I
listen to Lead Them Home every day. This program offers the single
best expression of the Gospel that I’ve ever heard. I have a gay son
and this program has touched the heart of our family in deep ways.
Thank you Bill for doing this
work.
Radio
Listener
New
England
I would like to recommend Bill Henson and
FOTOS (Fish on the Other Side) Ministries to you. Bill ministered in
our church on Sunday and did a fantastic job! His ministry was full
of grace and love, without compromising the truth. I will let
you know that not every church is ready for this...but our church
was! We have several families with gay children and most of our
people have many gay friends and extended family members. Bill's
ministry was balanced, biblical, challenging, permission giving, and
liberating. Many people do not realize how many people all around
them are touched by homosexuality; and they have NO clue how to
minister to them. Many also don't realize that our teens are
rejecting the "head in the sand" or avoidance way of handling
this issue that is so often seen in evangelical churches. Our young
people are quietly rejecting a Biblical stand on this issue because
the church's response is often weak, ineffective, not
practical/realistic or non-existent. At the same time, media and
schools are presenting a perspective that seems to "make more
sense." One of the things I really appreciated about Bill's ministry
is that he took the "issue" of homosexuality off center stage,
and focused on ALL of us need for Jesus Christ. We even had one
person confess and ask for prayer for a secret addiction unrelated
to
homosexuality!
Senior
Pastor
New England Area
Church
Thank
you for being there for me. I am 21 and grew up in a Christian
family. I plan to be faithful to God and not act on same-sex
desires. If my family even knows I have these desires, I will be
disowned. I have no one to talk to. I am so happy to hear Lead Them
Home on the web. I feel very comforted by your
program.
Podcast
Listener
East
Asia
Thank you for the
countless hours you have spent ministering to me by phone and
prayer. I will never forget when I first heard the words: "Mom, I am
gay." My Christian persona was totally blown by those words. I
spewed bitterness at my only son: not offering love, only rejection;
and not hearing his pain, his struggles or his fears of losing me. I
searched and searched online for help but found nothing. My
husband spent many sleepless nights praying for me the whole night
as I would wake up trembling and crying uncontrollably. I
remember the day when I was at my last rung in the rope,
and I hopelessly bent over and cried out: "Where are you God when I
need you most?" My husband asked me to search online one last time.
I pounded my fist telling him I found no one, but he said,
"Honey, I feel you need to try one more time." This time, your
website was the first to catch my attention. You listened to me for
hours pour out my heart and I felt the spirit move within you. I
heard your response to my pain and hopelessness. It was through
your words of encouragement and strength through Christ that I was
able to move from that valley of darkness to God's marvelous light.
I now see my son so differently. I now KNOW that he is a
wonderful gift from God. The journey has been difficult - but it is
worth it! God loves us so much that he invested His ALL for us
- shouldn't we be willing to invest as much as we can in the
lives of others - especially our own children? I am a different
mom than I was and look forward to continuing to love and
grow in this new relationship with my son. I have reached the level
ground that I choose to call my plateau of acceptance: accepting my
son has a right to be where he is right now, and that I
have a right to love him without approving
of homosexuality. Like Jesus stayed at Zacchaeus' home, I plan
to stay at the home of my son and his partner. I need to meet my son
where he is - and let God do any convicting that needs to be done.
God will supply the strength needed for this journey. Thank you
for helping me."
Penny
A Michigan Mom Who Deeply Loves Her
Only Son
This
is my second year in Bill’s workshop – I come away feeling refreshed
with renewed vision each time. The TRUE Gospel is preached: it goes
way beyond just sexual orientation; it addresses how we treat ALL
people.
University
Student
Campus Ministry
Workshop
I feel
hopeless. I am taking pills to sleep. The abuse from my past haunts
me. Your message is encouraging me. No one has ever loved me – thank
you for loving me.
Podcast
Listener
Southwestern US
I
don’t know why I am writing you. You are ultimately on the opposite
side – in the camp of those who have repeatedly judged and condemned
me. Yet for some reason I get the sense that you are different. I
don’t sense any judgment at all. I am writing to you simply because
I have never heard the Gospel offered so purely from the evangelical
community. I know you are not changing your theology – as much as I
might like you to! Yet this is the Gospel and people who are hurting
can be encouraged from your message. There are so many young people
who are suicidal. They need a more gentle message like yours.
