The following program discusses sensitive issues. 00:00:01.36\00:00:03.47 Parents are cautioned that some material 00:00:03.50\00:00:05.20 may be too candid for younger children. 00:00:05.23\00:00:07.40 Hello. Welcome to Pure Choices. 00:00:40.44\00:00:42.27 My name is Wayne Blakely of Coming Out Ministries, 00:00:42.30\00:00:45.17 joined by my colleagues, Ron Woolsey and Mike Carducci. 00:00:45.21\00:00:49.71 Thank you for joining us today. 00:00:49.74\00:00:51.65 I would to mention a little bit about our silence here 00:00:51.68\00:00:55.32 and throughout the Christian culture 00:00:55.35\00:00:57.42 about homosexuality. 00:00:57.45\00:00:59.62 It's been present for many years 00:00:59.65\00:01:02.09 rather deafening. 00:01:02.12\00:01:04.79 Many have left our church culture 00:01:04.83\00:01:07.10 and our churches 00:01:07.13\00:01:09.00 due to the silence about homosexuality, 00:01:09.03\00:01:12.03 some to embrace the gay culture 00:01:12.07\00:01:15.04 and some have actually ended up going and committing suicide. 00:01:15.07\00:01:19.67 Today, as redeemed individuals that have returned to Christ 00:01:19.71\00:01:25.25 and accepting him into our lives, 00:01:25.28\00:01:28.35 we want to speak out about our personal testimonies in Jesus 00:01:28.38\00:01:31.75 and that's what Coming Out Ministries does today. 00:01:31.79\00:01:35.86 Guys, you know, I wanted to collectively thank 00:01:35.89\00:01:40.26 Dare to Dream for allowing us to come on, 00:01:40.30\00:01:43.73 it's been a privilege to come on 00:01:43.77\00:01:45.43 and share these various topics that we have spoken about here. 00:01:45.47\00:01:50.21 I want to thank Pure Choices for being bold in the Gospel 00:01:50.24\00:01:54.61 and recognizing that there are many people 00:01:54.64\00:01:57.55 with all kinds of temptations. 00:01:57.58\00:02:01.55 We're so fortunate 00:02:01.58\00:02:03.49 that they want to speak out in the Gospel of Jesus Christ 00:02:03.52\00:02:07.36 with the boldness that goes deep within that 00:02:07.39\00:02:10.19 than what you might hear just sitting in a church pew. 00:02:10.23\00:02:13.36 It's been incredible to have Pure Choices 00:02:13.40\00:02:17.03 and to be on this program. 00:02:17.07\00:02:18.93 These are some programs 00:02:18.97\00:02:21.30 that we never would have the opportunity 00:02:21.34\00:02:23.14 to do ever before. 00:02:23.17\00:02:24.51 This has been huge. 00:02:24.54\00:02:26.84 That's right. 00:02:26.88\00:02:28.31 You know, Ron, as I think about our presence here, 00:02:28.34\00:02:32.98 we've covered a lot of territory 00:02:33.01\00:02:34.95 and but what sticks out in my mind is that, 00:02:34.98\00:02:37.39 you know, Mike and I have been most recently 00:02:37.42\00:02:42.12 once who have been able to comeback and be witnesses 00:02:42.16\00:02:44.99 for what the power of Christ has done in our lives. 00:02:45.03\00:02:47.96 Yeah, you have been with the ministry. 00:02:48.00\00:02:53.34 In fact, we call you Moses in our ministry 00:02:53.37\00:02:57.91 because you have had a tenure of speaking out 00:02:57.94\00:03:01.51 on this issue by yourself. 00:03:01.54\00:03:03.48 Can you tell me what that's been like? 00:03:03.51\00:03:06.58 Well, I was converted 21 years ago. 00:03:06.61\00:03:08.95 The very night I was baptized, 00:03:08.98\00:03:10.79 I was asked to preach the next Sabbath, 00:03:10.82\00:03:13.49 and I was launched in the ministry immediately. 00:03:13.52\00:03:16.39 And but for the first few years, 00:03:16.42\00:03:19.79 I never talked openly about the specifics of my conversion. 00:03:19.83\00:03:23.73 I would just talk about 00:03:23.77\00:03:25.10 a life of self destruction and degradation. 00:03:25.13\00:03:27.54 I was very timid about my past. 00:03:27.57\00:03:30.51 It was nine years later, nine years in the ministry 00:03:30.54\00:03:34.31 that I was asked to publish my book, 00:03:34.34\00:03:36.38 to tell my story and the Lord was prodding me, 00:03:36.41\00:03:39.45 get out there and do something, 00:03:39.48\00:03:42.08 and that was kind of a shelter 00:03:42.12\00:03:44.52 because I could write it and still be anonymous. 00:03:44.55\00:03:47.89 Then, I was asked to be on radio talk shows 00:03:47.92\00:03:49.76 for three years, 00:03:49.79\00:03:51.13 but that was still kind of anonymous. 00:03:51.16\00:03:52.49 I was behind a microphone or on a telephone. 00:03:52.53\00:03:56.13 And then, Shawn Boonstra came to me and asked 00:03:56.16\00:03:58.03 if I was ready for television. 00:03:58.07\00:03:59.40 And I remember saying... 00:03:59.43\00:04:01.10 He read my book and I remember saying, 00:04:01.14\00:04:03.84 "Well, I've been praying about that for the right time 00:04:03.87\00:04:06.91 and the right person to do that with," 00:04:06.94\00:04:08.91 and to his credit, he said, 00:04:08.94\00:04:10.98 "Well, now is the time, and I'm the man." 00:04:11.01\00:04:13.48 And in just a few weeks, then I was on television, 00:04:13.52\00:04:15.75 I was pushed. 00:04:15.78\00:04:17.29 The Lord pushed me into talking openly about this 00:04:17.32\00:04:20.06 because He knew I was a timid warrior. 00:04:20.09\00:04:23.83 I was a bold warrior about the Gospel 00:04:23.86\00:04:26.03 and zealous with a gospel 00:04:26.06\00:04:27.86 but I was timid about the details of my conversion. 