Exodus Ministry Continues in Latin America Despite Shutting Down in US
Exodus Latin America continues to operate despite the North America-based Exodus International closing its doors in the United States last month.
The Latin and North American branches of the ministries that aim to help individuals struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction are separate entities that fall under the umbrella group Exodus Global Alliance. Exodus International did not inform or consult with Exodus Global Alliance about its decision to shut down, and the Latin America division released a statement earlier in July to clear up any confusion that its offices might also shut down.
"Currently the leadership of Exodus International North America has departed from doctrinal foundations that are part of what we as the rest of the global ministries believe in, therefore, we totally disclaim any declarations made by Exodus International North America," said the Exodus Latin America board of directors.
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The Christian Post previously reported that Exodus International adopted several changes before unanimously voting to shut down after 37 years. The organization stopped promoting reparative therapy as a way to reduce or eliminate unwanted same-sex attraction because Exodus International believes it causes unrealistic expectations in individuals. Former Exodus International President Alan Chambers earlier spoke to CP about the demise of the ministry and how it was evidently reaching its end in serving the homosexual community.
"... I felt like we'd come to a crossroads. The culture was changing. Exodus had become a lightning rod in many senses. And most of the good that we had done or could do was being overshadowed by the negative," said Chambers.
In a letter to the LGBT community, Chambers apologized for imposing his Biblically-based beliefs about marriage upon them and said he had no desire to fight them on their beliefs or the rights that they seek. In addition, Chambers told CP that the majority of Christians have taken references about homosexuality in the Bible as a form of attack against those seeking help.
"I do believe so many of us who hold to those scriptural beliefs ... have wielded them as a sword so often. We've been involved in a culture war that really, literally, has claimed untold lives, and we've got to be more careful," said Chambers.
Alvaro Aguilar, a Costa Rican pastor and director of Returning to the Model of the Father, a ministry affiliated with Exodus Latin America, expressed a similar thought but offered another approach when dealing with people struggling with homosexual attractions.
"In Corinthians 6:9-11, the Bible talks about the different kinds of sins, including homosexuality, and among them are lying, theft, drunkenness, fornication and adultery. But I don't see that homosexuality is marked in red, or capitalized, or underlined. It is a sin that men and women without Christ engage in," said Aguilar, as he made the point that all sins are equal, according to MundoCristiano.tv. "But this is why churches need to be trained and equipped on how to treat and support these people," he added.
He assured people that Exodus Latin America will continue and emphasized that the restoration of unwanted same-sex attraction is a process that is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Exodus Global Alliance and Latin America continue to believe that Jesus came to do what we cannot achieve on our own. The plans of change that Jesus has for everyone continues to be possible," said Aguilar.
In addition to its Latin American ministry, Exodus Global Alliance has offices in Australia and Taiwan.
