Category Archives: former homosexuals
Former lesbian nightclub owner gives up all to follow Jesus
In Ferndale, a suburb of Detroit, a new club had everybody excited. The new owners had set out to make it the hottest interactive gay nightclub in the state of Michigan and judging from the consistently packed crowds, for the most part, they had succeded. Michigan’s top gay magazine Between The Lines, hailed the owners and the club as a major attraction.
Club 9 attracts one of the most diverse crowds of any gay club in Ferndale, with Monday night football, Hump Night on Wednesdays for the boys, Trend-Sexy Fridays for hip-hop lovers and Sweet Saturdays, when a predominantly female crowd kicks it to the latest top 40 jams.
The club also attracted a pair of young and ambitious women. In October of 2009, Kiana Dennis, who is just 29, and Angela Vincents, who just prefers “thirty-something,” purchased the business and expanded it. They added TV’s, dance poles, a T-shaped stage for fashion shows and a new sign out front. They painted the walls and made the events calendar more diverse.
They also brought in talent
from out of town, including the sexy dancers from the 2012 club in Windsor and Spinderella, the turntable genius from the iconic rap group Salt-n-Peppa.
Dennis and Vincents also worked to make Club 9 a part of both the gay community and the Ferndale scene. The club was a gold-level sponsor for Motor City Pride, a participant in the annual Ferndale Pub Crawl, and a club sponsor for Hotter than July, an LGBT celebration organized by the Black Pride Society.
But about a year ago, all of that changed. Club co-owner Kiana Dennis closed the venue, gave up the women, the fame and all the benefits of sin to follow Jesus. Now she’s telling her story to help others know that there is nothing too hard for God. See the videos below.
WATCH: Video testimonies of other men and women who have come out of homosexuality.
Jamal Bryant’s homosexuality videos uploaded
Earlier this year, GCM Watch reported that Baltimore pastor Jamal Bryant was moderating a “conversation” about homosexuality at his Empowerment Temple Church. Slated on the guest list was gay christian cleric Dennis Meredith of Atlanta and former lesbian Brenda Burton of Jacksonville, NC. The event was billed as “Homosexuality in the House of God”. Per the graphic flyer that was released by the ministry, Meredith got the “featured” billing. But after the GCM Watch article, the graphic was amended and rereleased with Burton’s name added. You can see both graphics from the event here.
Videos of that exchange have now been uploaded to Youtube but only five of the seven parts are available. Part 1 is Bryant presumably giving some historical background and context but the actual “conversation” doesn’t begin until about 5 minutes into part 2.
We have not reviewed all the videos, but feel free to add your comments and insights as you view them.
GCMW mourns passing of pioneer Roberta Laurila
Michigan Live reported the passing of Roberta Laurila, 80, who pioneered ministry to homosexuals even before the Exodus Movement began. Roberta began her struggle out of lesbianism at a time when homosexuality was barely spoken of publicly. Yet, she believed God and fought her way through to help liberate thousands of others.
“Roberta Laurila, went to be with Jesus and her many friends and loved ones on Thursday October 20, 2011. Her parents were, Bert and Rosella Meyers, she was the youngest of five siblings, raised near Lake Odessa, MI. Later in life, after receiving Jesus as her Savior she was called by her Lord to minister his love to the rejected and lost who were searching a new life in salvation. Knowing there would be consequences, she plunged into God’s plan for her life by writing a testimony of her own life, which was published in 1975. Soon after she received many letters for help to be delivered from their life style, plus salvation. A few years before, in December of 1967, God had shown her a spiritual vision or dream, her desire to reach many rejected internationally would come to fruition after nine years. The ministry of “EXODUS” was born and shortly thereafter became “Exodus International.” Her prayerful hope of many years, only God had performed, in his plan for her life.”
In her own testimony Roberta knew her call was not to the limelight of leadership but to pray and intercede.
“Much has happened since that time. While I continued to intercede, God began calling forth former gays to minister. God has blessed my friendships with many of the “pioneers” in the Exodus movement, such as Frank Worthen, Robbi Kenney, Ed Hurst and others. I have been blessed also to see many ministries begin in foreign soil. What a wonderful God he is!
God has kept me at a low profile. At times, I have rebelled concerning this. But deep down, I know I was called to intercede for others to be led by the Holy Spirit into all the world.
