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Society Cannot Deny the Lives, Experiences and Sufferings of Ex-Gays

TORONTO, September 5, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Melissa Fryrear,
a woman who from her youth thought she was born homosexual and
lived for over a decade in the lesbian lifestyle, is coming to
Toronto to speak at the Love Won Out conference September 20.
The one-day conference, sponsored by Focus on the Family, aims
to enlighten, educate and equip families, church pastors and
youth leaders on the roots, causes and treatment of
homosexuality.  At the conference, experts in the field, some of
whom were themselves in the homosexual lifestyle, demonstrate
the possibility of leaving that lifestyle.

In an interview with LifeSite, Melissa described how she fully
embraced the lesbian identity at college and was living with her
female partner when presented with the truth on homosexuality by
Christian contacts.  Melissa eventually converted to
Christianity through these contacts and recognized she was
living "in conflict with what God intended for my life".
Melissa stressed that the Christians who approached her did not
compromise on the truth but were loving, compassionate and
patient. "Probably most helpful," she says, "was that they were
very loving and compassionate and understanding.  We entered
honest dialogue which was truthful, but they followed the Lord's
leading and introduced the truth with great compassion.  They
were unwavering in regard to scriptural truth and had wisdom and
experience and allowed the latitude to let God work."

Those Christians who assisted her to love Christ, she says, were
not impatient.  "They were committed for the long haul.  The
roots to homosexuality are deeply ingrained and complex.  Being
convinced that I was living sinfully and making the commitment
to try to live differently took time. They were committed to
months and years, not an overnight transformation."  Melissa
explained that after she had met the Christians it was two years
before she separated from her lesbian partner.  "The past twelve
years," she says, "have been a journey of restoration and
overcoming what had contributed and led to homosexuality in my
life, and pursing the Lord Jesus in my heart."

Currently Melissa is the Homosexuality and Gender Analyst for
Focus on the Family.  Formerly she served as Executive Director
of crossover Ministries, an outreach to homosexuals to give them
hope and assistance in leaving the homosexual lifestyle.  She
told LifeSite that the conference will "help ministers and
family members learn how to respond with truth and compassion to
those in the church or family struggling with homosexuality.  It
will demonstrate how to counter a very aggressive pro-gay agenda
in the schools."

To register for the conference online:
http://www.family.org/cforum/lwo/