Comments on: Ex-Gay Ministry Admits Sexual Abuse; Grateful At Not Being Found Out

By: Jeff Coe

Jeff Coe — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:22:14 +0000

Hmm, It is interesting how reporting and interpretation is held as fact. I was there when all this happened. Even though I do not adhere to the policies of Desert Stream any longer I do know the anguish that Andy Comiskey felt as well as everyone else on staff when all this occurred. It was anger at the staffer who did this stupid thing which he did go to court on and a real grief as to what occurred with the young guy wondering how to best help him and his family.

I don’t know about the post that Andy wrote on but will have to check it out. By the way deliverance is not healing prayer two totally different aspects of prayer. I know the church world is alien to many but it would be wise if one could learn the ins and outs as well as the terminology to better inform the public.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:10:23 +0000

@ Clark:

“Letters of apology were written to victims & their families”

Well, that puts things in an entirely new light. I didn’t know that they actually wrote letters AND expended 42 cents on a stamp. So much better than an actual meeting and a long-term commitment to helping them heal from the abuse. Certainly Jesus would have gone with written letters over all of that touchy feeling stuff. I only hope that the apologies were accompanied by Christ-like disclaimers of liability.

By: Regan DuCasse

Regan DuCasse — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:47:26 +0000

Um, Clark…
What do you mean? Are you EX-sexual, meaning that you’re a celibate person not in any relationship?

Or are you living LIKE a heterosexual? With an opposite sex significant other?

Here’s the thing, a person can be gay OR hetero whether or not they are having sex at the moment.

I’m hetero myself, and personally, I don’t know why heterosexuality is sold as THE holy grail of a BETTER life than being homosexual.

Heterosexuality only gets better socio/political status, which isn’t the same as a better life.

Be careful what you say, it’s very confusing on it’s face, and infers a LOT that isn’t true.
You feel me?

By: Richard Rush

Richard Rush — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:20:00 +0000

Ben in Oakland said,
“Why do you need Jesus to walk in freedom? All you had to do was stop doing whatever it was you were doing before. Don’t want to be gay? Stop having sex with other men. It’s very simple. Why the drama?”

Yes, exactly.

I “came out” in the summer of Stonewall (1969). I’ve seen lots of other homos decide to pretend they were straight, including the usual deceiving of women into marrying them, and having children. They didn’t have hand-holding “ministries,” and thus suffered alone and in silence.

Now, in recent years, I’m seeing many of these people walk away from the bondage of living to please bigots, and finally live in accordance with their natures.

In addition to depending upon perpetuating the social/religious unacceptability of homosexuality, these so-called “ministries” also depend upon Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:11:34 +0000

Funny about that, clark.

Why do you need Jesus to walk in freedom? All you had to do was stop doing whatever it was you were doing before. Don’t want to be gay? Stop having sex with other men. It’s very simple. Why the drama?

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:17:18 +0000

Clark,

I’m glad that you are enjoying your life. I wish you the best.

But I am also so very thankful to God for the healing that so many former ex-gays have found in their walk away from a lifestyle that was harmful and destructive to their lives.

I guess we all have to walk in the path that brings us peace and meaning.

By: Lynn David

Lynn David — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:30:33 +0000

Abuse is probably more a problem with paraprofessional organizations, especially those which work less from scientific models and more from dogmatic ones.

By: Richard Atwood

Richard Atwood — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:24:03 +0000

Clark, I am so sorry you lost those 25 years of potential joy and meaning in your life. I hope you found some true fulfillment in some of your earlier years, before your “walk in freedom”, and that these memories may console you as eternity closes in, and as you begin to recognize your profound error. Maybe you will even find some cosmological wisdom to replace the silly superstitions to which you have been clinging these decades. You have some time left to use your gift of reason. But not that much time. So I hope you start to think. Anyway we all make mistakes. With love, Richard.

By: Scott P.

Scott P. — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:53:08 +0000

Clark, just curious, are you now heterosexual, fully functional with a woman and no longer desirous of sexual relations with men?

By: Clark

Clark — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:09:48 +0000

Desert Stream Ministries & the Living Waters program helped me to walk in freedom from homosexuality to date, for nearly 25 years. I am so thankful to God for the healing through Jesus and his powerful work on Calvary’s Cross. I never saw one person try to cast demons out of anyone, but I did see a firsthand a group of people filled with compassion pray and minister God’s love to folks who wanted to be free to walk out of bondage and into God’s plan for their lives. Now I am blessed to be able to help minister to others. In addition, I know how tormented Andy Comiskey was over the abuse that occurred. Letters of apology were written to victims & their families, but rest assured that the offender did betray trust and violated ministry policy and was held to account for his actions.