COM Newsletter - January 2022
JOY OVER ONE
“Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:6,7)
Following our commitment to go wherever asked to go to share the word of our testimony, sometimes we wonder if we are making an impact, especially when traveling thousands of miles for a weekend event with a small congregation. November 2021, I enjoyed an amazing confirmation through just such an event, a foretaste of what to expect in the hereafter. We will actually never fully realize the results of our efforts through ‘Coming Out’ Ministries until heaven. However, we can join in with the joy of heaven over each one person who responds to our messages and chooses to become a new creature in Christ.
Friday night after sharing my testimony I was approached by a young man who informed me that he could really relate to my message. “I drove 500 miles to come hear your message this weekend,” he said. “By the way, I am gay, and that’s just who I am. I’m a Seventh-day Adventist, a physician, married with children, but I also have a lover. The other day he, my lover, asked me to explain ‘grace’ to him.”
“Kinda awkward, huh?” I replied. “You’d better make sure you don’t miss any of the four presentations tomorrow.”
And he didn’t. Throughout the day we had several opportunities to touch bases. And, four programs later as he was leaving the event Saturday night, he said with a smile, “You’ll be hearing from me…”
As I was preparing for bed that very night I received a ding on my phone and a text message from this young man, the beginning of an ongoing and amazing saga… (To be continued as the Testimony below)
Q&A
Question: What is the importance of a church, therapist, and support group working together in a person's life to assist in overcoming homosexuality?
Reply: The more positive reinforcement the struggling homosexual can get, the more positive an outlook for overcoming homosexuality. It is of utmost importance that these three entities be on the same page in their understanding of the homosexual issue, or they will counteract each other's influence, causing even more confusion and anxiety to the sin-sick soul.
Question: How can the church, therapist, and support group work together? How should they inform one another?
Reply: According to Revelation 12:11, we overcome Satan and sin by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. The secret to overcoming sin is in helping others to overcome sin. The church can provide clear biblical doctrine on this issue, teaching the unconditional love of Jesus and His power to save, not compromising the Word to the detriment of the sin-sick soul. The Christian therapist can use professional counseling skills coupled with accurate scientific and biblical information from his Christian perspective to lead the homosexual step by step to victory. The support group should be found in the congregation itself. It does not have to be restricted to recovering homosexuals. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And the word of our own testimony, our own experience with overcoming sin of whatever nature, will be constant positive reinforcement for the struggling homosexual. After all, he, too, is simply battling against sin—his sin.
Q&A text taken from:
Author: “Victor J. Adamson”
(Ron Woolsey)
TESTIMONY
Dear Ron: Eureka! You have shown me the way out. I am held hostage no more. You have no idea what this means. Sometime I would like to tell you my story. Sincerely, M_____
Me: I can’t wait!! Praise God!!
The Holy Spirit brought me here this weekend. You are a gifted tool in His incredible hands. Thank you.
Me: I’m humbled by your remarks. God is to be praised! Have a good night.
Me 2 weeks later: Good morning, M___! Just reaching out to touch. Praying for you! Pastor Ron
Thanks Ron. Nice hearing from you. Hardly a moment passes without recalling what I learned from you in ______. Been struggling with the “just how” to love God more than myself. Concluded it has to do with sacrificing to Him the things about myself that I love so much more than Him. Things I fear to give up. Things I worship, cherish, guard, and adore.
One of these things is my sexuality. My identity has been gay all my life. Much as I loathed that about myself, it was me. My marriage and my gay life were in conflict, but I thought that was what made me special.
Thinking I had been born gay with no conscious choice gave me the entitlement to act out often. Cheating on my family seemed like a divine right as my straight self felt loyal to my wife, and my gay self seemed loyal to myself. I didn’t really even know who I was.
Such a deception I was living! Deceived by society, deceived by the gay church in America, deceived by friends and family, deceived by my long-term psychiatrist, deceived by my own lack of Bible truth, and following my true convictions. This deception nearly cost me my family. It almost cost me my life.
Back to “loving God”. I am learning to love the Son as an avenue to loving the Father. I am starting at both the end and the beginning. I am starting at the cross. I am studying the Passion in the four gospels…
I have a bit of homework to accomplish. Not everyone I have come out to about my newfound freedom from homosexuality has been receptive. My wife is skeptical. I have not pushed the issue. I believe that my future attitude and behavior will convince her, or not. I am praying for her that the Holy Spirit will give her discernment. I am praying that I will be given love for my wife.
You came into my life at the right time. I was discouraged, depressed, and disillusioned. I believed I was unable to change. My future was bleak. I believed my family was better off without me.
