SPOTLIGHT: Freedom Realized

Written by Ben Smith

Monte Larrick caught up with Stephen Black at the National Religious Broadcasters convention a few months ago. Black has been the Executive Director of First Stone Ministries since 2000 and is the author of the recently released book, Freedom Realized: Finding Freedom from Homosexuality and Living a Life Free from Labels.

In this podcast, Monte and Stephen address the scientific reality that people are not born homosexual, as well as discuss Illinois’ ban on reparative therapy and the resulting attack on churches that desire to offer help and hope to gender-confused youth. Other topics on the table cover a new documentary, TranZformed; the damaging effects of gender chaos on youth; the increase in censorship of conservative viewpoints on Facebook and other social media platforms; the consequences of allowing individuals to legally change the sex designation on their birth certificates, and the pressing need to fight against the Left’s push to normalize homosexuality and transgenderism. Acknowledging that pastors often shy away from being political, Stephen encourages them instead to be salt and light by addressing these critical issues and mobilizing their congregations to vote and to make their voices heard through engagement with their elected representatives.

Stephen was called by God into ministry through the healing he received himself: (2 Cor. 1:3-4).   As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, he was wounded and confused during his teenage years, drawn into homosexuality, and lived as gay-identified for 8 years.  His 1991 written testimony is online in several locations and a video testimony is online here.  Acquainted with the grief of sexual sin and abuse, Stephen’s heart is to make known what he discovered – that Jesus Christ has come to set the captives free.

Summer-Time Challenge

As you may know, IFA has a summer-time matching challenge to raise $40,000. That’s right, a great group of supporters are colluding with us to provide an $20,000 matching challenge to help support IFA’s work to help elect pro-family candidates to the Illinois General Assembly.

Please consider helping us reach this goal!  Your donation will help us with a strong get-out-the-vote effort in the November election!  To make a credit card donation over the phone, please call the IFA office at (708) 781-9371.  You can also send a gift to:

Illinois Family Action
P.O. Box 93
Mokena, IL  60448