Outreach to Homosexuals

It is right for the church to take a stand for sexual morality. The church should be taking stands on all controversial things that go against the written word of God. This sinful world needs to hear the truth...no matter how "difficult" it is.

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Church Takes Stand for Sexual Morality
from Agape Press
by Randall Murphree

First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, is taking a pro-active step to reach the homosexual community with the truth of the gospel. On Saturday, May 6, the church is hosting a one-day conference titled "More Than Words" (MTW). The conference is an event that features Tim Wilkins, founder of Cross Ministry in 1996 and creator of the MTW conference.

Wilkins himself left the homosexual lifestyle more than 20 years ago, so he is able to empathize with those who are trapped in homosexuality and feel there is no hope. Wilkins, his wife and three daughters live in North Carolina where Cross Ministry is based in Wake Forest.

"No one has ever been argued out of homosexuality," said Wilkins. The focus of MTW is on building bridges to the homosexual community, offering hope and help for those who wish to leave the lifestyle. Wilkins said MTW wants to walk (versus talk) people out of homosexuality.

"People do not consciously choose to be attracted to the same sex," Wilkins said. "One of life's mysteries is that we don't get to choose what we are tempted by."

But Wilkins does make the distinction that acting on those attractions is a conscious choice and is sin, just as adultery is a sin.

LifeWay Christian Resources, an arm of the SBC, has created 'The Way Out', a highly-identifiable name for this area of ministry. Some Southern Baptist seminaries have begun to recognize the need to specifically address this issue in training its students.

"Homosexuality crosses denominational lines and so does Cross Ministry," Wilkins said.

Conference topics include: If a Friend Says "I'm gay"; Loving and Reaching the Gay Community; "What's a Parent to Do?"; Untwisting "Gay Theology"; "They didn't teach me this in Seminary!" and The Church: "Walking by Faith, not by Fright."

Don Schmierer, author of "An Ounce of Prevention: Preventing the Homosexual Condition in Today's Youth", will also speak at the Dallas event. His book is the first ever dealing specifically with prevention. Schmierer speaks extensively around the world and has been involved in interpersonal ministry for more than 20 years.


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