I Found Acceptance And Fulfillment in Christ – Real Stories for January 2011 by Rochelle

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This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- When I was growing up, I was always searching for something - something to learn, to fill, to numb, to distract me from myself. From a young age, I was certain there was something wrong with me and I needed to fix it in order for people to like and accept me. I was convinced I was unlovable, but believed if I just tried hard enough, I could correct my flaws and finally be … [Read more...]

Elisabeth’s Mom In Her Own Words

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We posted the video of Elisabeth Cole the other day who honored her parents by sharing their story on YouTube.  Well, now Mom is courageously joining in.  Here is Mom :) in her own words: I like the challenge at the end :) … [Read more...]

Daughter of Formerly Gay Parents Speaks Out

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Last night I was alerted that Elisabeth Cole, daughter of long time Exodus leader Tom Cole, had made a video sharing the stories of her parents. Her decision to honor her parents, at such a young age, in this way is a blessing. I think you will find her creative attempt to communicate through video quite thought provoking. You should know, she tells it like she sees it and is quite direct.  There are parts of the video that in my previous life I would have bristled at and been angered by.  And even today I would want to clarify some of the things she says. But hello, this is a teenager … [Read more...]

“I Am The Vine and My Father is The Gardener” – David Fountain’s Testimony

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This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. — I love this description of God as “The Gardener.” As someone who made a lifelong decision to embrace the process of change over 13 years ago, I can certainly relate to how God chooses to reveal Himself by this title.  Night after night, I would beg God for freedom from my struggle with same-sex attractions.  I knew that my feelings and attractions were outside of God’s … [Read more...]

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

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...]

A “Normal Gay Life” – Nathan Responds to Ray Boltz

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Regular readers of this blog may remember my friend Nathan who has guest blogged here before concerning Jennifer Knapp and about his "Divine Appointments" at the Exodus Freedom Conference. At this rate I just need to create a login for you Nathan :) Today Nathan writes an eloquent response to Ray Boltz' new song "God Knows I Tried."  Here's Nathan: A “Normal Gay Life” I’m adding Ray Boltz to the list of people I’d love to meet at Starbuck’s for a chat.  Most readers of this  blog will remember Ray as the Dove Award-winning gospel singer who revealed his homosexuality two … [Read more...]

From Devastation to Beauty – Real Stories for October 2010

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This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- From Devastation to Beauty - Stephanie Goeke When Mike walked out on our marriage in 1996, my reality, hopes and dreams were shattered.  I had grown up in a solid Christian home and had come to believe that my joy and fulfillment would be found in being married and having children.  The past years have been spent experiencing God’s faithfulness – not faithfulness to my … [Read more...]

Jesus Likes Me This I Know

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...]

Finding a Safe Place– Real Stories for September 2010

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This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- I am a wife of a man with undesired same-sex attraction struggles. Together we have attended two Exodus conferences. Through the ministry of Exodus, God showed me that He truly cares about human brokenness. He loves homosexual men and women. He also loves my husband and desires to free him from his past and present pain, fears, and shame. The Exodus Freedom conference … [Read more...]

Unconditional Surrender by Gwen Gibson – Real Stories for August 2010

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This testimony appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive testimonies like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- Unconditional Surrender by Gwen Gibson I struggled with same-sex attraction for nearly twenty years. In college I hung around lesbians and developed lesbian friendships. Finally one asked me, “If you aren’t homosexual, why do you hang out with lesbians?” It was like she held a mirror up to my face and said, “Who are you, and why are you here?” In my … [Read more...]