At Feb. 23 event, science, personal stories debunk mainstream mistruths
Contact: Nima Reza, Focus on the Family, 719-761-2006, culturalissues@family.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- Focus on the Family's counter-cultural Love Won Out conference, which challenges the "born gay" view that dominates mainstream media, will arrive in Memphis on Saturday, Feb. 23. Love Won Out will provide a redemptive message to men and women struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions and educate the community on how to respond with grace and truth to people living homosexually.
The conference, which celebrates its 10th anniversary later this year, has always presented a message of hope – change is possible for those wanting to leave a homosexuality. The conference is driven by men and women who used to self-identify as homosexuals and no longer do, thanks to religious mediation such as group discussions, individual counseling, journaling, Scripture reading and prayer.
"Every speaker who shares their story at Love Won Out is honest about the struggles, challenges and joys that characterize the journey out of homosexuality," said Melissa Fryrear, Focus on the Family's director of Gender Issues, and a speaker at LWO. "It's our hope that our experiences provide audiences with a clearer picture of what it means to apply timeless biblical truths to a very human situation."
Not everyone agrees with her position, though. Local activist groups are planning a "counter conference" during the same weekend Love Won Out will be in Memphis, where among other activities, a revisionist view of the Bible will be presented.
Yet it is a traditional reading of the Bible that was proven true by a 2007 study that confirmed long-term change away from homosexual orientation can occur through religious mediation. This study challenges the theory that sexual orientation is immutable. The full results are compiled in the book Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation (InterVarsity Press).
For Fryrear, the study validated what she knows thanks to her own transformation after living homosexually for 10 years. "This study supports people's right to self-determination. If someone has unwanted same-sex attraction, it is their right to seek alternatives to change," she said.
As an answer to revisionist theologians, LWO offers a session directly addressing pro-gay theology. "It seems that after thousands of years, there is a new way to interpret the Bible for some activists," Fryrear said. "Instead of following God's clear intent for human sexuality – one man and one woman in the context of marriage – some have decided to make the Bible fit their current belief system."
The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Central Church, located at 2005 Winchester Blvd in Collierville, Tenn.
