Welcome to His Way Out Ministries

August 2005 Highlights

"Homosexuality vs. the Authority of Scripture" Part Three By Pastor Phillip Lee

As a Christian, it is always best to be adamant only when and where the Bible is adamant. While God's Word clearly condemns homosexual behavior, it does not state "why" people become homosexual. However, as a Christian, we should and can accept that something is wrong even if we don't fully understand what caused it.

To those that state "The Bible doesn't condemn homosexuality," or "The Bible doesn't say anything about homosexuality," they usually don't mean that homosexuality is never mentioned in the Bible, what they normally mean is one of the following. Homosexuality as practiced or viewed today never appears in Scripture, or even though the Bible does speak against homosexuality, what the Bible says does not apply to present day situations.

The first mention of homosexual behavior in the Bible appears in Genesis 19:1-11, which is the account of the angel visitors to Abraham's nephew Lot in the city of Sodom. The visitors' mission is to discover if the rumor of Sodom's wickedness is true, in order to find out if God should punish its people (Genesis 18:20-21). After Lot persuades the two men to accept his hospitality for the night, the men of Sodom surround the house, demanding that Lot send the visitors out so the Sodomites may "know" them. One Old Testament word for "know" often serves as and indicates another meaning for sexual intercourse. Adam, for example, "knew" his wife and she conceived a child (Genesis 4:1, 25), as did his son Cain (Genesis 4:17) and many others. Without a doubt, Lot's reply to the men of Sodom shows that he understood their demand in sexual terms: "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing" (Verse 7). Lot's offer of his virgin daughters to the Sodomites as substitutes for the male visitors also indicates that their demand was sexual.

In the New Testament Paul speaks to the issue of homosexual behavior in Romans 1:24-27. Within the mentioned passage, is the closest thing we find in Scripture to a natural law argument against homosexual behavior. The Apostle Paul also makes strong statements against homosexuality in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10. In the Corinthian passage Paul includes "fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, ...thieves, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers" among the "unrighteous" who "will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Now, one might think that the mentioned passages would settle the issue, and maybe they do for some that believe the Bible teaches true moral principles in clear, understandable language.

I remain amazed at how some people today make surprising claims about the biblical attitude toward homosexual behavior. As an example, there are those who would have us believe certain biblical characters were homosexual. Not one individual is named in the entire Word of God as a homosexual. While there are those that would have us believe that Cain and Abel, David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, even Jesus and the "beloved disciple, or Paul and Timothy, were alleged homosexual pairs, is at best a flimsy, if not a quantum leap by some homosexuals to claim biblical support for their way of living.

No doubt, our position at His Way Out Ministries and what I have written will seem extremely judgmental to some. If so, maybe what we have missed or failed to embrace and understand clearly is that God's grace covers every kind of sin for the believer in Jesus who turns from sin and toward God. God can and does forgive homosexual sin as well as heterosexual sin, sin which is socially acceptable and sin which is not. However, the first step in receiving forgiveness is to recognize our wrongdoing as sin. This third installment of "Homosexuality vs. the Authority of Scripture," is to show that homosexual behavior is wrong in God's eyes, not in order to condemn, but enable people to receive God's grace and extend it to others.

From All of Us at His Way Out Ministries....

To each of you who continually bless us by your encouragement, ministry participation, monthly financial support, offerings, and prayers...we remain truly grateful. His Way Out Ministries is proclaiming to, educating, and impacting the world with the biblical truth that freedom from homosexuality is possible when Jesus Christ is Lord of your life.

Prayerfully Yours,

Pastor Phillip Lee

Executive Director
His Way Out Ministries

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I started looking for answers. Testimony by J.F.

I was born and raised in a home where God was nonexistent. All I ever knew was alcoholism and its consequences. At a very early age I realized that something was wrong. I preferred to play with dolls instead of little cars like other boys. I preferred the comfort of playing house with the girls rather than the aggression of rude games boys used to play. This caused different reactions among my family. My brother used to call me names. He often referred to me as "sissy." There were big fights between my mother and I. She always spanked me and pulled my ears telling me not to play with girls anymore. The only time she told me about God, was when she said that He did not approve of my behavior. She said that everyone in my family was very embarrassed because of me.

At school, everything was worse. Everybody used to make fun of me, even the teachers. There were times when classmates hit me, but I never defended myself. How I hated myself for being such a coward! I finally gave up. I was forbidden to talk to any girl by my mother, and so I did not. But I couldn't identify with boys, so I go into books. Nothing changed.

