Ex-gay Leader Experiences "Moral Fall"

The New York Blade ^ | 8/1/2003 | Laura Douglas-Brown

[HostileTerritory]

Five years after starring in a national advertising campaign claiming gays can change their sexual orientation, Michael Johnston experienced a “moral fall” and left behind his ministries, two conservative Christian groups that worked with Johnston confirmed this week.

“I received a call from [Johnston] asking forgiveness as a Christian brother and asking for our prayers, indicating that he was working with his pastor and his church to try to find some restoration in his relationship with God,” said Buddy Smith, American Family Association administrator.

The Mississippi-based AFA partnered with Johnston to promote ex-gay programs, including Johnston’s National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day. The annual event is unlikely to continue following Johnston’s “moral fall,” but Smith said the AFA won’t abandon its claims that gays can change.

“I don’t think the message is changed at all, though of course the messenger is certainly harmed,” Smith said. “I don’t foresee he would ever be back in a place of public ministry, especially in an outreach to homosexuals like the ministry he had.”

Johnston founded Kerusso Ministries, based in Newport News, Va. The ministry’s published phone number is now disconnected and the Web site is no longer operational.

[Sweet Hour of Prayer]

I think humility is a cornerstone characteristic of an authentic Christian. Only when we've seen how truly awful we are, can we fully realize our desparate need for God's forgiveness. Only God can truly change people.

[Bob J]

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[Ragtime Cowgirl]

There's a world of reporters who claim the war in Iraq was a quagmire and who still tell the world it's a daily failure for our hapless troops...and there's the very different and real truth.

People have been changed, radically - by the grace of God. It doesn't mean the old nature doesn't have to be buried anew daily. We all fall short.

The left plays this all or nothing game no human can live up to: eg - the President wins a war in less than a season, his administration helps take out over 6000 terrorists in the Euopean theater alone, and is doing good work across the globe - but he failed because of ...(insert anything here, the truth doesn't matter, nor does national security the lives of the troops or the welfare of the longsuffering Iraqi people).

IOW, if anyone daring to challenge the left's anti-family agenda falls, they will be strung up by folks like Michael Moore and Larry Flynt.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Maybe there is somthing to the doctrine of predestination. Rather spooky thought.

[Kevin Curry]

It's like an recovering alcoholic falling off the wagon. When the lifestyle is imbibed and hooks the soul, it's a life-long struggle to maintain sexual sobriety.

That's all it means.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I know someone in Alcoholics Anonymous who later fell off the wagon, does that make AA a fraud and a waste of time?

[HostileTerritory]

I think the AA to ex-gay comparison is really rough for a lot of reasons. But anyway...

If all the members of the executive board of AA fell off the wagon, I think I would start to question the effectiveness of their methods, yeah.

[Clint N. Suhks]

There is ALWAYS recidivism and relapse in behavioral pathologies and in the treatment thereof. If true, Buddy Smith has simply fallen into the same trap as many others who can’t/won't stop their unwanted tendencies. Cognitive therapy only works when certain thinking patterns causing your symptoms are changed, if not it gives you a distorted picture of what's going on in your life provoking you into ill-chosen actions.

[Clint N. Suhks]

If all the members of the executive board of AA fell off the wagon, I think I would start to question the effectiveness of their methods, yeah.

But that's not the case here is it?

[Gopher Broke]

Uhhh...Buddy Smith is the GOOD GUY at the AFA, calling the homosexual, Mr. Kerusso, back to his ex-gay life.

[Gopher Broke]

Sorry, make that Michael Johnson is the back-slidden homosexual.

[billbears]

If this guy really thinks one can cure homosexuality, he could have worked harder

He can't, but God can. Homosexuality is not a lifestyle, it's not a disease, or something 'hardwired' into a person. It is a choice to follow in sin instead of what God wants, plain and simple

[Clint N. Suhks]

Thanks Gopher Broke, you're right.

[HostileTerritory]

When Michael Johnston, John Paulk, and the two founders of groups in the 1970s can't hold it together, we have a problem.

[jimt]

This article also claims that two founders of ex-gay ministries in the 1970s fell in love lust, left their wives, and ran off together.

A much more likely scenario.

[Old Professer]

Why would anybody want to change a homosexual in the first place?

I would just settle for a little less noise about it.

[Clint N. Suhks]

John Paulk didn't revert, if going into a gay bar makes you a homosexual I wonder why I'm not gay? He resigned in good standing to be with his family.

[HostileTerritory]

If they're still in lust together after 25 years, we should all be so lucky!