00:04:27.90\00:04:31.07 So I've been openly working in this area 00:04:31.10\00:04:33.84 for the last 15 years or so. 00:04:33.87\00:04:37.41 Yes. 00:04:37.44\00:04:38.77 Well, praise God, Ron, you are not alone any more. 00:04:38.81\00:04:43.55 Amen, and I praise the Lord for that too 00:04:43.58\00:04:45.61 because it's kind of lonely out there 00:04:45.65\00:04:47.78 by myself and wondering, 00:04:47.82\00:04:49.38 "Is there anyone else out there that has this story, 00:04:49.42\00:04:51.99 this testimony to, you know, there is strength in numbers. 00:04:52.02\00:04:54.62 Yes. 00:04:54.66\00:04:55.99 And I praise the Lord for bringing us together. 00:04:56.02\00:04:57.99 Yeah, it's been a huge blessing. 00:04:58.03\00:04:59.49 You know, when I was first converted 00:04:59.53\00:05:01.66 and had this lightening bold experience 00:05:01.70\00:05:03.97 with God about, 00:05:04.00\00:05:05.47 what the clarity was? 00:05:05.50\00:05:07.37 What the healing was that he was asking for 00:05:07.40\00:05:09.67 and presenting to me? 00:05:09.70\00:05:11.14 I wanted to go and shout it to the mountain top, 00:05:11.17\00:05:13.21 so the roof tops of all the churches 00:05:13.24\00:05:15.58 that are out there. 00:05:15.61\00:05:18.08 And so... 00:05:18.11\00:05:19.45 but God ended up bringing me in touch with you guys 00:05:19.48\00:05:22.22 which has been such a blessing. 00:05:22.25\00:05:24.15 We've had our individual ministries, 00:05:24.19\00:05:25.89 but we're happy to be under in umbrella 00:05:25.92\00:05:28.82 of Coming Out Ministries. 00:05:28.86\00:05:30.89 Mike, can you share with the viewers 00:05:30.93\00:05:33.33 or maybe potential pastors and teachers 00:05:33.36\00:05:35.96 that might be watching 00:05:36.00\00:05:37.33 or even congregational members 00:05:37.37\00:05:40.00 regardless of what Church they belong to, 00:05:40.04\00:05:42.17 what some of the goals of Coming Out Ministries are? 00:05:42.20\00:05:46.14 Well, I think our goal is... 00:05:46.17\00:05:47.58 What's been incredible is, 00:05:47.61\00:05:48.94 as the Lord has united us 00:05:48.98\00:05:50.35 in this ministry of Coming Out ministries, 00:05:50.38\00:05:52.81 what it's done is each person in the group has strengths 00:05:52.85\00:05:56.82 that the other one doesn't have. 00:05:56.85\00:05:58.49 And Wayne has a passion for wanting to reach out 00:05:58.52\00:06:01.12 to educate the clergy to the Church. 00:06:01.16\00:06:04.13 And Ron who's been implemental 00:06:04.16\00:06:06.29 and opening up many of those doors 00:06:06.33\00:06:08.56 through a tender testimony if you would, 00:06:08.60\00:06:11.47 one that I believe the people in the Church 00:06:11.50\00:06:14.20 would not be offended by 00:06:14.24\00:06:16.10 where as my passion is actually for the youth. 00:06:16.14\00:06:18.51 I know that for me, 00:06:18.54\00:06:19.87 I was a young person in Church school 00:06:19.91\00:06:23.35 when I had my first sexual fall. 00:06:23.38\00:06:25.35 And I believe that if we can educate the youth to know 00:06:25.38\00:06:28.72 about the dangers that are out there 00:06:28.75\00:06:31.05 and the importance of sexual purity 00:06:31.09\00:06:33.25 and the blessing in the beauty of that. 00:06:33.29\00:06:35.42 So each one of our ministries hits on a different area 00:06:35.46\00:06:39.03 that makes us collectively, 00:06:39.06\00:06:41.53 I think, an incredible power source 00:06:41.56\00:06:43.83 that God has brought together. 00:06:43.87\00:06:45.27 And in the future, the very near future, 00:06:45.30\00:06:47.64 we want to be able to not only open up the doors of churches, 00:06:47.67\00:06:51.07 but we also speak at pastors' meetings, 00:06:51.11\00:06:52.81 we speak at academies. 00:06:52.84\00:06:54.44 We just had an opportunity to speak 00:06:54.48\00:06:56.24 at an elementary school. 00:06:56.28\00:06:58.55 We've gone to Africa. 00:06:58.58\00:06:59.91 We're looking forward to, you know, 00:06:59.95\00:07:01.65 this being a much bigger international ministry as well. 00:07:01.68\00:07:04.95 As God has opened up those doors, 00:07:04.99\00:07:06.52 we've been blown away by some of the opportunities. 00:07:06.55\00:07:07.89 Right. 00:07:07.92\00:07:09.26 Yeah, and we're going to talk 00:07:09.29\00:07:10.63 about some of those things today. 00:07:10.66\00:07:12.69 You know, one of our challenges has been 00:07:12.73\00:07:15.86 about the invitation to some churches 00:07:15.90\00:07:21.04 and more so universities where there are younger people. 00:07:21.07\00:07:25.44 And the fear that has been expressed to us that, 00:07:25.47\00:07:29.14 in coming to share our testimony there, 00:07:29.18\00:07:31.65 that somehow we would make the gay individual feel 00:07:31.68\00:07:35.35 that they were unwelcome. 00:07:35.38\00:07:37.59 Do you think that that's, maybe, a bit of myth 00:07:37.62\00:07:40.06 from the standpoint of leadership 00:07:40.09\00:07:42.29 who might be looking at us 00:07:42.32\00:07:44.13 to make that kind of invitation? 00:07:44.16\00:07:47.00 That the gay people would feel unwelcome? 