Even today the issues surrounding the “founders” of Exodus is a topic of great debate in the media and among gay activists who seek to discredit the effectiveness and firm foundation of this 30-year-old ministry.  Many articles, news interviews and independent documentaries have tried to portray Exodus as an organization that can’t help anyone.  As proof they argue that our “founders” themselves never changed and eventually left the ministry to pursue a homosexual relationship with one another.

For many years, other Exodus members and I tried to defend the ministry against this allegation.  I was guilty in my ignorance of saying that the two “founders” in question weren’t founders at all, just two men who helped with the first conference—one of whom became an original Exodus board members.  However, as I began looking deeper and asking more questions, I realized that I was simply wrong.

For the last few months I have been talking weekly via email and phone to Michael Bussee—a man whose name alone solicits strong emotions in some.  Michael is one of those “founders” who remains happily gay-identified today and has been a long time critic of Exodus and its leadership.  Interestingly enough, it was Michael who decided to contact me one Thursday afternoon in July---I was overjoyed to be in touch with him.

While there are many sides to the original story of how Exodus got its start, no one disputes the fact that Michael Bussee and Jim Kaspar, staffers of one of the original ‘ex-gay’ ministries, EXiT, played a pivotal role in organizing the gathering of 62 leaders that became Exodus International.

I have no trouble crediting Michael and even Michael’s late partner, Gary Cooper, with the founding of Exodus.  However, the founders also include longtime faithful leaders like Jim Kaspar, Frank Worthen and Robbi Kenney.

But the scandalous issue remains: Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper, two “founders” of Exodus did leave their wives to begin a relationship that lasted until Cooper’s death from AIDS complications in the early 1990’s.   Does this mean that Exodus is ineffective or that it was built on a foundation of sand?  Absolutely not!

I am grateful to Michael, Gary, Jim, Frank, Robbi and the dozens of early leaders that followed the Lord’s leading to birth this vital outreach.  It has reached millions of people in this world with the truth that God desperately loves all people and that He has an amazing plan for their lives.  I regularly thank Michael for his contributions—sometimes he bristles and other times he says, “You’re welcome.”

The truth is that change is possible, with conviction, obedience, and a steadfast commitment.  For years we have seen that upwards of 70% of those who come for help either go back to homosexuality or continue to remain bound by their struggle.  That statistic is true for those who battle other life dominating behaviors like alcoholism, heterosexual addictions and drugs.  The biggest reason people go back is because they find little support among their community of friends---namely fellow believers and church members.  The gracious, loving and truthful community of the local church is vital to lasting change.

It was the Church where my healing ultimately took root.  For this reason, our passion and mission at Exodus International is to equip, educate and mobilize the Church to become the chief source of comfort, refuge and outreach to those affected by homosexuality.  When the Church becomes a place where everyone is welcome and every sin is addressed equally, truthfully and compassionately then I know we will see multitudes of people finding lasting freedom at a rate like we have never experienced before.

Have you contacted your church about joining the Exodus Church Network?  Please partner with us in advancing the Kingdom in this vital way!