Frank Worthen was ex-gay when ex-gay wasn't cool!

Perhaps no testimony of freedom from homosexuality has been more widely circulated and read than Frank Worthen's. He is now 78 years young.

This article, op-ed, column - call it what you like - will not likely be published in many places or read by many people, but it commands to be written.

When Frank was 13, (1942) his pastor told him "Frank, you are a homosexual." Though Frank knew he was "different" from other children, he didn't know what homosexuality was. "I'd been called different before!" Frank had become a loner - hiding in the attic during his family's constant arguing. "My peers called me names which I later learned meant 'homosexual'."

Musically gifted, he kept to himself where his loneliness lingered and his detachment from other boys deepened.

For 25 years Frank was exclusively homosexual. At age 44 he says he heard God tell him, "Today, I want you back." "God's voice was so real" he relinquished his life to Christ. That was 1973 and Frank has neither looked back nor held anything back from God since.

Frank became a "Mother Teresa" of sorts. While Mother Teresa took to the filthy streets of Calcutta - where few wanted to serve, Frank took to winning homosexuals to Christ - where, similarly, few want to serve.

Frank has not garnered the attention of the world, its politicians and evangelical leaders - as did Mother Teresa, but Frank has been faithful.

At the suggestion of a friend, Frank made a cassette tape of his testimony. Frank knew in the early '70's what preacher Adrian Rogers would eventually say a few decades later, "A Christian with a testimony is more powerful than an atheist with a million arguments."

Frank would use those tapes to reach people trapped in homosexuality. But how could Frank get his testimony-tape into their hands? He bought a small classified ad in what he called the "worst sex paper" in San Francisco. What a novel idea! It read "Do you want out of homosexuality? Request my testimony on tape."

I observed Frank from a distance for many years before having opportunity to get to know him personally. Unassuming, unpretentious, and unashamed of sharing what Jesus has done in his life, it was his testimony and organizational skills that made him the "Founding Father" of what is called the ex-gay movement.

Many of us in this arena of ministry dislike the term "ex-gay" for the sole reason it focuses on what we were rather than what we are now because of Jesus Christ - an argument often asserted by Alan Chambers, the innovative President of Exodus International. Exodus International is an umbrella ministry consisting of hundreds of ministries scattered across the globe. (www.Exodus.to)

Of Worthen, Alan Chambers writes "Frank is one of the most courageous men I know. His willingness to publicly share his struggle at a time when such a topic was taboo has changed the lives of men and women all over the world."

To me Frank is not an electrifying speaker - he is a simplifying speaker. His message is simple. "Homosexuality is one of a myriad of sins. Christ died for sin. Would you give your life to Jesus?"

I've stood in the tiny room where Preacher John Wesley studied the Bible - where biographies quote him saying that in that room he studied God's Word, "and what I learn, I preach."

Such can be said of Frank Worthen. He studies the Bible and what he learns he teaches. His rigorous study has become the substance of numerous resources.

One can not read his writings without missing his absolute devotion to Scripture and a God-given gift for application.

Frank understands surrender means we do not tell Christ what to do. Frank wrote of some homosexuals who "give God ultimatums and time limits." Frank continued "We can never dictate to God what He should do or when He should do it."

Frank created Love In Action (LIA) - the first ever residential program for men wishing to overcome their unwanted same-sex attractions. To those men he would ask "Have you dedicated as much time to God as you spent cruising for other men?" Talk about being frank!

I have never known Frank to draw attention to himself. He resembles what Oswald Chambers wrote of John the Baptist, "A beautiful saint may be a hindrance if he does not present Jesus Christ but only what Christ has done for him."

Frank writes, "Like a radio or TV signal, we are stronger when close to the source and weaker when further away." His words echo the Psalmist who wrote "But as for me, it is good to be near God."

A requirement of Frank's residential program was to regularly attend a specific church - where it was openly known program members attended.

Recalls Frank, "Many years ago, I was leaving church after a Sunday service. Two visitors behind me were talking. One had spotted our program members during the service. He commented to his friend, 'Hey, did you notice? There's fags in this place!' I was glad nobody else overheard his rude comment. I remember that weekend for another reason. Just the preceding day, I listened to a sermon on Christian radio. The speaker, who was reviewing the book of Leviticus, was someone I held in high regard as did most of the Christian world. I was shocked when he said, 'Homosexuals are dogs and swine. Don't waste your time throwing your pearls before them. They can't be saved because they are not the elect.'"

Frank has lovingly dealt with myriads of unbiblical responses during his life and keeps pointing broken men and women to Christ.

When answering "what causes homosexuality", Frank wrote "Homosexuality is brought about by a multitude of root causes." And Frank could, if he wished, launch into a lecture on causation, but what pleases Frank more is to speak of the way out - who is a Person. Those of us in this politically and oftentimes ecclesiastically incorrect area of ministry have been asked more questions than we can bear. But many of us find solace in the title of a song, "When answers aren't enough, there is Jesus."

A single mother named Anita, whose son was homosexual, needed help many years ago. She heard about Frank's ministry Love In Action. "Something heavy lifted off my shoulders as I read testimonies of men and women who had been set free. Finally I had hope-both for me and my son." Anita later wrote.

Over a period of time, Frank and Anita became better acquainted and had "many meaningful talks about marriage." At age 55, Frank feared he was too old for marriage. But God allayed that fear and they were married in November 1984.

Both Frank and Anita are writers. Frank has the distinction of co-authoring the first Christian book on homosexuality. He and a pastor wrote The Third Sex which generated an average of 200 letters a month from people needing help for themselves or their loved ones. He went on to write Steps Out of Homosexuality and many more books, workbooks, booklets and articles.

Anita co-authored Someone I Love Is Gay with Bob Davies who is Executive Director Emeritus of Exodus International. Davies writes, "I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Frank Worthen. He was director of Love in Action when I went through their program in 1979. I will always praise God for his example and friendship."

When Frank and Anita sensed God leading them to the Philippines to start a new work, Love In Action passed on to the leadership of John Smid. The Worthens ministered in Manila for four years before returning to the States where they founded New Hope Ministries which now offers 7-day retreats for men.

New Hope Ministry may have slowed a bit, but Frank and Anita's investment in Kingdom work is accelerating through hundreds of affiliate ministries around the world, thousands of leaders and untold numbers of men and women who have shaken homosexuality from their identity and replaced it with a new title - "a follower of Christ Jesus." (Christianity Today magazine features the ex-gay movement in its October 2007 edition)

Over the past 30 years, Frank has appeared on countless radio and television shows including the 700 Club, James Dobson's Focus on the Family and the Phil Donahue Show discussing homosexuality.

As is often the case in secular venues, some try to make Frank out to be a homosexual-hater. But just the opposite is true. Frank loves homosexuals more now than when he was one!

To learn more visit www.newhope123.org