00:07:47.03\00:07:49.96 Right, at the universities or churches where we might go. 00:07:50.00\00:07:54.40 Well, as I have spoken at universities internationally 00:07:54.44\00:07:58.67 as well as in our country 00:07:58.71\00:08:01.28 where I have found that timidity, 00:08:01.31\00:08:02.88 Wayne, is in the faculty and the staff. 00:08:02.91\00:08:06.01 They were so reluctant 00:08:06.05\00:08:08.15 because of political correctness 00:08:08.18\00:08:10.85 and efforts on campus 00:08:10.89\00:08:13.66 that are promoting the gay initiatives 00:08:13.69\00:08:17.66 and so forth. 00:08:17.69\00:08:19.03 And they were afraid that 00:08:19.06\00:08:20.40 my being there would be controversial. 00:08:20.43\00:08:22.36 And so I would encourage them 00:08:22.40\00:08:25.00 while let the enemy make all of these inroads 00:08:25.03\00:08:28.57 while we standby silent. 00:08:28.60\00:08:31.04 And as I have spoken to the students, 00:08:31.07\00:08:32.87 the reaction has been tremendous 00:08:32.91\00:08:34.51 because I would go in and the chapel would be filled, 00:08:34.54\00:08:38.48 standing room only, and I would just ask, 00:08:38.51\00:08:40.52 "How many of you know someone who is gay?" 00:08:40.55\00:08:43.05 And every hand would go up 00:08:43.08\00:08:45.39 and the students would react so positively 00:08:45.42\00:08:48.12 and praising the Lord for the messages, 00:08:48.16\00:08:50.16 you know, that like us have to bring and then, 00:08:50.19\00:08:53.53 it's afterwards 00:08:53.56\00:08:54.90 that the faculty and staff come and say, 00:08:54.93\00:08:56.26 "Well, you know, we didn't quite know what to expect, 00:08:56.30\00:08:59.23 but we're really glad you came, but the students are ready." 00:08:59.27\00:09:02.27 Right. 00:09:02.30\00:09:03.64 You know, I found that interesting 00:09:03.67\00:09:05.11 that there are elements out there today, 00:09:05.14\00:09:08.44 organizations that will go on to campuses 00:09:08.48\00:09:10.45 and be rather forceful with their agenda 00:09:10.48\00:09:13.38 about pushing forward gay rights and making sure 00:09:13.42\00:09:17.39 that everyone's aware of them 00:09:17.42\00:09:18.75 and it's going to participate in them 00:09:18.79\00:09:20.49 and agree with them 00:09:20.52\00:09:21.86 where as when I've talk to university presidents, 00:09:21.89\00:09:24.99 I tried to share with them that, when we come in, 00:09:25.03\00:09:28.36 God is not a God of force 00:09:28.40\00:09:30.53 and so we don't come in with a sledge hammer, 00:09:30.57\00:09:33.77 we come in with our personal testimony, 00:09:33.80\00:09:36.17 and we share strictly what God has done in our lives. 00:09:36.20\00:09:39.24 And so anyone attending a chapel 00:09:39.27\00:09:41.74 or attending our seminars 00:09:41.78\00:09:43.78 would be able to witness the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:09:43.81\00:09:46.78 and what the Holy Spirit has done in our lives. 00:09:46.82\00:09:49.18 And so, they can... 00:09:49.22\00:09:50.55 and I think an opportunity here 00:09:50.59\00:09:52.05 is for the individual to either agree with that 00:09:52.09\00:09:55.42 or want to turn their lives over to Jesus Christ 00:09:55.46\00:09:59.53 in that situation or to get up and walk away 00:09:59.56\00:10:02.80 and say, "Hey, that's not for me." 00:10:02.83\00:10:04.67 And so, it's not that I want to make someone feel 00:10:04.70\00:10:07.44 unwelcome at all, 00:10:07.47\00:10:08.80 but if they feel that they are receiving an indication 00:10:08.84\00:10:12.87 that they might not be living their life 00:10:12.91\00:10:15.08 in the way that God would want them to, 00:10:15.11\00:10:17.48 that this is a perfect opportunity for them 00:10:17.51\00:10:19.55 to be able to come and talk to us individually. 00:10:19.58\00:10:21.72 Wayne, now I would just like to interject here 00:10:21.75\00:10:23.59 that this is the beauty of the Gospel. 00:10:23.62\00:10:26.02 The Gospel is not invasive, it's not forceful, 00:10:26.05\00:10:30.19 it's not coercion and this is what we're doing, 00:10:30.23\00:10:34.26 we're trying to present the Gospel 00:10:34.30\00:10:36.56 that even the gay community can respond to the Gospel 00:10:36.60\00:10:40.70 and it's purity and simplicity. 00:10:40.74\00:10:42.84 It's a message of love. 00:10:42.87\00:10:44.67 And so, if our audience, you know, and potential hosts, 00:10:44.71\00:10:50.98 we just realize that we're not about like you say, 00:10:51.01\00:10:54.32 force and aggression and strong arming. 00:10:54.35\00:10:57.35 It's just the love of God. Right. 00:10:57.39\00:10:59.19 You know, I think 00:10:59.22\00:11:00.56 that some people have actually witnessed. 00:11:00.59\00:11:02.59 They're some so thankful that God has let us to places 00:11:02.62\00:11:05.89 where they have picked up on the fact 00:11:05.93\00:11:08.33 that this is not a forceful message. 00:11:08.36\00:11:10.63 Mike, you and I, I have shared recently 00:11:10.67\00:11:13.23 some of the successes of Coming Out Ministries. 00:11:13.27\00:11:16.14 Can I have you elaborate, 00:11:16.17\00:11:18.14 maybe, I mean, immediately thinking of some place 00:11:18.17\00:11:21.44 that where we went in Saint Helena 00:11:21.48\00:11:23.38 near a university and what... 00:11:23.41\00:11:25.95 how God began to open some of the doors there. 