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Telling Your Story: Sharing Your Struggle With Family at the Holidays

December 16, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds
family

The holidays can be intense time.  Food, family, fun - and often friction.  It’s also a time when those of us who are struggling to overcome same-sex attraction may choose to “come out” to our families. I came out to my dad as gay-identified at around 15 or 16, then a post/ex-gay at 25, and then as an Exodus ministry leader probably around 29 or 30.  He raised me as a single dad from when I was an early teen, and my mom was in and out of the picture.  At one point, a family member out’ed me to my mom, but she & I never talked about it since our relationship has always been … [Read more...]

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What’s in a Name? The Story of Brenna Kate Simonds – Part 1

November 11, 2010 By Brenna Kate Simonds
Brenna with a mohawk from having her head shaved

A Christian speaker recently reminded me that words are a container for power. The book of Proverbs says “reckless words pierce like a sword”, “the words of the wicked lie in wait for blood”, and “when words are many, sin is not absent”.  In the Bible, words & names are very important. Throughout my life, I allowed people and circumstances to label me, name me, and define who I am. I was born prematurely in May of 1975. I was given a 50% chance of survival and rode in an ambulance to a hospital 50 miles away since the hospital where I was born did not have premie … [Read more...]

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“Consider it Pure Joy …” – Letter From Alan Chambers for October 2010

October 20, 2010 By Alan Chambers
Alan-Chambers

This letter from Alan Chambers appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive this letter along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- Today I was meditating on James 1.  The whole chapter is rich, but several verses leapt out at me, due to my recent attendance at the funerals of two of Exodus International's most valued women leaders.  James 1:2-4, 12: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Friendship, God, Marriage, Member Ministry, Post-gay, Spouses Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jesus Likes Me This I Know

October 11, 2010 By Mike Goeke
Jesus Likes Me

Jesus Likes Me This I Know Mike Goeke, October 2010 I am sort of a weird guy. I prefer the term quirky, but semantics aside, I am weird. My interests are not typical (or maybe I should say that they are not stereotypical) of your run-of-the-mill guy. I remember sensing that I was different at about age 5. In many ways, my early years were spent feeling odd and yearning for friends and some sort of acceptance. These days, I don’t worry so much about being weird. For the most part, I am comfortable with myself. I can still feel lonely at times, and I can feel like that little 5 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Encourage, Exodus Blog, Friendship, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Post-gay, Support, Testimonies, Youth & Young Adults Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Willa Medinger’s Family and Friends Celebrate Her Life Today

September 20, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Alan & Willa Medinger

Spouses dying within a few months of losing their spouse is more common than one would think. Sadly, but it is a bittersweet sadness, this has happened again. Willa Medinger passed away last week on September 16th. She had a couple of strokes and was not doing well. This after, her husband Alan Medinger passed away this past June. I only had a few interactions directly with Willa over the years but she was wonderful each time. What I love about her is that not only was she very kind to me when I did speak with her ... I would always hear amazing things about her from other friends who … [Read more...]

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Celebrating the Life of Nancy Brown

September 14, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Nancy and Tessa

Alan, Terri and I are going to Austin tomorrow to celebrate the life of Nancy Brown.  Nancy with her husband Don led Life+Guard Ministries. For those of you who don't know, Nancy has had ongoing health issues that have worsened this year and eventually led to kidney failure and a heart attack.  Nancy went to be with the Lord at 2:30 am last Sunday morning. Now that Nancy is living in eternity, she is now pain free and whole. That brings an indescribable joy into my mourning heart. I met Nancy in 1995 at my first Exodus Conference at Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego California. … [Read more...]

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Facebook Flashbacks and Friendship

August 18, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Friends

Facebook is crazy.  And  little bit scary. Almost every significant (still living) relationship I have ever had is represented in my friends list.  It's been an astounding adventure to reconnect with people from almost every stage of life from my past to present. It all started in August of 2008. Two years ago I was on sabbatical and had a thought, "Hmmm... I wonder if my high school friends have found facebook yet?"  Two hours later I had found 15 of them and was quietly tripping out on how much life had changed for some and was completely the same for others.  This has led to a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Encourage, Exodus Blog, Friendship, Gay, God, Holy Spirit, Identity, Jesus Christ, Post-gay Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eighteen Years and Counting

July 23, 2010 By Randy Thomas
dove

This is cross-posted on the ETC Blog.  Here is an audio file (embedded at the end of this post as well.) *** Today is the day that I remember the actual moment in which I turned away from my gay worldview and began my Christian post-gay journey. This is *not* the day I became a Christian.  I was born again before I turned away from homosexuality.  The anniversary of accepting Christ as Lord and Savior is in the last week of May.  So yes, I considered myself a "gay Christian" for the whole two months between May and July of 1992. During a prayer time 18 years ago the Lord (no … [Read more...]

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Alan Medinger Goes Home to Heaven – Leaves An Amazing Legacy

June 28, 2010 By Randy Thomas
Medingerowie_320px

This morning many of the Exodus staff came home from the Freedom Conference to the difficult news that one of our beloved leaders and pioneers in the Exodus movement, Alan Medinger, has passed away.  From Josh Glaser, Executive Director of Regeneration: Alan Medinger, Founder - Home Rejoicing, June 28th, 2010 Dear Friends, It is with great sadness we share with you that Regeneration's founder, Alan Medinger, passed away this morning, Monday, June 28th. Alan started Regeneration over three decades ago, and in the years that followed, he and his dear wife, Willa, were like a father and … [Read more...]

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Opening Night Encouragement – Exodus Freedom Conference “Moving Forward” (Video)

June 24, 2010 By Randy Thomas
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I shot this video earlier this evening.  It contains some encouragement from a few friends. Also, Alan did a fantastic job sharing about the founding of Exodus and honoring all of those involved in that process.  He also shared very openly and authentically about his walk and life and the importance of God being our sole focus and the church coming alongside those who struggle with homosexuality. Very powerful. *** Don't forget, you can follow live updates, pictures and videos on our Facebook Page. … [Read more...]

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