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Welcome to His Way Out Ministries
July 2004 Highlights
- Am I defined by my feelings or by whom God says I am?
- My Final Guyana Report By Darren Thompson
- Missions Fund-Raiser for Guyana, South America!
- Testimonies
- Coming Up in July!
- Now on DVD: "Homosexuality and the Reality of Change"
- IT'S ABOUT LIFE: Food Ministry to Those Impacted by AIDS
- His Way Out Ministries Services
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Send a Donation to His Way Out Ministries |
For all Christians, there is an on-going struggle between the flesh and spirit that is a daily reality. Therefore, which of these two natures is the real me? More specifically, what does this inner conflict mean for the person leaving homosexuality?
For every Christian, overcoming his or her past...whether it is homosexuality or some other life-dominating struggle...it is an on-going process of spiritual growth. In some respects, it never ends. The transformation of anyone struggling with homosexuality is a maturing experience similar to that of any believer. The journey out of homosexuality is not unique at all. It just has different twists and turns along the way from that of the average heterosexual seeking healing from his or her past.
Without a doubt, stopping homosexual acting out is a significant, important first step. But what then? One of the deepest root issues that every man and woman must change in order to experience freedom from his or her homosexual background is change in thoughts and identity.
Identity...the core sense of who we are...is the probably the deepest and most difficult area to experience change. This is where Scripture can have its most powerful effect. Am I defined by my feelings or by whom God says I am? Every former homosexual that I have met has repeatedly told me that the reason they have been successful in abandoning homosexuality has been solely due to obedience to God's Word. Changing their same-gender attractions was a side effect of a much larger goal: being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
Thousands of men and women have found homosexuality to be ultimately disappointing and less than totally fulfilling. Many have sensed that there is something more available, and they want it.
However, seeking a straight lifestyle is a flawed and misdirected motive for coming out of homosexuality. The ultimate goal and focus should be seeking and reaching spiritual maturity, and not experiencing a certain sexual orientation.
There is evidence for change from homosexuality right in the New Testament church. In speaking to the Corinthian believers, the apostle Paul said that some of them had been involved in various sinful lifestyles, including homosexuality. But then he declared, "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Coming out of homosexuality is not a new phenomenon. It has been occurring in the church since the days of the first-century church...if not before. The message of hope for overcoming same-gender attraction has been declared for centuries. With that in mind, I hope that you will find the following testimonies encouraging and thought provoking. To God be the glory!
A Personal Word
May 17, 2004, will go down as one of the darkest days in American history. The ripple effects of the Massachusetts Supreme Court will be felt across the nation. It has become clear that some Massachusetts officials will relax the residency documentation requirement, meaning that homosexuals from across the nation will flock to the Bay State and take their same-gender unions back to every other state. Without a doubt, homosexual activists will use May 17th to catapult their agenda. Frankly, all of us at His Way Out Ministries hope that you are disturbed by what has happened and continues to unfold. We hope that everyone is deeply troubled. Our nation is teetering on a cultural brink. It is very likely, that May 17th will be remembered by historians as the beginning of the end of marriage in America.
We trust that you will pray. At the end of the day, all our talk and all our efforts amount to very little, compared with presenting our petitions before God. Our society is literally hanging in the balance. May God bless our nation as we face this tragic watershed.
In Closing...
Recently, we have experienced a wave of new men and women seeking to overcome their same-gender attraction. Each man and woman has expressed that they felt "different" from a very young age and tempted to give into their desires. Fortunately, through His Way Out Ministries, they had done some homework regarding the possible outcome of living a homosexual lifestyle and discovered the damage that could come from living out their same-sex attraction.
Did you know that the risk of contracting AIDS from a single act of unprotected heterosexual intercourse is 1 in 715,000, but the risk of contracting AIDS from a single act of unprotected homosexual intercourse is 1 in 165?* One person under the age of 21 or younger becomes infected with HIV every hour of every day. Every day, 8,000 teenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease. And the 2004 CDC statistics say that AIDS is the third leading cause of death in the overall population in the United States.**
At His Way Out Ministries, we remain deeply burdened about men and women who struggle with homosexuality. God has and continues to open doors for us to work with individuals and families both locally and abroad.