00:11:25.98\00:11:28.28 It was incredible. 00:11:28.32\00:11:29.65 But first of all, I'd like to go back to the women 00:11:29.68\00:11:31.79 that was our contact in Saint Helena. 00:11:31.82\00:11:34.06 And she... the first conversation 00:11:34.09\00:11:36.22 I had with her on the phone she said, 00:11:36.26\00:11:37.86 "Well, you can come but I'm not coming, 00:11:37.89\00:11:40.30 and I don't want anything to do with this ministry." 00:11:40.33\00:11:42.93 And I was a little put back, 00:11:42.96\00:11:44.53 especially being the church secretary 00:11:44.57\00:11:46.17 whose job was to organize this presentation. 00:11:46.20\00:11:49.90 So I just told her my story, 00:11:49.94\00:11:52.11 and I told her what we were about, 00:11:52.14\00:11:53.58 and she soften a little and she goes, 00:11:53.61\00:11:55.51 "Well, you can come, but I'm not coming." 00:11:55.54\00:11:57.81 And I go, "Okay," you know, so we prayed on the phone, 00:11:57.85\00:11:59.91 and she was tired of people 00:11:59.95\00:12:02.48 coming up to her and telling her, 00:12:02.52\00:12:04.45 you know, the reason why, 00:12:04.49\00:12:05.85 you know, gays were gay or whatever. 00:12:05.89\00:12:07.96 So anyway the next time I talked with her, 00:12:07.99\00:12:09.89 she started to soften 00:12:09.92\00:12:11.26 and eventually she became 00:12:11.29\00:12:12.63 one of our biggest promoters and supporters. 00:12:12.66\00:12:15.70 So when we got there to Saint Helena, 00:12:15.73\00:12:17.53 we ended up going to the local schools. 00:12:17.57\00:12:20.97 As a matter fact, the one elementary school, 00:12:21.00\00:12:22.77 the seventh and eighth graders had agreed to let us come in. 00:12:22.80\00:12:26.68 And many of the other doors had shut 00:12:26.71\00:12:28.54 because people were too afraid of this topic. 00:12:28.58\00:12:30.75 And as we were talking, Ron, you were there with us... 00:12:30.78\00:12:33.28 As we were talking to the teacher, 00:12:33.31\00:12:35.65 all of a sudden just as he heard us talking about, 00:12:35.68\00:12:38.39 what we wanted to accomplish in our presentations, 00:12:38.42\00:12:40.56 why we were there, and what we come from, 00:12:40.59\00:12:42.92 his heart opened up, 00:12:42.96\00:12:44.29 and he came to absolutely every presentation 00:12:44.33\00:12:46.70 that would had any easing, as well as he was very open... 00:12:46.73\00:12:49.20 Didn't he bring some of the students also? 00:12:49.23\00:12:50.93 Yes, that's right. He did. 00:12:50.97\00:12:52.93 And so we started to see this opening 00:12:52.97\00:12:55.80 if you would of people realizing 00:12:55.84\00:12:57.44 that this wasn't a message that they had to fear, 00:12:57.47\00:13:00.11 it wasn't going to slime their children. 00:13:00.14\00:13:02.18 And if anything, it was offering hope, 00:13:02.21\00:13:06.08 practical tools and redemption to those 00:13:06.11\00:13:08.08 who are struggling sexually. 00:13:08.12\00:13:09.68 Now, I remember, we spent the whole week there, 00:13:09.72\00:13:12.45 and we went to the university which was nearby, 00:13:12.49\00:13:14.96 and we wanted to distribute some of our brochures 00:13:14.99\00:13:17.73 that had our individual ministries on them. 00:13:17.76\00:13:21.40 And as we were going about doing that, 00:13:21.43\00:13:24.03 we thought about going 00:13:24.07\00:13:25.40 and speaking to the university president 00:13:25.43\00:13:27.37 and someone said to us, 00:13:27.40\00:13:28.74 "Oh, no, no, she's traveling this week, 00:13:28.77\00:13:30.21 she's not even here." 00:13:30.24\00:13:31.61 And I remember that we stopped and I said, "Well, you know, 00:13:31.64\00:13:34.28 maybe, that's the case, 00:13:34.31\00:13:35.64 but let's just pray about this." 00:13:35.68\00:13:37.28 And the lady that you mentioned 00:13:37.31\00:13:39.11 that was representing us at the church there, 00:13:39.15\00:13:42.08 came in and we joined the hands together 00:13:42.12\00:13:44.09 and we prayed, 00:13:44.12\00:13:45.45 and we went to the university president's office 00:13:45.49\00:13:48.22 and lo and behold, yes, she was there, 00:13:48.26\00:13:49.92 she was in the teleconference at the time 00:13:49.96\00:13:51.73 and that we were there, 00:13:51.76\00:13:53.09 but her secretary took note of 00:13:53.13\00:13:55.33 what this ministry was and said, 00:13:55.36\00:13:56.77 "Oh, I want you to be able to talk to her," 00:13:56.80\00:13:59.83 and so we went outside 00:13:59.87\00:14:01.20 and we kept praying some more and asked, 00:14:01.24\00:14:03.87 when she came outside the door 00:14:03.91\00:14:05.24 and stood and looked at us like, 00:14:05.27\00:14:06.61 "What are you doing here? 00:14:06.64\00:14:07.98 You're not on my appointment schedule." 00:14:08.01\00:14:10.01 And the secretary said, "Well, they would like to have, 00:14:10.05\00:14:12.31 you know, 10 minutes of your time." 00:14:12.35\00:14:14.42 And what that turned into was us going into her office, 00:14:14.45\00:14:17.72 and sitting and talking to her for 35 minutes. 00:14:17.75\00:14:20.52 And at the end of that, 00:14:20.56\00:14:21.89 she called that a divine appointment. 