Correction appended
Change for a man wrestling with homosexual attractions is not only possible but the pursuit of change can also be a positive experience, a recent survey shows.
The survey by People Can Change, a non-profit and non-religious organization that offers training, healing and support for men with unwanted same-sex feelings, revealed that 9 out of 10 men who participated in a weekend program reported a decrease in distress, shame and self-condemnation. They also felt better about themselves.
People Can Change founder Rich Wyler calls it an "incredibly vital" finding, especially at a time when psychologists, gay rights groups and other critics of ex-gay programs contend that the process of change out of homosexual attractions is harmful.
The organization surveyed men from across the country who participated in a program called "Journey Into Manhood" – a 48-hour intensive personal-growth and self-discovery weekend for men serious about resolving unwanted homosexual feelings – between January 2002 and December 2006. They were surveyed mid-2007, which was anywhere between six months and six years after the men experienced the Journey.
Among the more than 200 individuals who responded to the survey, 79 percent reported a decrease in the frequency or intensity of same-sex feelings since the Journey Into Manhood weekend; 13 percent reported no change and that their same-sex feelings continue; and 6 percent said such attractions actually increased.
In terms of behavior, 73 percent reported a decrease in same-sex behaviors; 8 percent said such behaviors continue; and 5 percent reported an increase in same-sex behaviors.
Given that the program is a short weekend, it is not clear what exactly led some men to change their feelings and behaviors during the months or years after the Journey.
While 56 percent had experienced "significant" same-sex attraction at the time they took the Journey Into Manhood, the number dropped to 14 percent after the Journey.
Diminished same-sex attraction does not necessarily amount to increased heterosexual feelings, but Wyler says that's likely the case.
"What we find is that as homosexual attractions are resolved, very often heterosexual attractions emerge spontaneously," he told The Christian Post.
According to survey results, 58 percent reported an increase in heterosexual attractions and 50 percent said they experienced an increase in heterosexual behaviors (dating, intimacy, etc.) since the weekend program. Still, 28 percent reported neither an increase nor decrease in heterosexual attractions and 44 percent also reported no change in heterosexua behaviors.
Overall, 13 percent said they experienced enough change to now consider themselves straight and another 73 percent said they will continue to work on further change. Meanwhile, 12 percent said they have come to peace with their same-sex attractions and are not pursuing further change.
Change is possible, Wyler – who also came out of homosexual attractions – simply concluded.
Wyler says many opponents argue that because such programs haven't worked for them, they can't work for anyone else. At the same time, he also says it's faulty for people who have changed to say everyone else can change. Wyler's main goal is for people to overcome the distress of homosexuality and the behavior if that's what they want to do. Continue >>
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God will not change someone from being gay because he has no reason to. People are created black for a reason, people are created gay for a reason. How dare you try to twist the words of the Bible and pretend you know more than God? This article is baloney: If you surveyed me right after a brain washing weekend, I would say I felt better too. As time goes on, and the feelings of guilt grow stronger, and depression sets in because I am not changing to the way a bunch of Christians who refuse to study true scientific data say i should be, I might not feel so comfortable. My goodness people, look into the studies before you begin passing them around as fact!
why fix something that isnt broken?
Hi,
Nice article.
Sad to see that it is filled with someones numerology figures. Attempting to make "more than 200" look like an enormous participation of past patients, when it is itself an obvious small percentage of the original group(s).
The gist of the whole thing is that the only persons to really profit from it are the homosexuals who came to be more accepting of their own selves. Not the original intentions of the therapy.
The 13% who came to consider themselves straight are a real situation though. These are the main group who will degrade into damaged individuals. They are success to the therapy because they avoid homosexual contact, not because they enjoy heterosexual contact.
You see? They are the ones who are NOT well adjusted to their environment. They have hope that they will be heterosexual and accepted by their fellow Christians. Having been made to believe that Christ had no place for them before, if they do not succeed, who will accept them after? These are the poor souls who have become sheep without a Shepard.
Having been treated as if they are the least of God's children, if they do not succeed in becoming heterosexual, they have no place left to turn.
True hope can only come from Jesus. If one despairs and seeks help in the name of the Christ, Christ promises that He will send the Holy Ghost, the comforter, to these in need.
It is also the only unforgivable sin, to deny the Holy Ghost.
To deny the comforter. Many say this is to commit suicide. I say that it is as it is written, to deny anyone "hope".
The 13% success rate needs a prayer from everyone. Not that they live as I think they should, but to live as God tells them to live.
Hi,
I am new and a bit confused (my natural state of being :).
