Pastor Clark Whitten Talks With Exodus Leaders about Grace
Today we are featured in Charisma Magazine, California Catholic Daily and CitizenLink. Also, I haven’t found the link of a television interview Jeff Buchanan did with CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network.) We also have some other major media in the works and if that all works out I will post those links when they come up. Here is the first round-up of media mentions:
First from Charisma Exodus International Marks 35th Year of Freedom Conferences
Around 1,000 people are expected to participate in the International Freedom Conference, which begins Wednesday and includes workshops and testimonies from people who have left homosexuality. It will conclude Saturday with Love Won Out sessions designed to help those ministering to people with unwanted same-sex attraction.
Those in attendance also will hear from some of the original 63 people who met in Anaheim, including Exodus board member Ron Dennis and founding member Frank Worthen.
Although the size of the conference has changed, Exodus Executive Vice President Randy Thomas said the mission remains the same. “We exist to help mobilize the body of Christ to answer the issues concerning homosexuality from a Christian and redemptive perspective,” Thomas said.
For Thomas, attending his first Freedom Conference in 1995 was a life-changing experience. “It was a catalyst for so much positive growth in my life, and it really propelled me forward in my own life as a Christian,” he said.
The theme for this year’s event is “Moving Forward,” which encompasses everything Exodus aims to do: help individuals find freedom through its member ministries, professional counselors and church association members, and mobilize the body of Christ to minister to those in their churches and communities.
Exodus International President Alan Chambers said his goal for the last nine years has been to move the organization’s focus from just individuals to a “ministry of the church.”
Though it began with only a few people, Exodus now works with almost 250 ministries and is affiliated with organizations around the globe. According to Exodus’ Web site, the ministry is the “largest Christian referral and information network dealing with homosexual issues in the world.” …
From California Catholic Daily, “We’re Still Here”
“The first gathering took place in nearby Anaheim, CA in September 1976,” says the news release. “Amidst controversy, 63 formerly gay-identified men and women gathered together for encouragement and support and ended up birthing a movement. Thirty-five years later controversy remains, as does the original passion, vision and purpose. One thing that has changed is the breadth of the ever-growing ministry that now encompasses outreaches on 6 continents boasting more than 300 ministries, a vibrant church association and an outreach to youth.”
“Thirty-five years later, we’re still here and we are moving forward,” said Exodus International president Alan Chambers in a prepared statement. “Thousands of individuals, including myself, continue to boldly proclaim the freedom we have found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
“While Exodus exists in an increasingly hostile environment, they remain committed to providing a biblical perspective for those who feel conflicted by their same-sex attractions and their faith as well as offering understanding, encouragement, counseling and support to friends and family members impacted by homosexuality,” said the news release.
Read the rest of “We’re Still Here.”
Dr. Kathy Koch Speaks with Exodus Leaders on "Always Excelling"
And finally from CitizenLink Biblical Sexuality Leads Activists to Protest Conference
Exodus International’s annual Freedom Conference, June 23-26 in Irvine, Calif., is drawing criticism from gay activists, who don’t want to hear the message that homosexually identified individuals can change.
A counter-conference was held last weekend. “It’s Not a ChOiCe” was held at the Irvine United Congregational Church in an effort to counter the Exodus message.
…
Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International, said the redemptive message of the ministry offers hope and help for people across the country.
“We are grateful to live in a country where people can have their own viewpoints and express them– even if we disagree with them,” he said. “The Lord loves every single person. He knows them by name. We are praying that – just like God interrupted our lives at some point – that He would interrupt their lives and let them know that He wants a relationship with them.”
Read the rest of Biblical Sexuality Leads Activists to Protest Conference
Please keep praying for the conference (in all aspects.) It’s been a lot of really great fellowship with all of the leaders so far. The leader’s conference will wrap up tomorrow morning and the whole Freedom Conference kicks off tomorrow night!
Again, I will post the CBN interview once I can find the video/link to it. Please pray for the secular media that is also planning to cover the event.
Sidenote: Don’t forget that there will be live updates, videos and pictures posted to our Facebook page throughout the event.
