Posted on 05/31/2007 12:14:23 PM PDT by balch3
Exodus International, the largest Christian outreach to ex-gays and those dealing with unwanted homosexuality, has entered a new phase of expansion – expanded vision, expanded network and expanded influence.
"Exodus is expanding its message to reach more arenas in the public sector," said Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International. "We're finding that people are wanting our perspectives on a variety of cultural, social as well as spiritual issues."
In the past three decades, Exodus has challenged churches and the wider public who respond to homosexuals with ignorance and fear as well as those who uphold homosexuality as a valid orientation. And over the last five years since Alan Chambers stepped into presidency, the ex-gay organization has increased its number of member ministries to over 130 as well as its involvement in public policy issues and has become a prominent voice on gender issues, particularly in the wake of the Ted Haggard sex-and-drugs scandal.
"I think the media exposure is a result of our expanded vision," Thomas explained. "I think they're seeing our willingness to speak a redemptive message to the public sector. People are interested in a new opinion and so we bring that to the table and the media has been willing to report."
Chambers has been a leading voice in the ex-gay debate as America continues to argue if homosexuals can overcome same-sex attractions through therapy. Chambers himself is a former homosexual who overcame his unwanted same-sex attractions through prayer-based counseling. He is now married and the father of two children and says he represents thousands of others who have experienced the same change.
Amid increasing attention on the homosexual debate, Exodus has launched new efforts to expand its professional network of counselors, create an online resource center, streamline operations within the organization's national network and increase its influence on public policy issues such as the latest Hate Crimes bill which is being reviewed by the Senate.
"But all of that really is encapsulated by our heart for the church," said Thomas.
Last summer, Exodus launched the Exodus Church Network, declaring itself a ministry of the church. Currently with 40 churches aligned to its network, Exodus helps churches to stand boldly on the truth of Scripture with regard to homosexuality, to minister to individuals struggling with unwanted homosexuality, and to create a nationwide referral list of churches for those searching for a church that will walk alongside them in their journey.
"These are churches that agree with Exodus are aligned with what we believe and are willing to help those who come to their church dealing with this issue," Thomas added.
Over the past seven or eight years, Thomas says the church has been very willing to hear what Exodus has to say.
"We find reluctance often, but not quite as often as we used to."
As the Fla.-based organization undergoes a period of expansion and development, Thomas doesn't see Exodus going away any time soon.
"I think that there is a desire within our society to get truth of same-sex attraction. I think people are getting tired of the polarized talking points and they're realizing that sexuality is a lot more complex and that people do change,” he said. “People are wanting to understand that instead of hearing these typical cultural mantras."
And as people seek answers, Thomas believes Exodus is at the "forefront of providing redemptive homosexuality to our culture."
despite your sarcasm, it happens. Ted Haggard was one who fell from heterosexuality.
James Hormel had six kids before he discovered he wasn’t attracted to women.
“Take prison for another example’
Or, I suppose, the British navy.
If you believe that "once a gay always a gay" is true then you only bolster the gay's argument that being gay is genetic, and not learned, behavior.
But don’t you think he made choices along the way? To marry a woman he wasn’t attracted to? To decide he wasn’t attracted to her or other women? The former homosexuals I’ve read or listened to all said that they were more attracted to men but believed God’s word that their natural attractions were sinful and prayed for God’s natural affections. And got spiritual and/or psychological help along the way. Every step in their lives was a decision of some type...
British schools just as much. I was alarmed about the practice when reading CS Lewis’ “Surprised by Joy”
Nah. He was obviously attracted to her. They had 6 kids and he went to the trouble to marry her. I think he just decided another lifestyle was more to his liking.
I agree with you. I just don’t buy the argument that we are pre-determined to any given lifestyle. Attracted and tempted more than other people, yes. But part of a genetic makeup that gives us no choice? No.
Worse than that, it can kill you.
We have warnings about Alcohol and Tobacco all over society and we cannot advertise them to children, yet homosexual men indulging in anal sex are conclusively proven to have a significantly shorter life expectancy than hetrosexuals yet there is NOT A SINGLE WORD of warning of the health perils of such behavior to found ANYWHERE in the media.