We desperately need you to help us in this effort. Your gifts and prayers are essential. Will you join us by sending a check today?
May God richly bless you for your kindness and compassion!
From All of Us at His Way Out Ministries...
His Way Out Ministries: proclaiming to, educating and impacting the world with the biblical truth that freedom from homosexuality is possible when Jesus is Lord of your life.
*Tom W. Smith, "Adult Sexual Behavior and Risk of AIDS" in Family Planning Perspectives, May/June 1991
**Centers of Disease Control, 2004
Gratefully Redeemed,
Pastor Phillip Lee
Executive Director
His Way Out Ministries
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My Final Guyana Report By Darren Thompson
By God's grace, when you read this report I would have returned to the United States and my third mission trip to Guyana, South America would have ended. It has been a great experience that far exceeded my expectations. I knew the day before I left on this journey that God was going to do a new thing in me. Now, looking back I see that I have been stretched in many new ways and I trust that I have been permanently changed.
Guyana is a nation diverse in its religious practices. I have seen 70-foot idols, the sacrifice of animals and heard daily calls to prayer in Arabic. But I am grateful for each opportunity I've had to enter into homes and present the Gospel, leave a portion of God's Word, pass out a tract or place a sticker on a child. For the most part, the Guyanese are very open to the message of Jesus Christ and show first-class hospitality to you while visiting them.
Guyana is a beautiful country. I have had the privilege to travel to many new areas that have left me amazed at God's creativity. I have rode in a Range Rover, motorcycle, speedboats, planes, bikes, buses and canoes. I thank God for His faithful protection and strength graciously given to me when traveling either in urban settings or by trail. God is more than able to be our guide and protector.
These several months have provided me with a better understanding of the needs of the people of Guyana. They have academic, economic, spiritual, emotional, medical and family needs. But time after time, the issue of homosexuality has arisen. A team of Christians has joined together to counter any legislative endorsement of homosexuality and gay marriage. However, there seems to be a void of any collaborative effort to minister to those struggling with their sexuality. Many people are habitually practicing the gay lifestyle without any understanding of why they can't stop. For the last few weeks I have been ministering to a Guyanese man who has struggled since childhood. Always at his mom's side he never really entered into the world of boys and every since then he has only known rejection of men.
Homosexuality became a quick way to get acceptance by some men, albeit a dangerous one. Since becoming a Christian he has won some battles, but still requires encouragement and support. Giving him some of our teaching materials and beginning to meet and pray regularly has been a blessing he said. He already has a greater confidence and resolve to live in purity. I have high hopes for him. But the homosexual population in Guyana is growing and becoming more powerful. AIDS has infected 5-7% of the people and with a growing homosexual population, the future looks bleak. But, more than the physical consequences, the deep needs of men and women to know Jesus as Lord and Savior is far greater in importance. People are looking for someone to make their pain go away and only if the Body of Christ reaches people with the truth of God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit can they have hope. But here lies a problem.
Many churches do not know how homosexuality develops in someone's life nor do they know how to relate and effectively minister to those struggling with their sexuality/gender. Many Guyanese Christians familiar with His Way Out Ministries are looking to us to help. It is a great responsibility and an open door for us to reach a nation in need.
I want to thank our heavenly Father for His grace, encouragement, protection, provision and intimacy these several months. I never felt alone or far away from the One who loves me. I appreciate each person who sent packages, letters, greetings, money and prayers my way to make this mission successful. Though this new thing the Lord has done may be finished, the work and calling on us I believe must be fulfilled. Please continue to keep the Guyanese in your hearts and remain faithful and prayerful to reach them in Jesus' Name.
In His Service,
Darren Thompson
Assistant to the Director
His Way Out Ministries
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Missions Fund-Raiser for Guyana, South America!