About Randy Thomas
I’m definitely praying for the conference, but your quote in the “CitizenLink” article is concerning. You said: “We are praying that — just like God interrupted our lives at some point — that He would interrupt their lives and let them know that He wants a relationship with them.” Isn’t it arrogant to assume that just because someone disagrees with Exodus and is protesting them that they don’t already have a relationship with God? You have affirmed several people who have disagreed with you as brothers and sisters in Christ on this blog before — including me — so why not do the same when talking to “CitizenLink”?
Again, praying for the conference and hoping many on both sides of the issue are blessed and engage in conversation.
From what I understand of the opposing conference, they assembled to undermine, attack and try to discredit the Exodus conference. They completely discount our testimonies and the overall ministry of the movement.
I love that our country allows free speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religious conscience (among many other freedoms.) I am genuinely grateful they had the opportunity to put on that event and air their views. That said, I think they are wrong and have missed the heart of God concerning His work at Exodus.
I don’t think it is a stretch to think I would want God to interrupt their lives to change their mind. I know that I believed just like they do at one point in my life and He literally interrupted the path of my life and I am forever grateful. I want them to experience the same eternal love and grace.
For those that are gay affirming and adopt a gay identity, you might be truly saved ( that’s between you and our Lord and Savior ) but as you already know, I don’t agree that embracing homosexual behavior or a gay identity is in line with God’s creative intent. I am praying that the Lord will commune with you and change your mind.
I don’t embrace homosexual behavior and I don’t think there is such a thing as a “gay identity.” There are labels that one can choose to use or not, but those are just words and their meanings totally shift depending upon culture and intent. We’ve discussed this before. So I don’t know what you are praying that the Lord will change my mind about. I disagree with several things that Exodus does, but it’s pretty arrogant to think that God would be interested in changing my mind about that. It’s not proper for a Christian to say things like that.
I didn’t address you Jay but if someone says they are a gay Christian they are incorporating being gay into their identity. I don’t know if they are truly saved or not. In fact, they don’t know if I am or not (it’s a judgment of the heart only God can make ). I will assume they are but that doesn’t mean I don’t think they are incorrect. They, you, have no problem telling me where I am incorrect … strong disagreement is not always arrogant.
But labels have meaning. They have power to contextualize a mindset, worldview and affect your message. They have the power to define your relational possibilities and core beliefs. Man’s labels might shift and change with culture … but God’s creative intent and Word does not.
I will pray about your accusation of arrogance. I simply don’t want to lie by omission when asked for my opinion. Both Jesus and his disciples did the same thing. They told it like they saw it. Sometimes they were rebuked and if your judgment is confirmed by the Spirit as accurate I will repent.
Howdy guys!
I’ve been praying about the conference this morning when I was doing my deliveries. I was going to look at all the conference stuff on line tomorrow, cos i’ve been at work, and it’s nearly midnight now. But I got a howdy from College Jay and he asked me to come in and look at the conversation, and he’s noted how I never get told off for saying I’m gay.
Well, I reckon there’s 2 reasons for that;
first, I always explain some of the reasons why I say ‘I’m gay’ eg it helps in outreach, using words that people can understand, and helping gay people relate and know that God loves them and they can be Christians.
And second, Randy has to keep me sweet, cos he so wants to come to the North and see our Transporter Bridge and Post Office, and I’d be his host.
College Jay, you could have been a bit sweeter in the tone, the words you used. Diplomacy, my friend, there’s ways of saying what you want to say, but in a way that sounds a bit easier on the ear.
Randy, the Bible says whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. It doesn’t say ‘as long as they follow the Bible to the letter’.
I do believe that God expects a change in people’s lives when they meet Him. But I also know that God knows each of us and our personal journeys, and maybe someone is living a gay life. But maybe God in their life is showing them something? I knew a woman who said that God told her to stay in her relationship because her partner’s family were a wonderful family, whereas her’s were abusive. She was learning what a family was meant to be. When God told her to leave her partner, she left her. That was over 15 years ago. This woman is now a vicar, leading a church family, part of the family of God.