You’ve nailed my attitude on the matter. I don’t want a man who has to fight his sexual proclivities just to be with me, ick!
But the truth is that their deviant perverted homosexual practices that include fisting and other bizarre behavior is repulsive to every major religion on the planet.
“We have warnings about Alcohol and Tobacco all over society and we cannot advertise them to children, yet homosexual men indulging in anal sex are conclusively proven to have a significantly shorter life expectancy than hetrosexuals yet there is NOT A SINGLE WORD of warning of the health perils of such behavior to found ANYWHERE in the media.”
Yep. Bears repeating.
Niiice...you make it sound like they are aliens or dogs. I hope your precious daughter gets the heterosexually-pure man you seek, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will be a keeper. Good luck in your pursuit of the ever-perfect, wartless, prince charming for your princess.
I have had some friends who became homosexuals and none of them were gay when they were younger. They were also three different ways they were introduced:
1. They slid farther and farther into a perverse heterosexual lifestyle until they tried homosexuality.
2. Their first sexual encounter was from a more experienced homosexual.
3. They acted effeminate and everyone told them they were gay, and they eventually believed it.
I have no relation with the homosexual lifestyle but I have had friends that were homosexual in college and the like and these three reasons seem to be central. I do not believe in genetic homosexuality, but it might appear that homosexuals are genetically gay because it is such an “us vs. them” community.
I have met people who after 20 have not taken a drink, still go to alcoholics anonymous and will still say they are an alcoholic.............and I admire them for their change in life. People do change but it is a lifelong struggle and is a part of future relationships.
1. They slid farther and farther into a perverse heterosexual lifestyle until they tried homosexuality.
2. Their first sexual encounter was from a more experienced homosexual.
3. They acted effeminate and everyone told them they were gay, and they eventually believed it.
what alarmed you? I have not read.
I have been attending several "Celebrate recovery" Christian generic 12 step recovery groups for about four years. There seem to be a large number of people whose sexuality just changes at some point. I haven't met any who changed because of a program though, just people in that program who had been gay for many years then their desires changed prior to seeking out Christian help groups. This progam might work, but I would bet that their success rate is no higher than alcoholics anonymous.
Sex Differentiation Disorders
HERMAPHRODITE
Accepted definition: A person born with both male and female sex organs.This is a vague, confusing and inaccurate definition. There are 3 labels of Hermaphrodites: True, Male pseudo and Female Pseudo. All are equally genuine.
TRUE
A person born with both ovary and testicular tissue, this could be 2 seperate gonads ( one of each) or a combination of both in one (an ovotestes). The genitalia can vary from completely male or female, to a combination of both or even ambiguous looking. The chromosome (karotype) compliment can be XX (female), XY (male), XX/XY (mosiac) or even XO (extremely rare). Those XX with female genitalia are raised female ( some have even given birth). Those XY with male genitalia are raised male ( a few have fathered children). The children born XX/XY or XO (with genitalia male or female are raised in the sex they look most like) ,Those born with ambiguous genitalia have many medical tests for the doctors to determine which sex they should be assigned. Doctors then recommend early surgery to make the child look physically like the sex assigned to them.
CAUSES
The causes are not known, The medical community does know this is a very rare condition but do not have accurate figures to how many people have this condition (depending on the literature between 350-450 known cases).
FEMALE PSEUDO
A person born XX with normal female internal organs but with “masculanized” genitalia. They can appear more male then female or a combination of each.
CAUSES
The most common is Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) it occurs approximately 1:14,000 births.This is when the adrenal glands overproduce testosterone. It also has been recorded that some persons with this disorder had been exposed to progesterone-like drugs before they were born.
MALE PSEUDO
A person born XY with testes (usually in the abdominal cavity). The external genitalia are usually female but can be ambiguous.
CAUSES
The most common cause is Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). This is when the body doesn’t respond to the androgen being produced. There are different variations: Complete (CAIS) , and Partial (PAIS). This condition has a variety of names and occurance rates..
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