Please accept this personal invitation to help us continue our work in Guyana, South America. On Saturday, August 21, 2004, we will be having a Missions Yard Sale that will help us raise needed finances. Numerous ministry opportunities continue to be offered to His Way Out Ministries and are we are purposed to step through each and every door that our Lord opens to us. Clean out those cupboards, closets and garages! It's not too early to start donating. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated and you will enable our work to spread throughout Guyana!
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Testimonies
I am amazed at the change in me. Other people see it as well. It really has been so much easier that I thought. Yes, I still experience temptation from time to time, but I now have the strength and the desire to turn away from it. I am so filled with compassion to help others who have the same issue of same-gender attraction that I can't even explain it. I know that it is the Holy Spirit at work in me. I know that I am just a babe in Christ and that I must grown in knowledge and maturity. I wait patiently for the time to come when God calls me to help. I pray daily that He will use me to help others. I want to thank you so much for His Way Out Ministries. It is a truly needed ministry in this world. I wish the Church would face this issue more directly and speak of it openly and remove the stigma it has associated with it. I just feel like so many people could be helped more easily. May God bless you and your ministry...Mike.
It was truly God's plan and blessing that His Way Out Ministries was here in this little town of Bakersfield, California just when I needed healing and restoration. You devoted an enormous amount of time, love and understanding to me and I appreciate it and still do appreciate it. You made a positive impact not only on my life but the life of my wife and children. When we all see each other in Glory, you will be able to see how many generations you affected. I praise God for His Way Out Ministries. Please, please, please never be disheartened or discouraged. You are a conduit of God's love...Jim.
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Coming Up In July!
July 3rd - L.I.F.E. (Living in Fellowship...Even in Tough Times).
On Saturday, July 3rd, Darren Thompson will be sharing about his ministry experiences and journey through Guyana, South America. Darren has been serving as our missionary to Guyana since January 3, 2004 and we are very glad he has returned to us safe and sound. Come join us as we celebrate all the wonderful things that God has done and continues to do in Guyana. Also, we will be viewing a video presentation regarding freedom from homosexuality as dramatized by Acts of Renewal at a recent Exodus Conference. The L.I.F.E. Support Group offers education and sharing for those choosing to leave the homosexual lifestyle, spouses, family members and friends of those struggling with homosexuality, and those desiring to understand the complexities of homosexuality. L.I.F.E. meets faithfully on the first Saturday of each month from 9am to 11am.
July 10th - "Time Out"...a discipleship support group series for men and women struggling with same-gender attraction.
On July 10th we will turn our attention and discussion to: combating the personal attacks of depression, despair, loneliness, boredom and flashbacks. The gay lifestyle was a lifestyle of excesses. It sometimes seems that there was more trauma in a year than others experience in a lifetime. Now, we are challenged to discover how to use our time constructively rather than turning to the easy, sinful solutions of the past. "Time Out" meets from 9am to 11am.
July 17th - His Way Out Ministries "Advisory Board" Meeting - 8:30am to 10:00am
July 20th to 24th, 2004 - 29th Annual Exodus Freedom Conference
Imagine what it would be like if the entire Body of Christ caught a glimpse of what the Lord intended for His creation with regard to sexuality. Just think how much better equipped the Church would be if everyone in it completely surrendered their sexuality to the Lordship of Christ. Come join more than 1,000 others at Azuza Pacific University in Southern California where we will be pursuing God through worship, education, fellowship and prayer for His answers on the issues surrounding biblical sexuality, healing from homosexuality, sexual addictions and the pursuit of His creative intent for human sexuality. For more information and to register for the Exodus Conference...go online at: www.exodus2004.org
July 24th - "Time Out"...a discipleship support group series for men and women struggling with same-gender attraction.
On July 24th we will be discussing: many people, homosexual or not, refer constantly to the image of their natural father when thinking about God. Much of the world, no doubt, has a corrupted image of God. For the person leaving the homosexual lifestyle, it is essential that his/her image of God be corrected. Therefore, during our session, we will turn our attention to correcting our image of God. "Time Out" meets from 9am to 11am.