This woman also made the point, in a poem, of everyone in church, when she became a Christian, expected her to drop all of her addictions and partner. But they were all her crutches, and she was still lame. God hadn’t healed her of everything right there, right then when He saved her. She wasn’t able to function without crutches, which God gradually took away as He healed her INSIDE more and more.
Part of her healing was to shave off all her hair and throw away all her make-up. The very opposite to what churches would tell a lesbian. But God wanted her to look at her face in the mirror, without anything to hide it, and see that she was beautiful. She had hated herself before that process.
Randy, another reason I say I’m a gay Christian is to push it in Christian’s faces – at the right time. Last week, at Town Pastors, we were on a break, at midnight, and we were sat around. Everyone was sat around talking about gay people, except me, of course. I was trying to moderate the conversation and move it on, but everyone was having a giggle about gay people and cross-dressing bars etc. I felt totally uncomfortable, and I didn’t feel part of the team. I felt like walking away. So, on the next break, I did say how I felt. I had a God-arranged chat with the co-ordinator who was out that night, and he’s passing it onto the main co-ordinator. Maybe a training sesh will come from it? I’ve been asked if I would be willing to talk about having SSA and issues gay people face etc. But we do need training on addiction and why people do the things they do, anyway, as other issues like that have come up, so it’ll be incorporated into that. But my main point when I talked was, “Gay people don’t sit around talking about straight people, I’ve never witnessed any of my friends doing that.”
I’m so wowed out that Exodus has received positive/balanced reporting in newspapers, that’s gooooood!!!
But I think we need people to know that NOTHING is a barr to them coming to Christ. I was just thinking earlier today about what a friend of mine, who has a bisexual orientation, said about some first years who didn’t come back to Christian Union after the first week. “They didn’t feel good enough.”
Peace, brothers -x-
Ps, Christians who don’t have SSA say “I’m straight” or “I’m heterosexual.” Are they wrong? Or are they simply stating a fact? In light of whatever answer you come to on that one, is it wrong for a Christian to say “I’m gay”?
I’m definitely praying for the conference, but your quote in the “CitizenLink” article is concerning. You said: “We are praying that — just like God interrupted our lives at some point — that He would interrupt their lives and let them know that He wants a relationship with them.” Isn’t it arrogant to assume that just because someone disagrees with Exodus and is protesting them that they don’t already have a relationship with God? You have affirmed several people who have disagreed with you as brothers and sisters in Christ on this blog before — including me — so why not do the same when talking to “CitizenLink”?
Again, praying for the conference and hoping many on both sides of the issue are blessed and engage in conversation.
From what I understand of the opposing conference, they assembled to undermine, attack and try to discredit the Exodus conference. They completely discount our testimonies and the overall ministry of the movement.
I love that our country allows free speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religious conscience (among many other freedoms.) I am genuinely grateful they had the opportunity to put on that event and air their views. That said, I think they are wrong and have missed the heart of God concerning His work at Exodus.
I don’t think it is a stretch to think I would want God to interrupt their lives to change their mind. I know that I believed just like they do at one point in my life and He literally interrupted the path of my life and I am forever grateful. I want them to experience the same eternal love and grace.
For those that are gay affirming and adopt a gay identity, you might be truly saved ( that’s between you and our Lord and Savior ) but as you already know, I don’t agree that embracing homosexual behavior or a gay identity is in line with God’s creative intent. I am praying that the Lord will commune with you and change your mind.
I don’t embrace homosexual behavior and I don’t think there is such a thing as a “gay identity.” There are labels that one can choose to use or not, but those are just words and their meanings totally shift depending upon culture and intent. We’ve discussed this before. So I don’t know what you are praying that the Lord will change my mind about. I disagree with several things that Exodus does, but it’s pretty arrogant to think that God would be interested in changing my mind about that. It’s not proper for a Christian to say things like that.