00:14:21.92\00:14:23.73 Amen. Yeah. So. 00:14:23.76\00:14:25.59 And we prayed at every stop, 00:14:25.63\00:14:27.40 every door that had shut on our face, 00:14:27.43\00:14:29.16 we were standing outside of it praying 00:14:29.20\00:14:30.80 and God opened up those doors again 00:14:30.83\00:14:32.67 because we acknowledged the fact 00:14:32.70\00:14:34.30 that they closed and only God could open those doors. 00:14:34.34\00:14:37.11 That's right. 00:14:37.14\00:14:38.47 So what else is coming out 00:14:38.51\00:14:41.94 or let's take a look actually some other things 00:14:41.98\00:14:44.25 that have happened here. 00:14:44.28\00:14:45.61 Yeah, Ron, talk about Africa. 00:14:45.65\00:14:47.32 I'm Wayne, by the way. 00:14:47.35\00:14:48.68 I'm sorry. That's right. 00:14:48.72\00:14:50.12 It's like we do this all the time. 00:14:50.15\00:14:52.29 We're always calling each other... 00:14:52.32\00:14:54.96 We get some familiar with each other 00:14:54.99\00:14:56.39 where we're always forgetting who is who. 00:14:56.42\00:14:57.76 Well, interchangeable. That's right. 00:14:57.79\00:14:59.96 We had this amazing incredible opportunity 00:15:00.00\00:15:02.26 that came up for Africa. 00:15:02.30\00:15:04.67 And you know, I was kind of blown away by that 00:15:04.70\00:15:06.77 because in Africa, you know, 00:15:06.80\00:15:08.50 our church elders and leadership have told me 00:15:08.54\00:15:12.87 when I've come in contact with them, 00:15:12.91\00:15:14.24 "In Africa, they don't talk about this in Africa." 00:15:14.28\00:15:16.75 And I said, "Wow, how would that be different 00:15:16.78\00:15:18.88 than it is here in the United States." 00:15:18.91\00:15:21.18 Although, those opportunities are opening up more and more. 00:15:21.22\00:15:25.12 And with the political atmosphere 00:15:25.15\00:15:27.06 like it is in Africa right now, 00:15:27.09\00:15:29.26 we were feeling a little bit under pressure before going, 00:15:29.29\00:15:33.09 but you know, what did that look like? 00:15:33.13\00:15:34.96 What did that turn into, Mike, you and I went, so...? 00:15:35.00\00:15:38.40 It was probably the single most incredible event 00:15:38.43\00:15:41.70 I've ever experienced. 00:15:41.74\00:15:43.07 You know, a little church way out in the wilderness, 00:15:43.10\00:15:46.17 in a sugarcane field in Kenya. 00:15:46.21\00:15:48.91 The pastor had a dream, 00:15:48.94\00:15:50.41 and he was told to know God's love. 00:15:50.45\00:15:52.05 He said, "I want you to know my love." 00:15:52.08\00:15:53.78 And through a search on the internet, 00:15:53.82\00:15:55.15 he found Wayne's website, and he called Wayne, 00:15:55.18\00:15:57.85 and he said, "Wayne, mighty man of God, 00:15:57.89\00:15:59.79 I want you to come to my church and share your message." 00:15:59.82\00:16:02.02 And Wayne, your response was, 00:16:02.06\00:16:04.23 "Do you know what this ministry is about?" 00:16:04.26\00:16:06.80 Right. And he had searched your website. 00:16:06.83\00:16:09.13 He said, "Yes, we need you to come," 00:16:09.16\00:16:10.90 and you started putting the pressure on me 00:16:10.93\00:16:12.83 that I needed to go with you. 00:16:12.87\00:16:14.20 And I said, "Nope, I don't need to go." 00:16:14.24\00:16:16.20 And through divine intervention, 00:16:16.24\00:16:17.87 again I said, "Lord, you've got to make it plain, 00:16:17.91\00:16:20.34 otherwise, I'm not going." 00:16:20.38\00:16:22.18 And the Lord just made it very plain, 00:16:22.21\00:16:24.78 within just three hours of my prayer. 00:16:24.81\00:16:26.98 And off we were to Africa. 00:16:27.02\00:16:28.75 And when we got there, 00:16:28.78\00:16:30.12 remember when we pulled up, Wayne, 00:16:30.15\00:16:31.72 dirt roads all the way up to the sugarcane field. 00:16:31.75\00:16:34.09 And as we pull up to this makeshift church, 00:16:34.12\00:16:36.06 it didn't even have a proper roof 00:16:36.09\00:16:37.66 and didn't even have walls in it, 00:16:37.69\00:16:39.03 it had just logs for benches. 00:16:39.06\00:16:40.60 And the children were singing. 00:16:40.63\00:16:41.96 The children were singing, all the quire was out in front, 00:16:42.00\00:16:44.60 and the people were waiting for us in the hot burning sun. 00:16:44.63\00:16:47.57 And before we get even open the door, 00:16:47.60\00:16:49.07 they were opening the doors and pulling us out 00:16:49.10\00:16:51.17 and hugging us and receiving us. 00:16:51.21\00:16:52.97 And I'll tell you, they really taught us a lot about, 00:16:53.01\00:16:58.11 you know, humility as well as, 00:16:58.15\00:17:00.42 you know, how to take care of people. 00:17:00.45\00:17:01.78 Hospitality was just blown away. 00:17:01.82\00:17:04.19 And that's the way they treated us until we left, 00:17:04.22\00:17:06.25 and we had powerful opportunities 00:17:06.29\00:17:08.59 and presentations to give. 00:17:08.62\00:17:10.76 Yeah, I think we came back with our lives changed. 00:17:10.79\00:17:12.69 Yeah. 00:17:12.73\00:17:14.06 Because of this, you know, in every step of the way, 00:17:14.10\00:17:16.56 I had prayed because I wasn't real sure, 00:17:16.60\00:17:20.24 but with the answer to every prayer... 00:17:20.27\00:17:21.94 Yeah. It was just crazy. 