GLBT Radio
Listener
New
England
I have
not stopped crying. My son is gay and I stumbled onto your podcast
and blog. Finally, I am getting encouraging answers that will
actually help me connect with my son. Thank you for being
there.
Mother
Upper Midwest US
I
remember when I asked you about changing my son’s sexual
orientation. You said, “What about changing the relational
orientation between you and your son?” That was when it hit me: if
my son is ever to surrender his sexuality to God, it will cost us
something too. We must ‘change’ in order to engage our son in ways
we have not. Thank you for this
insight.
Father
Northeast US
I am
delighted to commend the work of Bill and his wife and FOTOS
Ministries. In a world struggling with much human brokenness, the
Hensons present a vision filled with redemptive love and powerful
Biblical initiatives.
These are good people doing great things. They deserve
generous support.
Dr. Gordon
MacDonald
Pastor and
Author
Chairman of the
Board, World Relief
Editor at Large,
Leadership Journal
I have
known Bill Henson for many years. His life journey and faith
experience are indeed a remarkable testimony to the power and grace
of God. Bill has a
wonderful spirit and a keen mind that combine to make him an
incredibly effective communicator to those who are struggling with
sexual brokenness. Bill has a heart for those who struggle and a
wonderful sense of patience with those who are antagonistic toward
healing ministries. His
preparation is always thorough, thoughtful, and above all prayerful.
My expectation is that God is going to continue to bless this
ministry in powerful ways.
Dr. Ray
Pendleton
Professor of
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary (MA)
With
the religious and political environment so polarized on the subject
of homosexuality, FOTOS provides intelligent, compassionate, and
Biblical resources to churches and Christians for addressing the
challenges and opportunities related to homosexuality in our
culture. Bill has been
an active member and leader at Grace for many years, and
consistently brings wisdom, grace, and godly character to a variety
of ministries and people.
Bryan
Wilkerson
Senior
Pastor
Grace Chapel
(Lexington,
MA)
In
February, 2007, our church, The
Vineyard
Church of
Stafford/Sugar Land,
Texas, helped sponsor
a Family Care seminar, with Bill and his wife, in
Houston. Bill’s approach
to the issues facing families of homosexuals, and the hope he brings
for those involved in this lifestyle, is without question the most
helpful to a family or even a church community I have ever
encountered. His own integrity, compassion, wisdom, and insight are
reflected in his ministry, and grow right out of God’s word. Bill’s
testimony of how God brought him to total surrender to Jesus Christ
captures the hearts of those who hear him, and challenges all to
renew their commitment to Jesus. I highly recommend the Hensons and
FOTOS Ministries.
Herschel
Rosser
Senior Associate
Pastor
The
Vineyard
Church of
Stafford/Sugar
Land (TX)
I
cried throughout Bill’s entire presentation because of the parallels
between his life and mine. I have a partner and I struggle with that
every day as a Christian. Is this the right thing for me?
Gay Student in a
Same-Sex Relationship
We've
had Bill visit two college campuses in our region; both times he has
been fantastic. His
personal testimony is one of the best presentations of the
life-transforming power of the Gospel that I have ever heard, while
in the telling of it Bill manages to powerfully communicate both
"I've been where you are" compassion and "I've experienced it" hope
for change. I've seen
him awe a hostile audience of 700 students and faculty, and also
make significant inroads meeting in a small group with ten gay
student organization leaders.
I can think of no one else I'd trust more or would rather
partner with on this extremely sensitive cutting edge of ministry
than Bill.
Rick
Goetsch
Northeast Ohio
Area Director
InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship (OH)
Bill
Henson recently spoke to the students in our High School
Ministry. Bill was
honest, transparent and had a room of 150 students on the edge of
their seat each time he spoke.
Bill's knowledge of the culture as well as his grounded
biblical response provides a healthy view on the issue of
Homosexuality that is revolutionary and contagious for the
Church. The impact of
Bill's ministry will transform lives both inside and outside of the
church for years to come.