While I was in Junior High, my confusion was total, because I discovered my attraction toward both sexes. But something else happened. My father sent me with one of his friends to learn about photography. Before that, my father's friend always respected me and showed his friendship in a very kind way. But once we were by ourselves he started showing me pornographic magazines and eventually I was sexually abused. I couldn't say anything to anyone because all that had happened made me feel guilty. After that incident, I decided to get sexually involved with a friend of mine. This went on for approximately six years. All of this was totally self-destructive . I had to live through lies and by fooling myself and others. I was living a double life. I definitely lost my dignity and all respect for myself. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I was unable to stop it. I just wanted to die. From then on, I started looking for answers.

After a year and a half of complete abstinence, I was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. I cried for more than a week. And once more there was no one to talk to. This was very painful for me, but it surely was enough to make me look for help. It was under these circumstances that a lady at the Health Department suggested I contact His Way Out Ministries. Even though I was willing to go to a psychiatrist, I was kind of disappointed for having been sent to a ministry. Once before, I had tried religion. It did not work out. But this time it was different. There is something I have learned since the first time I talked with His Way Out Ministries. Now, there was no religion, but relationship. A relationship with God which was much more open, transparent, deeper and more human. I liked that idea, so I decided to accept Jesus into my heart as my Savior. This is how my path to recovery got started.

After this I received great gifts. God's unconditional love, His forgiveness, and the knowledge that He loved me as I was, right then and there. I wasn't asked to make any changes in order to come to Him. I just had to accept Him. All of this tore down the lie that He did not love me because I was homosexual.

Through my new relationship with God and the knowledge of His Word, I understood why sexual sin seems to be worse than any other. Sexual sin, not only involves my body, which is God's temple, but also my spirit. My broken relationship with God drove me to isolate from others, hide my feelings, and disguise my behavior.

Talking to others who have been through the same situation, and getting love and support from all of them, has given me the realization that my homosexuality had nothing to do with sex. Instead, it had been the way in which I was trying to satisfy a need. The need of intimacy with God. In the same way that somebody else abused alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, etc. I did it with sex. But there was never enough. Deep in my heart, there was always an emptiness that only God has finally filled. Today, I know that in my relationship with God I don't have to be perfect, but I don't have to be homosexual either.

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L.I.F.E. at Grace Chapel

In our continued ministry partnership with Grace Chapel in Lancaster, CA, His Way Out Ministries is very pleased to announce that on the first Saturday of each month, from 9am to 11am at Grace Chapel, an additional support group is now available. The L.I.F.E. Support Group is available to those that have chosen to leave homosexuality, spouses, family members or friends of someone struggling with homosexuality, or those that just want to learn about the complexities of homosexuality. For further information about the L.I.F.E. Support Group, please contact Pastor Pat Tanner, Assistant Pastor of Grace Chapel, at: (661) 948-0855 or email Pastor Tanner.

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Coming Up In August!

August 6th - L.I.F.E. (Living in Fellowship...Even in Tough Times). On August 6th we will be turning our attention to "The Impact of Homosexuality on a Marriage." This is a continuation of our teaching and discussion series titled "There's Something I Need to Tell You!" If you have chosen to leave homosexuality, or you are a spouse, family member or friend of someone struggling with homosexuality, or you just want to learn about the complexities of homosexuality...this group is for you! L.I.F.E. meets faithfully on the first Saturday of each month from 9am to 11am. Teaching materials are provided.

In Bakersfield - L.I.F.E. meets at the His Way Out Ministries Office.
In Lancaster - L.I.F.E. meets at Grace Chapel.

August 7th - Jim McArthur and Pastor Phillip Lee depart for Guyana, South America.

August 13th - "Time Out" in Lancaster - A discipleship support group which meets from 9am to 11am is available to men struggling with same-gender attraction. "Time Out/Lancaster" meets at Grace Chapel.

There will be no "Time Out" meeting in Bakersfield on August 13th.

August 17th - Jim McArthur and Pastor Phillip Lee return from Guyana, South America.

August 20th - His Way Out Ministries "Advisory Board" Meeting.

August 27th - "Time Out" in Bakersfield and Lancaster - A discipleship support group which meets from 9am to 11am is available to men struggling with same-gender attraction. In Bakersfield "Time Out" meets at the HWOM Office and in Lancaster at Grace Chapel.

August 28th - Pastor Phillip Lee will be speaking on "A Christian Response to Homosexuality" at Fairview Community Church in Porterville, CA.

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How You Can Help His Way Out Ministries
  • Ask your pastor to check out this website.

  • Encourage your pastor to consider hosting a seminar or inviting His Way Out Ministries to speak at your church.

  • Ask your church to consider adding His Way Out Ministries to its missions budget.

  • Add His Way Out Ministries to your prayer list.

  • Tell your friends about His Way Out Ministries and encourage them to visit this web site.

  • Give to His Way Out Ministries, either a special one-time gift or on a monthly basis.

  • Show our teaching DVD or Video: "Homosexuality and the Reality of Change" to your Sunday School class.

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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.

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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

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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
(Checks should be made payable to His Way Out Ministries)

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