00:17:21.97\00:17:23.30 I mean, we didn't have the funding 00:17:23.34\00:17:24.94 and it was amazing how God opened that door, 00:17:24.97\00:17:28.14 you know, the funding came through, 00:17:28.18\00:17:29.84 we were able to take a videographer with us 00:17:29.88\00:17:32.05 so that we're able to capture what transpired on this trip. 00:17:32.08\00:17:36.02 And so that it was just 00:17:36.05\00:17:37.89 an inspiring awesome experience. 00:17:37.92\00:17:40.52 Also important for people to remember 00:17:40.56\00:17:42.22 when you have spiritual highs, 00:17:42.26\00:17:43.59 you can sometimes return home 00:17:43.63\00:17:46.23 and experience kind of a plateau 00:17:46.26\00:17:49.16 and that bothered both of us, 00:17:49.20\00:17:50.83 but through our communication on the phone, 00:17:50.87\00:17:52.60 we prayed through it, 00:17:52.63\00:17:53.97 we got our connection back with God 00:17:54.00\00:17:55.37 and know that he has other great things 00:17:55.40\00:17:58.24 planned for us too. 00:17:58.27\00:17:59.74 Ron, you recently had an adventure 00:17:59.77\00:18:03.14 where it took you to Rio de Janeiro. 00:18:03.18\00:18:06.38 Is that right? 00:18:06.41\00:18:07.75 Yes. 00:18:07.78\00:18:09.18 My book had been translated into Portuguese last year 00:18:09.22\00:18:12.39 for the country of Brazil. 00:18:12.42\00:18:14.26 And the publisher brought my wife 00:18:14.29\00:18:18.29 and myself down there for three weeks 00:18:18.33\00:18:20.96 on a speaking tour. 00:18:21.00\00:18:23.67 He had us booked every single day 00:18:23.70\00:18:26.67 for three weeks, 00:18:26.70\00:18:28.04 sometimes five and six presentations in one day. 00:18:28.07\00:18:32.07 Wow. 00:18:32.11\00:18:33.44 It was an amazing experience because it was Rio de Janeiro 00:18:33.48\00:18:37.15 and Sao Paulo, Campinas and around in that area. 00:18:37.18\00:18:42.12 But what was so striking to my wife and myself 00:18:42.15\00:18:45.72 was that homosexuality was so open and so prevalent. 00:18:45.75\00:18:50.03 And they told us that it's everywhere, in fact, 00:18:50.06\00:18:52.69 as we were presenting at the university, 00:18:52.73\00:18:55.30 the huge university there, 00:18:55.33\00:18:59.40 one of the professors in the theology department 00:18:59.43\00:19:02.67 was having lunch with us one day, 00:19:02.70\00:19:04.07 and he said, "You know, pastor Ron, 00:19:04.11\00:19:06.68 in all of my classes," now, these are theology classes. 00:19:06.71\00:19:10.31 He said, "I have at least two or three 00:19:10.35\00:19:13.48 openly practicing homosexuals in every single class. 00:19:13.52\00:19:17.15 And they just like in so many places, 00:19:17.19\00:19:21.12 they don't know what to do about it, 00:19:21.16\00:19:22.52 they don't know how to deal with it." 00:19:22.56\00:19:24.83 And as we were able to share to see how they realized, 00:19:24.86\00:19:29.63 yes, this is something that can be overcome to. 00:19:29.66\00:19:32.13 They were praising the Lord that we do have resources 00:19:32.17\00:19:35.30 and within our own denomination 00:19:35.34\00:19:36.67 and this is what we're providing is... 00:19:36.71\00:19:38.04 Amen. 00:19:38.07\00:19:39.41 Seminars and resources 00:19:39.44\00:19:43.71 and presentations of all different types. 00:19:43.75\00:19:46.05 And it was just an incredible experience 00:19:46.08\00:19:48.48 because everyday someone would come to me privately 00:19:48.52\00:19:51.95 and we would spend a long time counseling 00:19:51.99\00:19:53.56 because they were either gay or coming out of it, 00:19:53.59\00:19:56.76 going into it, or had been out of it 00:19:56.79\00:19:59.83 and ministering too. 00:19:59.86\00:20:01.20 We have brothers and sisters like ourselves 00:20:01.23\00:20:03.83 already ministering in Brazil 00:20:03.87\00:20:05.53 that have come out and walking victorious 00:20:05.57\00:20:06.97 in the Lord. 00:20:07.00\00:20:08.34 And we need to connect with these people... 00:20:08.37\00:20:09.70 Yes. And enlarge our borders. 00:20:09.74\00:20:11.07 Amen. 00:20:11.11\00:20:12.44 You know, as I experienced redemption from homosexuality, 00:20:12.47\00:20:16.41 I began to speak with church leadership 00:20:16.44\00:20:19.41 and members from our denominational conference. 00:20:19.45\00:20:24.55 And you know, 00:20:24.59\00:20:25.92 there was little bit of skepticism out first, 00:20:25.95\00:20:28.49 and I began to talk to my parents about this, 00:20:28.52\00:20:31.33 they kind of wanted to know, why was this rising up divided, 00:20:31.36\00:20:34.70 I have this passion to go out and speak about this. 00:20:34.73\00:20:37.60 And the fact of the matter is this that the silence 00:20:37.63\00:20:40.30 I just felt couldn't be left that way any more, 00:20:40.34\00:20:43.07 and I said, you know, 00:20:43.10\00:20:44.44 when I lived in the gay culture, 00:20:44.47\00:20:47.48 I had the impression in my heart 00:20:47.51\00:20:49.58 still that God was trying to tell me something 00:20:49.61\00:20:52.28 about this not being right 00:20:52.31\00:20:53.65 and I couldn't see myself as a gay activist. 00:20:53.68\00:20:56.92 And so when God convicted my heart 00:20:56.95\00:20:59.45 and won me back to Him, 00:20:59.49\00:21:01.12 I said, you know, "I will live for you whatever cost, 00:21:01.16\00:21:04.46 I will be an activist for Jesus Christ 00:21:04.49\00:21:06.66 'cause there is no shame in that. 00:21:06.70\00:21:08.70 And God will protect me, 00:21:08.73\00:21:10.57 until he sees that He's finished with me." 00:21:10.60\00:21:13.13 Redeemed activist. That's right. 