Todd Szymczak,
Pastor of High School Ministries
Grace Chapel
(Lexington,
MA)
I was
very impressed with Bill's ministry of grace and love. I highly
recommend him for services and workshops. We were blessed to have
him. He has a powerfully anointed ministry that is relevant and
speaks to today.
Pastor Rob
Woods, Senior Pastor
New Hope
Community
Church
(Marlborough,
MA)
The
Foundations of a Safe
Church message gave our
people 'permission' to talk about and ask for prayer about things
they otherwise might feel embarrassed about. It also re-enforced to
people the kind of church we want to be. Thanks Bill - Keep up the
great work!
Pastor Rick
Picariello, Senior Pastor
Mount
Hope
Christian
Center
(Burlington,
MA)
We are
delighted to hear of the founding of FOTOS Ministries. In a culture
where we tend to be guided by anecdotal stories or emotional
response instead of God’s design, we are in desperate need of those
who are true to God’s word and compassionate in the expression of
Grace and Truth. Bill and his wife have personally shown their
commitment to following God’s design and helping others come to this
knowledge with compassion and grace. I am thankful for such a
ministry to which we are able to refer those who are struggling with
gender identity issues and seeking to more fully understand God’s
design. FOTOS will provide practical and Biblical hope and help in
the process of healing.
Dr. Paul and Dr.
Virginia Friesen
Founders and
Directors
Home Improvement
Ministries
http://www.himweb.org
I’ve
known Bill Henson for several years now and I continue to be
impressed by the wisdom, discernment and insight he brings into the
complex ministry settings in which he serves. He and his wife have served
as leaders of a small group with a number of families with young
children. They have
modeled for those in their group what it means to be a family of
faith and to minister with the love of Christ.
Bill’s
life is a testimony to the life-transforming work of God’s spirit
and the redeeming power of grace. His own experience gives him
a unique ability to speak into the lives of men struggling with
sexual identity issues - enabling him to share with credibility and
allowing people to know that he understands the issues they are
facing.
Bill’s
approach enables him to enter into a culturally, politically, and
socially charged environment and speak in a way that diffuses
people’s heated emotions.
His genuine love is evident and disarming, enabling people to
hear the truth with an unusual receptivity.
Tom Van
Antwerp
Pastor of
Community Life
Grace Chapel
(MA)
Bill
Henson's compassionate approach to the topic of homosexuality is
exactly what is needed within the Body of Christ - and beyond. The time I spent talking
with Bill about his life struggles, as well as my own, was deeply
meaningful. I found him to be well-informed and eager to listen. I
have the utmost confidence in FOTOS Ministries. FOTOS has the
potential to impact numerous lives in a positive and life-changing
way.
Dr. Dutchess R.
Jones
Director of
Multicultural Student Affairs
Baldwin-Wallace
College
(OH)
Bill
Henson shared his testimony at an outreach my college’s Campus
Crusade and InterVarsity groups hosted. Bill’s story is a true
testament of God’s grace, love and mercy. Bill has a vision to reach
those who struggle with same-sex attraction and also to equip
churches to effectively minister to those who do. I have seen Bill demonstrate
a wonderful balance of grace and truth in this sensitive topic. This ministry has my full
support.
Sarah
Glenn
Outreach Event
Creator & Organizer
Truthnet.org stands behind the ministry of Bill Henson and
FOTOS, we see the great need for people in the Homosexual community
to see first hand, the power of the Gospel to transform lives and to
understand the hope Jesus Christ offers to all humanity.
Truthnet.org
When
Bill first told us of his planned ministry to reach out to
homosexuals and their families we felt it was much needed and shared
our enthusiasm with him. Like many parents, we have found that there
is a myriad of information and many opinions about what a Christian
parent “should” or “shouldn’t” do or say. Some of it is helpful,
some of it only serves to add to the confusion and hurt. Bill’s
experiences and his heart and faith enable him, we believe, to
minister well and wisely in this area.
Christian
Parents of a Daughter
New
England
Through your story, the Lord gave me permission to love my
son right where he is at. I always felt that to be a 'good'
Christian I needed to pull away. Now I know what was in my heart all
along is the right thing to do - to go to my son and to love him
right where he is at.
Christian Father
of a Son
Midwest
US
