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Jim Katsoudas did a great job in this interview and is doing a great thing in North Carolina. In the article Ministry hopes to turn people away from gay lifestyle (update with PFLAG response), Larry Bell and Jim share their stories. Here is the section regarding Jim:
Clean Heart executive director Jim Katsoudas said the ministry doesn’t pound down people’s doors or force their opinions.
“We don’t really approach them. They come to us,” Katsoudas said. “We understand that there are a lot of people who believe that you are born that way. That’s fine. I don’t agree with it, but they are entitled to their own opinion.
“Our goal at Clean Heart is to help people who need love.”
Many churches avoid the subject, Katsoudas said, and others demoralize people with the way they discuss the topic.
“They’re still humans and we need to treat them with love and respect,” Katsoudas said.
Churches need to look at how Jesus treated sinners, he said.
“That’s what we believe the church is supposed to do. We believe the church is supposed to offer them mercy and healing, not blast them into pieces.”
Katsoudas used to be gay. He believed it was a sin and decided to change.
“It wasn’t the church screaming at me. It was just a desire in my heart, that I didn’t want to live this way,” Katsoudas said.
Katsoudas and Bell will share their stories and ways to reach out to others Sunday.
“At Clean Heart, we’re kind of like the friend as you begin your journey,” Katsoudas said.
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Want to learn more about Clean Heart ministries? Clean Heart ministries executive director Jim Katsoudas and associate director Larry Bell will share their stories and offer advice on how to reach out to homosexuals from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bethlehem Church, 3100 Bethlehem Church St., Gastonia. The program will be presented as part of Bethlehem’s “Tru U” program.
Go read the whole article. While the PFLAG chapter there gave an angry response, I think it is obvious that Clean Heart Ministries respects a person’s right to self-determine their own path in dealing with same sex attractions and that many people, including Jim and Larry, have found such ministry life changing for the good.
We love ya’ Jim, Larry and Clean Heart Ministries. Be blessed this weekend and beyond!
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