak of the way out – who is a Person. Those of us in this politically and oftentimes ecclesiastically incorrect area of ministry have been asked more questions than we can bear. But many of us find solace in the title of a song, “When answers aren’t enough, there is Jesus.”

A single mother named Anita, whose son was homosexual, needed help many years ago. She heard about Frank’s ministry Love In Action. “Something heavy lifted off my shoulders as I read testimonies of men and women who had been set free. Finally I had hope—both for me and my son.” Anita later wrote.

Over a period of time, Frank and Anita became better acquainted and had “many meaningful talks about marriage.” At age 55, Frank feared he was too old for marriage. But God allayed that fear and they were married in November 1984.

Both Frank and Anita are writers. Frank has the distinction of co-authoring the first Christian book on homosexuality. He and a pastor wrote The Third Sex which generated an average of 200 letters a month from people needing help for themselves or their loved ones. He went on to write Steps Out of Homosexuality and many more books, workbooks, booklets and articles.

Anita co-authored Someone I Love Is Gay with Bob Davies who is Executive Director Emeritus of Exodus International. Davies writes, “I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Frank Worthen. He was director of Love in Action when I went through their program in 1979. I will always praise God for his example and friendship.”

When Frank and Anita sensed God leading them to the Philippines to start a new work, Love In Action passed on to the leadership of John Smid. The Worthens ministered in Manila for four years before returning to the States where they founded New Hope Ministries which now offers 7-day retreats for men.

New Hope Ministry may have slowed a bit, but Frank and Anita’s investment in Kingdom work is accelerating through hundreds of affiliate ministries around the world, thousands of leaders and untold numbers of men and women who have shaken homosexuality from their identity and replaced it with a new title - “a follower of Christ Jesus.” (Christianity Today magazine features the ex-gay movement in its October 2007 edition)

Over the past 30 years, Frank has appeared on countless radio and television shows including the 700 Club, James Dobson's Focus on the Family and the Phil Donahue Show discussing homosexuality.

As is often the case in secular venues, some try to make Frank out to be a homosexual-hater. But just the opposite is true. Frank loves homosexuals more now than when he was one!

Genesis 13:13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Ain't this just FABULOUS?? More?

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape.....

First thing: Please use complete sentences; it is utterly hard, and rediculous to read what you wrote. I can not understand half of it!

Secondly if you want to debate this point, I’ll be happy to in a friendly, cordial way!

Here’s my response: God says that homosexuality is immoral in both the Old Tesament (Leviticus et all) as well as the New Testament (Romans et all).

HOWEVER I do not condemn those who are gay, they have a sin problem just like me, and some are probably more “moral” as well. God’s word is clear HE condemns their SIN, and mine.

We all deserve death, and I advise you to think about that and turn toward Him. God did love everyone enough to send His SON to save us from ourselves, you are correct!

I think the problem with our society is that we coddle the homosexual behavior “it is ok” instead of loving the people- but telling them the truth that it is a wrong behavior which will cause harm (Have hope they/you) can find your way out of both homosexual behavior as well as your sinful nature (through Christ of course..not your own will/behavior).

Peace be to you!

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