Irish Times Quotes Alan Chambers

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From the Irish Times article I Love Jesus (but not in a gay way):

At the centre of this movement is an organisation called Core Issues, a Northern Ireland Christian initiative run by Mike Davidson, a married man who describes himself as having been “in conflict with unwanted homosexuality . . . before finally seeing the light”. Core Issues has brought a series of high-profile ex-gay speakers from the US to Ireland, and this week hopes to host a “Leaving Homosexuality Celebration” with Alan Chambers of Exodus International, a worldwide umbrella group for ex-gay organisations – that is, if the “act of God” volcanic ash situation allows Chambers to enter the country.

The author of Leaving Homosexuality: a practical guide for men and women looking for a way out , Chambers – like many in the movement – is unabashedly upfront, evangelical even, about his own struggle to overcome “unwanted same-sex attraction”. He says: “I first realised I had same-sex attractions at around age 11. I did not choose those unwanted attractions and did everything in my power to change them.”

Chambers admits that the faith-based approach advocated by Exodus isn’t a miracle cure: “While some do absolutely see an eradication over time of their same-sex struggles, most see a lessening. Some see no change whatsoever. In my case, I did experience a great shift in my attractions . . . and when I met my wife, Leslie, the connection I felt with her was unmistakable – a deep unselfish love, very different than the selfish, self-focused lust/love I’d had for the men I’d fallen for.”

So doesn’t he ever feel tempted to go back to his old gay ways? “I am human and humans struggle. But the temptation for me is the same as it would be for any husband.” In coming to Ireland, Chambers says he hopes to “share an honest story about a man who once was lost but now is found. There are people in need of the same hope that I found; people who want to put God above their sexuality”.

There is just so much to not like about this article. How about the title for starters?  But I am not going to parse out all the various points and untruths in that article here.

What I actually like is that the quotes from Alan are good.  Given that most of these type of articles are written to disparage people like us and our beliefs, they were quite generous in including more than two sentences.

The Truth never comes back void.

Two side-notes: Alan ended up not going because of the travel disruptions due to the Icelandic volcano. And the activist that said we are “targeting” foreign countries is obviously not paying attention. We don’t have the time to “target” when all three of our networks are expanding (240+ Member Agencies), invitations are coming in to speak (here in North America and abroad) and Exodus continues to help people find hope, joy and freedom in Christ every single day … for 34 years now.

Not to mention… the Freedom Conference is right around the corner!  Busy days indeed.

Good job Alan!