Even as I write these words, tears are flowing down my cheeks. Surely God will complete His perfect plan to reach the many millions of the lost who have been so rejected and lonely so many years. I weep for the church, blinded by the enemy so it cannot see the need to reach gays. So many Christians cannot truly believe that God can set these people free. My great desire now is to reach those in the gay church. I am believing God to also work a miracle there.”
Bob Davies, former president of Exodus International told Exodus International’s blog that Roberta prayed many of them out of homosexuality and was a major influence on early leaders.
“Quiet faithfulness.” Those are the two words that come to mind when I think of Roberta Laurila. I first heard about her 30 years ago when I read her testimony—one of the first books to be published from a “former lesbian.” I was even more impacted when I heard “the rest of the story”: As a new Christian, Roberta began praying for others caught in homosexuality, that God would also free them. One day God gave her a vision of whole stadiums full of people who had left homosexuality. She began quietly praying for the fulfillment of that vision—and within a couple years, Exodus was born.
For the past 30 years, Roberta continued to pray for the fulfillment of her vision, and her beloved Exodus has grown into a worldwide movement. Her little Exodus ministry in a suburb of Grand Rapids was never well known; few people even knew of her. But, over the decades, she continued to serve in her own quiet, gentle way.
I am humbled by her faithfulness—and feel overwhelming gratitude for the years of prayer that she invested in me and other Exodus leaders. Roberta Laurila will always be one of my heroes in the faith. I am greatly indebted to her—and I thank the Lord for “every remembrance” of this faithful servant of God.
Roberta’s prayers are yet reaching the throne of God as he calls out men and women who have been trapped in homosexuality out to a new life of faith in the Son of God. The fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Rev 2:17
Jaye Thomas: called out in Kansas City
God called Jaye Thomas out of homosexuality and sin. Because he is no respect of persons, he will do the same for you.
Video courtesy of CBN
Leadership education on the Gospel and the “gay Christian”
Via Stephen Black and Oklahoma City based First Stone Ministries, a message to Pastoral Care Leaders seeking to navigate the muddy cross sections of the Gospel and “gay Christianity.”
“The Gospel according to Jesus Christ is the same message for a gay-identified person, an idolater, an adulterer, a fornicator, a pornographer, a liar, a thief, a gossip, a slanderer or a murderer. The message of good news–redemption into a love relationship with God–is the same for all sinners.[1] Many “Christian” leaders communicate a message that is not Biblical, but instead is deceptive and eternally dangerous. It is certainly not a message of love to lead a person into a false hope. Unfortunately, this misleading message of “gay Christianity” is spread by perhaps well-meaning but Biblically-illiterate leaders who present a message based not on the truth of the Bible, but on a man-made theology. Other leaders purposefully and deceptively spread this message, which is a much graver offense. Deception–which leads people astray–is not love; it’s evil.[2] I share this concern with the same grief-filled compassion as expressed by the Apostle Paul to the Romans in Romans 9:1-3[3] when he wrote “with a great heavy heart and many tears.” Sincerely I write this article after much heart-ache and many tears. Paul reminded us that many will fall away from the faith in the last days.[4] This perversion of The Gospel is an example of the message of ease, love of pleasure and living unrepentantly with which many will go astray.[5] This article is equipped with many end-notes of Biblical references to back up the emphatic statements and is a Bible study with over 150 verses. Please read the Scripture references with this article and let God’s word be your guide.”
The writeup contains a wealth of teaching, scripture and resources to equip pastoral leaders in the contemporary church. Many are unnecessarily falling victim to the seductively false doctrines of the gay christian movement. But the question comes down to this: will we believe the gospel or man’s replacement ideologies? Souls hang in the balance of our answer. Stephen Black succinctly fowards the challenge to believe the gospel of Jesus against the growing apostate teachings of the gay christian movement.
