While evangelical churches are bitterly divided over the issue of ministry to homosexuals, few Christians have bothered to consider the feelings of parents and close friends, according to Anthony Falzarano.
To remedy the neglect, the 40-year-old director of Transformation Christian Ministries has created Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (P-FOX).
Despite its moniker, the Washington, D.C., group is for those close to both former and current homosexuals. In fact, its main constituency is families of those still practicing the lifestyle.
“We want to educate parents how to minister in love to their homosexual children,” Falzarano says. “If their son says he won’t come home if his lover isn’t welcome, we want to work with them in dealing with that.”
The group’s name is an intentional tweaking of the 68,000-member organization Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Falzarano says he hopes to attract members of PFLAG who do not agree with the group’s pro-homosexuality stance but who need the support.
P-FOX hopes to help those struggling with homosexuality to “come out” to their parents and friends.
“We can help tell parents, ‘The bad news is he’s struggling with this. The good news is he’s getting help,'” Falzarano says.
More than 240 people attended P-FOX’s inaugural conference in February.
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