00:21:13.17\00:21:15.24 A redeemed activist. 00:21:15.27\00:21:18.74 So, you know, 00:21:18.77\00:21:20.54 if God's impressing you to make this invitation, 00:21:20.58\00:21:24.35 you know, I invite you to get in touch with us. 00:21:24.38\00:21:27.42 You can reach us by going to our website 00:21:27.45\00:21:30.29 at comingoutministries.org. 00:21:30.32\00:21:33.42 And I'm wondering if you guys have some other things 00:21:33.46\00:21:36.56 that you would like to share about this ministry 00:21:36.59\00:21:38.39 that might be on your hearts. 00:21:38.43\00:21:40.53 One thing that actually blew me away about Africa, 00:21:40.56\00:21:43.00 and I failed to mention it before was, 00:21:43.03\00:21:45.97 all of a sudden, it was the first day we were there, 00:21:46.00\00:21:47.70 we've been ministering all the day at the church. 00:21:47.74\00:21:49.77 And someone asked us 00:21:49.80\00:21:51.14 just speak to eight to ten young girls 00:21:51.17\00:21:53.17 about sexual purity. 00:21:53.21\00:21:54.58 We were so jet lagged, I was so exhausted. 00:21:54.61\00:21:57.08 I couldn't understand the translator, 00:21:57.11\00:21:58.61 but he kept saying that thing about... 00:21:58.65\00:22:00.92 Just saying no to FGM. Yes, FGM. 00:22:00.95\00:22:03.59 And I thought it was female genital manipulation, 00:22:03.62\00:22:05.99 but he was saying, female genital mutilation. 00:22:06.02\00:22:08.16 Right. 00:22:08.19\00:22:09.52 And here, God opened up this opportunity, 00:22:09.56\00:22:11.46 when I got there, 00:22:11.49\00:22:12.83 wasn't 8 to 10 girls, it was 400... 00:22:12.86\00:22:14.96 Amazing. 00:22:15.00\00:22:16.33 Young girls between 5 and 18 years old, 00:22:16.36\00:22:18.33 then I was in shock 00:22:18.37\00:22:19.70 'cause we didn't bring the projector 00:22:19.73\00:22:21.07 I just had, you know, my hand held in. 00:22:21.10\00:22:22.97 And I said, "Lord, what am I going to do?" 00:22:23.00\00:22:24.51 And it's like this anointing 00:22:24.54\00:22:25.94 just came and He said, "Mike, you were raised 00:22:25.97\00:22:28.11 by a single mother and three sisters, 00:22:28.14\00:22:29.71 you know how to talk to women. 00:22:29.74\00:22:31.28 Just tell them how much I love them." 00:22:31.31\00:22:34.05 And so I just poured out to them this love 00:22:34.08\00:22:36.48 that each one of them God loved 00:22:36.52\00:22:38.15 and that was so incredible 00:22:38.19\00:22:40.26 the way that I don't even have to be prepared, 00:22:40.29\00:22:42.72 the Bible talks about how, 00:22:42.76\00:22:44.29 don't worry about what you're going to say, 00:22:44.33\00:22:45.66 that the Holy Spirit will give you adherence, 00:22:45.69\00:22:47.86 and He truly did and that I know 00:22:47.90\00:22:50.90 we've all experienced 00:22:50.93\00:22:52.27 and that just keeps us knowing that 00:22:52.30\00:22:53.74 God is moving this ministry. 00:22:53.77\00:22:55.10 Yeah. 00:22:55.14\00:22:56.47 And He's got great things in store. 00:22:56.50\00:22:57.84 I'm amazed everyday as I go to check my email. 00:22:57.87\00:23:00.61 I never know what God has planned, 00:23:00.64\00:23:02.71 but it's amazing the emails 00:23:02.74\00:23:04.65 that are coming and included in that are the invitations 00:23:04.68\00:23:08.15 that come to us and so if you're contemplating this, 00:23:08.18\00:23:11.65 you know, I just suggest you that you not fear 00:23:11.69\00:23:15.42 but you pray and ask for God's guidance 00:23:15.46\00:23:17.49 because He wants you to stand up for Him, 00:23:17.53\00:23:21.40 and to let the Holy Spirit use you 00:23:21.43\00:23:24.20 to bring the reality of the redemption 00:23:24.23\00:23:26.90 that's available for everyone. 00:23:26.94\00:23:30.04 You know, Wayne, you're asking us 00:23:30.07\00:23:31.44 about our availability and more about Coming Out Ministries, 00:23:31.47\00:23:35.38 what we have to offer. 00:23:35.41\00:23:36.88 And I would just like to say to our viewing audience 00:23:36.91\00:23:40.18 that we're available in any combination. 00:23:40.22\00:23:43.42 We go places individually. 00:23:43.45\00:23:46.65 Wayne is from Washington, Mike is from Tennessee, 00:23:46.69\00:23:50.23 I'm from the heart of the country, 00:23:50.26\00:23:51.59 Arkansas, 00:23:51.63\00:23:52.96 and we go in pairs or all three of us individually 00:23:52.99\00:23:56.80 to do seminars, sermons, testimonials, 00:23:56.83\00:24:01.97 all kinds of presentations in schools, 00:24:02.00\00:24:04.04 in churches and other institutions 00:24:04.07\00:24:06.01 and events like camp meetings and conventions and so forth. 00:24:06.04\00:24:09.71 The reason this is so important 00:24:09.74\00:24:12.28 that what we're trying to offer is, 00:24:12.31\00:24:14.45 this is now a global issue. 00:24:14.48\00:24:16.05 Homosexuality is a global issue, 00:24:16.08\00:24:17.95 and we read in Luke 17:28, 00:24:17.99\00:24:21.09 "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot," 00:24:21.12\00:24:23.93 coupled with verse 30, 00:24:23.96\00:24:25.29 "Even thus shall it be in the day 00:24:25.33\00:24:26.80 when the son of man is revealed." 