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Video: "Homosexuality and the Reality of Change"
Homosexuality and the Reality of Change presents a biblical perspective on the homosexual behavior with honesty and compassion. The 50 minute video contains information on: Can Homosexuals Really Change?, Will the Person Become Heterosexual?, How Long Does Change Take?, Exposing the Roots of Homosexuality, HIV and AIDS, Biblical and Scientific Evidence for Change, and much, much more.
This video is an excellent resource for teachers, churches, pastors, support group leaders, or anyone desiring a clear, comprehensive understanding of homosexuality.
The Good News of Jesus Christ and His love, acceptance, and forgiveness, His power to heal and restore has brought hope to many struggling with homosexuality. If you know someone struggling with same-gender attractions Homosexuality and the Reality of Change can help.
Videos are available on VHS or DVD at a cost of $20.00. To order your video...give us a call today.
We recently received, and watched, the video you sent us. It was excellent. We will be sharing it with other people at our church. One part that especially ministered to us was when Pastor Lee said from Philippians 1:6 that God is never going to give up His job of working in our life to conform us to the image of Christ. It helps makes sense of life's trials. Thank you for your ministry...Tom & Catherine
Preview "Homosexuality and the Reality of Change"
2min 38sec, 1.3MB, QT.mov
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IT'S ABOUT LIFE:
Food Ministry to Those Impacted by AIDS
AIDS profoundly impacts one's life whether that person has been infected by it or they are a family member or a friend of someone who has. The social stigmas, fears and especially the "aloneness" associated with AIDS makes it oppressive to live with. "IT'S ABOUT LIFE" is a crucial part of His Way Out Ministries. Because His Way Out Ministries is committed to compassionately communicating God's heart through a caring Christian community, His Way Out Ministries will be a receiving house for non-perishable food items. This will assist those with AIDS to maintain a balanced diet and good nutrition. Two major considerations in food donations for folks with AIDS are speed and ease of preparation. An appetite sometimes doesn't last long and the item has to be readily accessible and speedily prepared for the patient to be able to enjoy it.
We invite churches, companies, ministries, corporations, individuals, and the entire City of Bakersfield to join with us in caring. Offer your support by donating the below listed items.
| Canned tuna | Canned soups |
| Canned ravioli | Canned pasta products, e.g.Spaghettio's |
| Hamburger Helper | Peanut butter |
| Hamburger Helper | Peanut butter |
| Jams and jellies | Breakfast cereals |
| Breakfast bars | Fruit cocktail |
| Canned peaches | Top Ramen |
| Cup o' Noodle soups | Canned potatoes |
| Canned corn | Macaroni and cheese mixes |
| Rice 'o Roni type mixes | Chili beans |
| Tomato paste, Tomato sauce | Spaghetti sauce |
| Potted meats | Canned stews |
| Instant potato mixes, e.g., scalloped | Instant oatmeal variety packs |
| Kleenex | Paper towels |
| Toilet paper | Popsicles (not frozen) |
| Instant breakfast drinks | Spaghetti |
His Way Out Ministries is located at Brimhall Road Assembly of God. Items will be distributed in cooperation with other outreaches in our community. This is a continuous, on-going ministry. For further information, please call 661-589-4262. God Bless You for your giving.
His Way Out Ministries Services
- Consultations
- Family Support Group
- Individual Prayer Ministry
- "Time Out" Discipleship Series
- Ministry Support Network
- Speakers available to address Christian groups
- "Moving On" Advanced/Closed Support Groups
- "It's About Life" Ministry to Those Impacted by AIDS
Send a Donation to His Way Out
In your own church, and throughout this entire world, people are in need of God's clarity about their relationships and their sexuality. Participating in the work of H.W.O.M. is one way to acknowledge Christ's healing power for the sexually broken.
Through your financial support or volunteer involvement, you can add your voice to those who are speaking the truth of God with integrity.
His Way Out Ministries is a nonprofit, tax exempt Christian ministry associated with
Exodus International.
| You can donate using PayPal... |
Or send a contribution to:
His Way Out Ministries, 10700 Brimhall Road, Bakersfield, CA 93312
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