Exodus returns leadership of ‘Day of Truth’ to friend, Alliance Defense Fund

Orlando, FL- Exodus International, After 4 years of supporting the Day of Truth initiative and 1 year of spearheading the effort, Exodus International is returning the event to the Alliance Defense Fund.  ADF will likely find another group to run the event or end it altogether.  Created in 2005 by the Alliance Defense Fund as a response to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) annual Day of Silence, Day of Truth was an effort aimed at encouraging conservatively-minded teenagers to respectfully engage fellow students in conversations about homosexuality.

“I believe that silence is a poor substitute for healthy and respectful cross-divide dialogue”, said Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, in an interview Wednesday with Dan Gilgoff of CNN’s Belief Blog, when sharing the original intent behind Exodus’ involvement with Day of Truth.  ”When I was a student struggling silently with same-sex attraction and contemplating my options I was desperate for a compassionate voice and real answers. Silence may draw attention to the issue, but it doesn’t offer help or support.”

Since its inception nearly 20,000 students have participated in Day of Truth with over 6,000 high-school students taking this year’s challenge to Get the Conversation Started.

“Even though we have reached a fair number of students”, said Chambers, “We believe that due to the timing of the event, Day of Truth was always perceived in an adversarial manner, and became more about policy than people.  That is in conflict with the mission we have chosen to embrace as an organization. We want to continue to promote dialogue and to equip Christian kids to reach out with compassion, grace and truth.  We don’t need to practice this once a year, but rather every day.”

Chambers along with leaders of Exodus Youth, a division of Exodus International, made the decision in late April that 2010 would mark the end of its short leadership of Day of Truth. They officially notified the Alliance Defense Fund last week of this change.

See the full interview by Dan Gilgoff at CNN.com

Conference to Address Ways to Reach
Those Struggling with Homosexuality

September 9, 2010

Orlando, FL- Exodus International, the largest international ministry addressing faith and same-sex attraction, will discuss how the church can more effectively reach a group of people that are often ignored or go unnoticed when it brings the Love Won Out conference to Rockford First Church in Rockford, IL on September 25. Jeff Buchanan, Senior Director of Church Equipping for Exodus says, “This event is needed to encourage and equip Christians throughout the area to minister to the many within their churches who are touched by the issue of homosexuality.” [Read more...]

Exodus continues to move forward with longest running conference on homosexuality