The following changed my mind:
1. I was not born gay.
2. I was gay by choice and circumstance.
3. The solution to my conflict had its roots in loving God more than loving myself.
4. I did have a choice.
I feel free for once in my life. I know what it means to know peace. Your prayers mean everything to me. Can’t thank you enough! M_____
Me: I have to tell you, M___, that your response to me yesterday made my day. I am very happy for you. God bless!
I am not usually so “over the top.” But I have been touched where I live and where I love. Can’t seem to keep it all to myself. I have a bit of settling to experience. Yet, I am on my way to living the life I was intended for. I am hopeful my marriage will survive.
I have been thinking that it would be great to have you bring your message to _____. When will you be in the NE again? Please stay in touch.
Me: I go where invited. So..., perhaps you could make that happen...? I know the process you are going through. It may be difficult, but God can see you through.
Very likely so. Can you give me an idea of the rough cost for coming to ____, and making a presentation much like you did at _____?
Me: All expenses combined would be right at $2000. It’s a long way from here to there... But I would be happy to make it happen.
Hard to put a price on emancipation! $2000, a bargain! I will shop some dates with the church pastor and hatch a plan, dates for you to consider.
Me 2 weeks later: Mornin’, M___! Was just praying for you and thinking about you this morning. Just want to say, “Be of good courage, and keep looking up...!”
Thanks Ron. The Holy Spirit is making progress with my wife. She is an angry woman, and rightly so. But I sense a softening. I met with our conference president (and close personal friend) who is interested in bringing your ministry to our conference. I am sending him your book of Q/A.
My resolve to love God more than myself remains as strong as ever. I am finding this mantra to pervade so many aspects of my life. Amazingly, my many gay compulsions are simply slipping away. I am struck with God’s power and grace. Thanks for contacting me. Let’s keep in touch.
Me 1 week later:“Good morning, M___! Thinking about you and your story and wanting to again wish you great success in your new journey. Hoping things are going better each day with your wife. It will take time for her to regain her trust, you know. But that’s OK. Be of good courage, my friend! And keep looking up!
Hey Ron! Nice hearing from you. Thanks for the news. A healing is beginning between my wife and myself. It is a priority of my prayer life. Please pray for us as we get to know each other all over again.
Not all my friends are as keen on my coming out of H as I am. I am getting pushback from some closest to me who feel I am now dishonest (about leaving H and my “true self” behind). Guess I will leave those relationships up to the Holy Spirit. Really odd how easily these people were convinced when I came out to them as gay but are now in disbelief when I tell them I have left my gay life behind. Maybe these are folks who will have to be moved from the front row of my life to the back or to the side. Or maybe out the door.
I am casting about for a way (book, podcast, you-tube channel, ministry endeavor) to bring God’s grace to others who are struggling with the H persuasion in their lives. Pray the HS will be my guide. M___
Me: Once again, M___, you’ve made my day. God bless you! Ron
Makes me recall Proverbs 27:17, “…like iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (friend)…” Loose translation. Lately I have been finding unusual blessings hiding in the most surprising places. I find Providence to be the masterful application of grace when I find myself least vulnerable to His will. And so it is that He finds us when we really need Him most.
Your ministry found me when I needed it most.
Me: Sounds like a divine appointment. God really knows what He’s doing. He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Therefore, out of incomprehensible love, He goes to great lengths to reach someone who loves truth and is willing to be changed by it. Remember the jailor of Philippi and the great earthquake… and the lengths to which God went to get that man’s attention and retrieve him from the hand of the enemy of souls. I think of that in my own situation, and now I think you, too, can relate.
Interesting. Had not considered. Also, this notion of incomprehensible love is, well, just that. Incomprehensible. I still can’t wrap my arms around it. I would never have guessed that love (for Him) would be the solution for my lack of love (contempt) for myself. Yes, I was worshiping myself more than I was worshiping Him. But I was not loving myself or anyone. Ironically, I spent the last 41 years in therapy learning to “love myself.” What I really learned was the depth of deception Satan can use to distract me from what is really true and what is true love. Yes. I can relate. M___
Later: Thanks for your prayers. Still breaking ice with my wife re: my decision to leave H. I understand that she doesn’t trust me. Her position is to verify, then to trust. However, I have felt an incredible freedom in telling her my story. I am asking the Holy Spirit that she become receptive. Please continue to pray for us.
Me: Yes, M___, I pray for you daily. Time can be healing. So, patience towards your wife is needed and to be expected. If she has stayed with you all these years, knowing your situation, then there should be great hope now.
I think so. But we are just starting to open the wounds of the last 35 years. I need to tread softly.
(Just the beginning of another “Journey Interrupted…” Praise the Lord!!)
By Pastor Ron Woolsey
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