Dear Safe Schools members and friends ...

I am back from vacation. Happy Thanksgiving!
Beth

**********
November 27, 2000

Dear NYAC friends and colleagues,

NYAC is preparing to take the lead in strategizing against Exodus International's Youth Ministry (see below), and particularly against the dangerous and harmful treatments and therapies that such ministries advocate. We're looking for your experiences, suggestions and comments AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (by Friday, December 1) so that our response is in fact made on behalf of our membership.

Please send as soon as possible to nyac@nyacyouth.org:

1. The experiences and chronicles of young people who have undergone such "reparative" and "transformational" therapies, which will be distributed to media and used in future publications on these therapies. Those submitting these pieces may request that the pieces be published anonymously.

2. Experiences, suggestions and comments from anyone who has had any experience confronting Exodus International and its affiliates, particularly involving youth issues, and any strategies that can be proposed on what NYAC's response should be.

Best wishes,

Joseph Truong, Bridges Project Assistant (joseph@nyacyouth.org)
______________________________________________________________________

Exodus Launches Youth Ministry
*** For Immediate Release ***
Dated:November 7, 2000

PORTLAND, OR--During their October 3 meeting, the Exodus board gave official sanction for the development of a new outreach geared to youth struggling with homosexual issues. The launching of "Exodus Youth" will be led by Jason Thompson, co-director at The Portland (OR) Fellowship.

Thompson recently changed positions to devote more attention to the development of this national outreach to struggling youth. This change offers him the opportunity to oversee the development of this exciting new branch of Exodus North America (plans are still being finalized).

Among Exodus leaders, discussions regarding youth outreach have been underway for over six years. In 1994, several staff from Exodus ministries around North America gathered to network and create new ideas to impact youth. For the past several Exodus North American conferences, a group of men and women have continued the discussion on effective ministry to young people.

Then, in April 2000, Exodus funded a meeting for youth-focused ministers to formulate a specific plan to launch youth ministry. Now, with the approval of the Exodus board and the creation of several new youth-oriented resources, Exodus is ready to implement a referral service for youth resources and outreach.

Some projects, already completed, will benefit from the Exodus Youth referral service. These include SOULutions, the young adult version of the "Living Waters" group program, written by Cathy Morrill; "The Map," an interactive CD-ROM, produced by Jason Thompson and Alan Chambers; youth-focused brochures, published by Focus on the Family and other organizations; and websites that are designed for youth, including a site that is being developed this coming year by Jason Thompson. This new site will include on-line support groups, video testimony, audio clips, and healthy dialogue with mentors of the same sex.

Exodus Youth will network youth pastors, speakers, and counselors who are available for ministry. It will also include all current Exodus member ministries that are specifically working with youth, and on-line counseling. Exodus Youth will have a list of speakers available to talk about youth issues and will keep a calendar of youth events where Exodus representatives can host the new Exodus Youth display booth. Upcoming events include the Urbana Student Missions Convention (Dec. 27-31 in Urbana, IL) and the Chi Alpha Campus Ministries International Conference (Los Angeles, Dec. 29-Jan. 3), where Exodus reps have been invited to do a presentation on Gender & Sexuality.

Board member Alan Chambers is another Exodus leader who is involved in youth ministry; Alan is director of The Fringe Youth Outreach in Orlando. He meets with 25 high school teens for one-on-one counseling, has two weekly support groups, and an on-line e-mail list of 300 teens.

Chambers also meets with parents of the teens he is counseling. "I meet with the parents to update them on general issues and overall progress," he says.

"I see this as a way to bridge the communication between parents and their children. I also encourage both sides to relate to one another in new and healthier ways. The parents are awesome and very committed."

Chambers says he spends "a great deal of time" educating parents on how to relate to their children struggling with gay issues. "I am helping moms step back and dads step forwards."

Chambers currently has two groups for high school-aged guys struggling with homosexuality, usually the guys Chambers knows the best "and who have demonstrated a high level of commitment and maturity." The groups meet weekly for 90 minutes. Between meetings, the guys keep in touch via email and instant messaging. About half of the boys in Chambers' ministry have a history of sexual abuse.

Kids come from as far as three hours' drive away to receive help, and Chambers says the results are very encouraging. "I am seeing unbelievable changes in their attitudes, self-image, and growth."

Chambers is also working with youth pastors in his area to educate them on this issue. He says the need for reaching youth struggling with homosexuality is huge. "It's overwhelming. But I know God is in control and that helps ease my ache for the kids of this generation."

"We have been anticipating the launching of Exodus Youth for a long time," says Jason Thompson. "I'm very excited to see it finally becoming a reality."

NOTE:Donations for Exodus International designated "Youth Outreach" will be applied directly to future Exodus Youth activities. We appreciate your support as we attempt to reach the next generation.

________________________________________________________________________________

<end of nyac news>

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