Exodus Int'l Equips Church on Christ-Like Reponse to Homosexuality

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, February 20, 2011

Exodus International celebrated on Saturday the 60th Love Won Out Conference, an event catered to those struggling with same-sex desires and those impacted by homosexuality.

So far, the conference has educated and encouraged over 60,000 people in the last 13 years as homosexuality and how the church should respond to it continue to be a difficult and hot topic.

"People increasingly have questions about sexuality and faith," said Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, in a statement. "Love Won Out has been a vehicle that has provided answers for individuals struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions, friends and family members impacted by homosexuality as well as ministry leaders wanting to be equipped to minster effectively."

Exodus International, which claims to be the largest worldwide ministry to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction, took over the Love Won Out conferences in 2009, after Focus on the Family passed it over due to budget issues.

While gladly taking on the conference, which teaches Christians to stand on biblical truth regarding sexuality and also respond to homosexuality with Christ-like compassion, Exodus chose to drop its support for another initiative called the Day of Truth.

Last year, the Orlando, Fla.-based ministry announced that it would no longer be backing the annual campus event, which is designed to counter the Day of Silence – or "the promotion of the homosexual agenda" – and express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective.

Chambers of Exodus explained that the event was perceived in "an adversarial manner" and "became more about policy than people." And that was in conflict with the ministry's mission.

Interestingly, Focus on the Family subsequently decided to become the new sponsor of the "Day of Truth" – which it renamed to the "Day of Dialogue."

This year, Exodus International is celebrating 35 years of ministry. It acknowledges itself as a controversial ministry but Chambers maintained, "There is obviously an ongoing need to provide a biblical perspective that enables people to live out their sexuality in a way that is congruent to their faith and beliefs."

Saturday's Love Won Out conference was held at Church for the Nations in Phoenix, Ariz., and featured speakers included author Joe Dallas, Jeff Buchanan of Exodus, Mike Goeke of Cross Power Ministries and author Anne Paulk.