00:24:26.83\00:24:29.33 This is an in time issue, a global issue, 00:24:29.36\00:24:33.40 and we see everywhere we go, even Africa and places 00:24:33.44\00:24:38.04 where you wouldn't think it was an issue. 00:24:38.07\00:24:40.44 It's a major issue 00:24:40.48\00:24:42.21 and so we just want to appeal to the viewing audience 00:24:42.24\00:24:45.68 to have us come and do some of our ministry 00:24:45.71\00:24:49.38 in your venue. 00:24:49.42\00:24:50.79 That's right. 00:24:50.82\00:24:52.15 And something I'd like to add to that, Ron, 00:24:52.19\00:24:54.22 is that none of us-- 00:24:54.26\00:24:56.62 That's right. 00:24:56.66\00:24:57.99 And so it's only been at expenses for accommodations 00:24:58.03\00:25:00.96 and for travel and when we're there, there are people 00:25:01.00\00:25:03.53 that have lent us support 00:25:03.57\00:25:05.10 or they have taken a love offering 00:25:05.13\00:25:07.00 and God has blessed us in this 00:25:07.04\00:25:08.70 because we believe that 00:25:08.74\00:25:10.14 we don't want to let anything get in the way 00:25:10.17\00:25:13.07 of God providing this message to however poor or rich 00:25:13.11\00:25:17.81 and environment is that we're walking into. 00:25:17.85\00:25:21.48 Anything, Mike, that you'd like to say 00:25:21.52\00:25:23.22 about this ministry before this program closes today? 00:25:23.25\00:25:26.72 I had no idea, 00:25:26.76\00:25:28.26 the goodness of God to move us this far, this fast. 00:25:28.29\00:25:30.29 Amen. 00:25:30.33\00:25:31.66 It was just what, two years ago less. 00:25:31.69\00:25:33.60 And two years ago that we had met for the first time. 00:25:33.63\00:25:36.80 And you know, Ron, I was handed your book 00:25:36.83\00:25:38.97 and not long after I come back to the Lord, 00:25:39.00\00:25:41.30 and I really resonated with the early years 00:25:41.34\00:25:45.07 and identifying some of the characteristics 00:25:45.11\00:25:47.11 says to why, I went through what is did. 00:25:47.14\00:25:49.41 So we know that there needs to be more resources out there. 00:25:49.44\00:25:52.85 We're passionate about bringing to young people, 00:25:52.88\00:25:56.05 old people like. 00:25:56.08\00:25:57.42 We want to educate church communities 00:25:57.45\00:25:59.79 to be a safe atmosphere 00:25:59.82\00:26:01.16 for those that are sexually defiled, 00:26:01.19\00:26:02.52 not just the homosexual... 00:26:02.56\00:26:03.89 Amen. 00:26:03.93\00:26:05.26 But for those who are struggling 00:26:05.29\00:26:06.63 with pornography addiction, 00:26:06.66\00:26:08.00 sexual addiction of any kind 00:26:08.03\00:26:09.36 because we know that 00:26:09.40\00:26:10.73 God is wrapping up this work quickly. 00:26:10.77\00:26:12.10 We know that his latter rain is being poured out, 00:26:12.13\00:26:13.60 and we want to get that message out 00:26:13.64\00:26:15.30 so we can go home. 00:26:15.34\00:26:16.67 That's right. Amen. 00:26:16.71\00:26:18.04 That's what I, you know... Yeah. 00:26:18.07\00:26:19.41 That's why I think that we're so passionate about this. 00:26:19.44\00:26:20.94 Yeah, there is a lot of people 00:26:20.98\00:26:22.31 still with certain amount of blindness thinking... 00:26:22.34\00:26:25.58 I know when I came back into the church 00:26:25.61\00:26:28.38 where I'm today, it was thought that there would... 00:26:28.42\00:26:30.85 this message wouldn't effect anybody in this church, 00:26:30.89\00:26:33.29 and I mean, a church with 850 people. 00:26:33.32\00:26:36.26 And so, you know, how would you know 00:26:36.29\00:26:38.13 in this deaf silence what it's been? 00:26:38.16\00:26:42.20 And so I think it's an active faith to believe 00:26:42.23\00:26:45.37 that God is able to reach people 00:26:45.40\00:26:47.80 in your own congregation 00:26:47.84\00:26:49.37 and in your silence 00:26:49.40\00:26:50.74 what's happening in the political arena 00:26:50.77\00:26:54.48 or in the civil world is that we're seeing this issue, 00:26:54.51\00:26:59.11 you know, take the headlines 00:26:59.15\00:27:00.48 and so I don't think we can afford to be silent 00:27:00.52\00:27:03.45 about this in churches, in schools or anywhere, 00:27:03.49\00:27:07.92 you know, that a redeemed voice might be able to go. 00:27:07.96\00:27:13.26 I want to say too that, 00:27:13.29\00:27:14.76 you know, in our going around the globe 00:27:14.80\00:27:19.43 and going into all these places, 00:27:19.47\00:27:21.27 we solicit your prayers, we need them... 00:27:21.30\00:27:23.84 Yes. So very, very much. 00:27:23.87\00:27:25.27 We need the protection of the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:27:25.31\00:27:28.58 He's done so much for us, 00:27:28.61\00:27:30.11 and we can only be amazed 00:27:30.15\00:27:31.71 at what He's able to do for others. 00:27:31.75\00:27:33.98 So as we wrap up this program today, 00:27:34.02\00:27:36.99 I would just like to ask you to keep watching Pure Choices 00:27:37.02\00:27:40.72 and to keep making pure choices. 00:27:40.76\00:27:42.99 It's been my pleasure to be here 00:27:43.02\00:27:44.86 with Coming Out Ministries 00:27:44.89\00:27:46.56 and to be a part of Dare to Dream 00:27:46.59\00:27:48.86 and a part of Pure Choices. 00:27:48.90\00:27:50.63 Thank you. 00:27:50.67\00:27:52.00