Focus on the Family's longest running conference, Love Won Out, will soon be transitioned to Exodus International. Melissa Fryrear, director of the event, recently traveled to North Dakota on one of her final trips to talk to pastors and leaders about homosexuality.
1. You just returned from North Dakota! Tell us about that.
We accepted an invitation from the director of the North Dakota Family Alliance to bring a taste of the Love Won Out ministry to that state. Because North Dakota is sparsely populated, we knew we could never bring a full conference there, yet families and individuals are affected by homosexuality in that state just as they are in other states.
We held events in Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck, each included a luncheon with legislators, an afternoon seminar for clergy and an evening session open to the public. In total, more than 600 people attended these events. The sessions dealt with understanding why some men and women struggle with same-sex attraction, how Christians should respond in a way that balances biblical truth with Christ's compassion, and our own stories.
Our hope was that through these messages, attendees would have more compassion for how difficult this struggle is, be equipped to refute the born-gay myth, understand better the significance of God's created intent for sexuality, be exhorted to represent the Christian worldview in the culture, learn practical ways to reach out to those who are living homosexually and be encouraged that this struggle – like any other life struggle – can be overcome, because of who Christ is and what He's accomplished.
2. What sense did you get from the pastors and pro-family leaders you met as to how they're dealing with the issue of homosexuality in their congregations?
We were overwhelmed in so many wonderful ways by the hundreds of church leaders who attended.
First, with their gracious and warm hospitality. I speculated that one of the reasons they're such a warm-hearted people in that area of the country is because the winters are so cold!
Second, they were so authentically shepherd-like. They demonstrated such a genuine care and concern for the "flocks" God had entrusted to them. Many had been serving at their churches for decades and that spoke volumes regarding their commitment and faithfulness to the people they serve.
Third, they were so responsive to the information we shared. There seemed to be a real "hunger" for it.
Finally, they seemed so keenly aware of what is really at stake. Most Christians don't equate the growing acceptance of homosexuality with increasing restrictions on religious freedom, and yet this is what's happening around the world – and now more and more in the U.S. These pastors understood this and were some of the most committed, bold and faithful servants of God's Truth we've ever met.
3. Love Won Out is in transition right now. Share with our readers what's happening with the conference.
We will be transitioning the Love Won Out conference to our longtime friend and ally, Exodus International, beginning in November. This move is a logical one for both organizations, but also for a movement that has helped Christians for decades on the sensitive and difficult issues surrounding homosexuality.
There is no ministry better equipped to take over the operation of Love Won Out than Exodus. They have been with us since the beginning. They have stood alongside us in sharing the hope that, with Christ, transformation is possible for those unhappy with same-sex attractions as well as to offering practical help to the family members of someone living homosexually. And now as they take the lead, we will stand alongside them as they continue to share these messages as the new organizer of Love Won Out.
4. Let's talk about upcoming Love Won Out events.
Our Nov. 7 event in Birmingham, Ala., will be the last event under Focus leadership. The first event Exodus will steward will be in San Diego on March 6. They will also hold an event in conjunction with their 35th anniversary in Irvine, Calif., on June 26. They plan to hold at least one more event next fall.
Exodus will scale down the event and not offer as many sessions or include as many speakers. They will, however, add sessions designed to more fully equip churches generally and pastors specifically.
5. What will your responsibilities be once the transition is complete?
I will continue to serve as a keynote speaker at the event. Our team at Focus will continue its efforts tracking and analyzing homosexuality and its surrounding issues, as well as providing expert support to other Focus departments and help to our constituents. Even though we've transitioned the conference to Exodus, we remain as committed as ever to proclaiming and defending the biblical view of sexuality and to helping the families and individuals personally affected by homosexuality.
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