In 2001, the SBC established the Task Force on Ministry to Homosexuals. Bob Stith, former pastor of Carroll Baptist Church in Southlake, Texas, is now National Strategist for Gender Issues for the SBC. Stith is a board member of Exodus International.
“While the Bible is quite clear about the sin of homosexuality, it is also clear about the promise of power to overcome this sin as well as others,” said Stith. “The message of the Bible is a message of hope based on the love of God. He does love each of us just as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are.”
The compassion of action
Being transparent about my years of struggling with homosexual temptation and acting out on them allows me now to speak openly about the consequences of this sin on me, my family and my church family. I should have sought more help from Christian brothers. My desire is to put a permanent blockade on the path I took.
If you want to help those who struggle in your church, even if you don’t know who they are, set aside fear and condemnation and take on honesty and compassion. Here are some ways to get started.
• Have a speaker come to your church to share and begin the openness process. Bob Stith can be reached at bstith@sbcthewayout.com or 817-424-9121. Stephen Black can be reached atStep...@firststone.org or 405-236-4673. Thom Hunter can be reached at th2...@yahoo.com or 405-401-9693.
• Obtain information and resources through membership in the Exodus Church Association. Jeff Buchanan can be contacted through the website –www.exoduschurchassociation.org – or at 407-599-6872.
• Explore the development of a ministry within your church. CrossPower Ministries at Stonegate Fellowship has an excellent video you can view on line at http://www.crosspowerministries.com/.
Join with your members who already minister to the same-sex strugglers in your church family . . . and let them know they don’t have to do it alone and in secret anymore. You will help.