Is there some question of this article that it should not be posted or considered? This thing should have never happened and all should be warned of the possibilities, lest my child be so used by another person.
Thereby, it is part of my first post. Thank you.
By Dean Pritchard
A minister and former Christian college instructor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a young man who sought counselling after he feared he was homosexual.
A jury returned with the guilty verdict early last night after only a few hours of deliberations.
Terrance Lewis, 60, will be sentenced at a later date.
Earlier in the day, defence lawyer Ron Simenik argued the victim knew full well the intimate sessions he shared with Lewis had nothing to do with “therapy.”
“They did it mutually by consent,” Simenik said. “We may not agree with it or understand it, but at the end of the day, that’s not the issue.”
Crown attorney Dale Schille said the evidence against Lewis was “overwhelming” and he never denied the allegations in a statement to police.
In earlier testimony, the alleged victim, now 29, told court he started meeting Lewis for counselling sessions in early 2000 after his parents caught him viewing gay pornography on the family computer.
Lewis — a family friend and minister — confided he had his own sexual identity issues and the two embarked on weekly counselling sessions designed to “assist me to be straight and to live a straight life,” the man said.
The man said Lewis started a program of “touch therapy,” which included the two kissing and fondling each other and engaging in sexual roleplaying.
“He said I was to tell no one about it because no one would understand,” the man testified.
During “touch therapy” sessions in Lewis’ car, Lewis asked him to masturbate, the man said. Lewis also admitted to fantasizing about him, the man said.
Simenik said yesterday the men didn’t become sexually intimate until a year after they started seeing each other.
“It started as a friendship, evolved, they became closer ... two consenting adults involved in mutual intimacy,” Simenik said.
I don't think it's possible to post it as a clickable website. I've seen countless people post sites on here, and they're all copy and paste.
I'll see if I can find time to check out that site. And I apologize for whoever flagged you.
Prophet, the article I was referencing is still below, but here it is at the bottom. I'm not saying all so-called reparative therapists' harm is this bad, but it's certainly worth a look-see. (Sorry I don't know how to post it as a click-able link, so copy it to your browser.)
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2008/02/14/4847839.html
nowire
Please post again. Although I don't agree with you, I don't believe you should be flagged for something like that.
Flag if you feel you must, but all I did was post what the self-proclaimed Christian conversion therapist did to his "patient" and why he's going to jail, which is hardly a comparison to free speech in Sweden.
Well I'm glad the preacher's free speech was protected, no matter what he may have said about that biblical story. But I don't think the Christian "therapist" who performed sex acts on his 30-years-younger "client" will get off so easily!
NoWire, Thanks for the interesting article:
“A minister and former Christian college instructor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a young man who sought counseling after he feared he was homosexual.”
The FBI actually paid a visit to a pastor in southern Illinois when he had been preaching on Sodom and Gomorrah. I don’t know of you heard about the pastor in Sweden (I believe it was) who had been arrested. I think he was exonerated later.
We need to pray that those people who are under the bondage and curse of homosexuality would realize that they can be free from it. That God is a God of change. He does change people. I'm seen it first hand, how God took someone with a serious chemical imbalance and fixed it. If He can do that, He can change a homosexuals life around.
And here's a related article which I swear I didn't even have to look for, it came up on my Yahoo home page (It's titled "Man found Guilty in gay therapy case." Copy and paste in your browser; and don't shoot the messenger!)
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2008/02/14/4847839.html
Actually I heard Johns confession and his asking for and recieving forgiveness. And as far as I know he still is married with kids. Which is a testament to how God can change a person. But even if, even if John had fallen that still does not negate the fact that thousands have change from the gay lifestyle to what is normal man women relationships which is what God has created in all persons. from being a captive of sin to being set free by accepting this Savior in the person of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to start what is prehaps the most important,nay the most important journey one can make? Accepting Him as Lord.
Gods Blessing
In Christ
Tom
Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm sure God forgave John P. (not for going into the bar, but for the hypocrisy). But did God John P. change? Nope.
Yep and that's the greatness of this God. that we can do some bone head stuff, make mistakes, even sin and he still forgives us, Still loves us, still encourages us to repent and recieve forgiveness. That appears to be foriegn to you nowire but it is what we who call Jesus Lord know. Are you ready sir to turn from your life of sin and pride and seek this God who will forgive you also just like he did for John P, myself, Prophet and million of others, or do just want to wallow in your own mire till the end. Your choice. Jesus is knocking at your door, I'd let Him in if I were you.
Gods Blessing
In Christ
Tom