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.
Copyright © 1997 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.
Our digital archives are a work in progress. Let us know if corrections need to be made.
Annual & Monthly subscriptions available.
- Print & Digital Issues of CT magazine
- Complete access to every article on ChristianityToday.com
- Unlimited access to 65+ years of CT’s online archives
- Member-only special issues
- Learn more
More from this Issue
Read These Next
- From the MagazineThe Church Outside Serving the Church InsideReading Philippians from Paul’s prison context should encourage the church to care better for the incarcerated.
- Editor's Pick‘Are You Ready to Open Your Doors … And Your Toilets?’French evangelicals are working together to show people Jesus at 2024 Olympic Games.Français