I didn’t address you Jay but if someone says they are a gay Christian they are incorporating being gay into their identity. I don’t know if they are truly saved or not. In fact, they don’t know if I am or not (it’s a judgment of the heart only God can make ). I will assume they are but that doesn’t mean I don’t think they are incorrect. They, you, have no problem telling me where I am incorrect … strong disagreement is not always arrogant.
But labels have meaning. They have power to contextualize a mindset, worldview and affect your message. They have the power to define your relational possibilities and core beliefs. Man’s labels might shift and change with culture … but God’s creative intent and Word does not.
I will pray about your accusation of arrogance. I simply don’t want to lie by omission when asked for my opinion. Both Jesus and his disciples did the same thing. They told it like they saw it. Sometimes they were rebuked and if your judgment is confirmed by the Spirit as accurate I will repent.
Howdy guys!
I’ve been praying about the conference this morning when I was doing my deliveries. I was going to look at all the conference stuff on line tomorrow, cos i’ve been at work, and it’s nearly midnight now. But I got a howdy from College Jay and he asked me to come in and look at the conversation, and he’s noted how I never get told off for saying I’m gay.
Well, I reckon there’s 2 reasons for that;
first, I always explain some of the reasons why I say ‘I’m gay’ eg it helps in outreach, using words that people can understand, and helping gay people relate and know that God loves them and they can be Christians.
And second, Randy has to keep me sweet, cos he so wants to come to the North and see our Transporter Bridge and Post Office, and I’d be his host.
College Jay, you could have been a bit sweeter in the tone, the words you used. Diplomacy, my friend, there’s ways of saying what you want to say, but in a way that sounds a bit easier on the ear.
Randy, the Bible says whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. It doesn’t say ‘as long as they follow the Bible to the letter’.
I do believe that God expects a change in people’s lives when they meet Him. But I also know that God knows each of us and our personal journeys, and maybe someone is living a gay life. But maybe God in their life is showing them something? I knew a woman who said that God told her to stay in her relationship because her partner’s family were a wonderful family, whereas her’s were abusive. She was learning what a family was meant to be. When God told her to leave her partner, she left her. That was over 15 years ago. This woman is now a vicar, leading a church family, part of the family of God.
This woman also made the point, in a poem, of everyone in church, when she became a Christian, expected her to drop all of her addictions and partner. But they were all her crutches, and she was still lame. God hadn’t healed her of everything right there, right then when He saved her. She wasn’t able to function without crutches, which God gradually took away as He healed her INSIDE more and more.
Part of her healing was to shave off all her hair and throw away all her make-up. The very opposite to what churches would tell a lesbian. But God wanted her to look at her face in the mirror, without anything to hide it, and see that she was beautiful. She had hated herself before that process.
Randy, another reason I say I’m a gay Christian is to push it in Christian’s faces – at the right time. Last week, at Town Pastors, we were on a break, at midnight, and we were sat around. Everyone was sat around talking about gay people, except me, of course. I was trying to moderate the conversation and move it on, but everyone was having a giggle about gay people and cross-dressing bars etc. I felt totally uncomfortable, and I didn’t feel part of the team. I felt like walking away. So, on the next break, I did say how I felt. I had a God-arranged chat with the co-ordinator who was out that night, and he’s passing it onto the main co-ordinator. Maybe a training sesh will come from it? I’ve been asked if I would be willing to talk about having SSA and issues gay people face etc. But we do need training on addiction and why people do the things they do, anyway, as other issues like that have come up, so it’ll be incorporated into that. But my main point when I talked was, “Gay people don’t sit around talking about straight people, I’ve never witnessed any of my friends doing that.”
I’m so wowed out that Exodus has received positive/balanced reporting in newspapers, that’s gooooood!!!
But I think we need people to know that NOTHING is a barr to them coming to Christ. I was just thinking earlier today about what a friend of mine, who has a bisexual orientation, said about some first years who didn’t come back to Christian Union after the first week. “They didn’t feel good enough.”
Peace, brothers -x-
Ps, Christians who don’t have SSA say “I’m straight” or “I’m heterosexual.” Are they wrong? Or are they simply stating a fact? In light of whatever answer you come to on that one, is it wrong for a Christian to say “I’m gay”?