Actor Stephen Baldwin will be the featured speaker this month at an ex-gay conference called Rising From The Ashes, sponsored by the Hope for Wholeness Network.
The conference, which will include ex-gay testimonials [PDF] and workshops such as “Healthy Male Same-Sex Relationships” and “Ministering to Teens,” will also feature ex-gay therapist Joe Dallas and McKrae Game, who claims he “relented and came into the homosexual lifestyle” after a neighbor came on to him.
Game claims the new group [PDF] is “developing strategic partnerships with Exodus Global Alliance, Focus on the Family, The Billy Graham Association, and other avenues for referrals and connections” as part of an effort to revive ex-gay therapy following the closure of Exodus International:
I’d like to personally welcome each of you to Hope For Wholeness Network’s First Annual Conference—Rising from the Ashes. Much has happened; with the Defense of Marriage Act being overturned, right at the same time as our beloved Exodus International closed its doors after 38 years of ministry; we felt strongly that we needed to have this event to get together, rally around our shared vision, and encourage each other on our mission.
It was right after our board voted unanimously to create the Hope for Wholeness Network that I learned of Exodus’ closing. I was saddened, but realized that this was a new day for us all. The Hope for Wholeness Network was birthed by Truth Ministry, with our desire to bring ministry leaders from around the country together, in unity with one singular message, regardless of ministry, of “Freedom from Homosexuality through Jesus Christ.” He MUST be our focus to have true freedom. We must be careful not to set fixed expectations on what that freedom might look like, other than a daily repentant and dependent walk with Him.