“Several church leaders[40] embrace the emergent message of gay Christianity and present a gay Gospel. Their teachings are not based upon the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ or New Testament Biblical instruction. They choose to embrace a false social gospel of a more palatable feel-good-God, a man-made theology, yet they do ‘good things’ under the banner of Christianity. Unfortunately, rather than embracing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel of self-denial that produces a Spirit-filled life that really does do good,[41] they are embracing a man-made theology promoting gay Christianity. Which gospel message will you embrace? Will you follow a Biblical message that allows the human heart and soul to be transformed by the Word of God or a man-made theology that allows men to live in self-centeredness and indulgence?[42] Shall we teach people that just praying a prayer and being a part of a community saves them eternally? Or shall we teach a true belief, that accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and following Him in discipleship will result in a life of righteousness? Which Gospel will you teach or follow?[43] The true gospel of Jesus Christ, which leads to life, or a gay gospel according to man’s words, which leads to death? “There is a way that seems right to man, but the end leads to death.”[44]
Any leader who follows or teaches any other gospel other than what has already been given to us is to be accursed (Gal 1:8). Lies kill people and destroy souls but the truth of God delivers people from the snare of the devil into new life with Christ. Read the entire article here.
Willow Creek unfolding kinder, gentler apostasy
CHICAGO – Since the massive –but impotent– religious giant Willow Creek Church announced in late June that it was severing ties with Exodus International over issues with homosexuality, the smell of gradual decay continues to rise from its headquarters at 67 East Algonquin Road in South Barrington, IL. And if the church is spiritually decaying, its a sure sign that its leadership has already decayed.
According to 1 Tim 4 widespread apostasy will significantly mark the latter years of the church.
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
The “latter days” are not coming, they are here.
Two recent developments in the story shed light on the new brand of apostasy Willow Creek is unfolding and why the world wants churches to sell out completely.
Today, Exodus President Alan Chamber released a statement revealing that Willow Creek no longer believed that people could change from homosexuality.
“Willow Creek was one of our first Exodus Church Association partners. They have had an incredible outreach for two decades to people dealing with same-sex attractions. In 2009 an inquest of sorts was embarked upon, led by one of their elders to find out what they were offering to people affected by unwanted homosexuality. The inquest culminated in a meeting between members of the Exodus staff, the elder in question and the staff person overseeing their recovery ministries. At that meeting they shockingly declared that they didn’t want to help people overcome because that wasn’t possible. They simply wanted to tell people that abstinence was the only option and then provide them with comfortable place to abstain. “
Chambers said Willow Creek’s decision “failed to convey the heart and truth of Christ.” Chambers is correct. When a church fails to tell the whole truth about homosexuality (like it should do for all sin) it intentionally subverts the message of the cross. Willow Creek is moving to the religious center. Its new message is that so-called sexual orientation cant change, therefore individuals who struggle with homosexual desires they do not want have no option other than to be single, celibate…and miserable for the rest of their lives. By defining the issue as one of “sexual orientation” and not as sin, its easy for the church to capitulate to gay ideology and eschew the bible.
And with progay theologians like Tony Compolo appearing at the church, its clear Willow Creek and Bill Hybels want to dumb down the brutal truth to satisfy the demands of external opposition.
Speaking of external opposition, the second situation involved a cancelled appearance at Willow Creek by Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Shultz.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Shultz cancelled but stopped short of saying it was because of the church past belief that altering a person’s “sexual orientation” is possible.
But the church’s membership in Exodus ended in 2009 when the church re-evaluated all of its healing ministries for people facing addiction, divorce, cancer or sexual identity issues, said church spokeswoman Susan DeLay. She said Willow’s views had evolved since signing up for Exodus decades ago.
“They were one of the few Christian organizations having conversations with people who struggle with being gay,” she said.
But after careful contemplation, Willow now espouses the belief that “coming to faith in Christ doesn’t promise a change in sexual orientation,” she said.
Scholars have noted that many contemporary evangelical leaders welcome people of all sexual orientations, but stop short of affirming committed same-sex relationships that they still believe violate Scripture.
Mary Lou Wallner, a former member of Willow whose lesbian daughter committed suicide 14 years ago, said a semi-private conversation with Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, three years ago gave her hope.
At the end of that conversation, Hybels said he didn’t believe homosexuality was a choice or that it could be fixed. But he did believe Scripture calls for gays and lesbians to be celibate, she said. “Someone like Bill Hybels could change the world,” she said.
Hybels is supposed to explain the church’s new position on homosexuality at a news conference today.
UPDATE 08/12
Hybel’s addresses the controversy [video] by insisting that his church is not “antigay”. He offers a sounder explanation of WC’s beliefs than his press secretary, but does not repudiate the remarks.
