Exodus North America

Summary

Exodus North America (EXO) is a Christian referral and resource network founded in 1976. Our primary purpose is to proclaim that freedom from homosexuality is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We believe such freedom is increasingly experienced as the former homosexual matures through ongoing submission to the Lordship of Christ and His Church. This transformation process enables people to shed the old, sinful identity and in its place learn new ways of relating to self and others. Exodus seeks to motivate and train the Body of Christ to restore sexual wholeness to men and women who desire to overcome their homosexuality. Besides ministering to overcomers, their family members, and their friends, we also seek to assist local church leaders in dealing pastorally with issues related to homosexuality. Finally, we desire to come along side new ministries in order to supplement their growth. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Exodus North America (EXO) is a Christian referral and resource network founded in 1976. Our primary purpose is to proclaim that freedom from homosexuality is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We believe such freedom is increasingly experienced as the former homosexual matures through ongoing submission to the Lordship of Christ and His Church. This transformation process enables people to shed the old, sinful identity and in its place learn new ways of relating to self and others.

Exodus seeks to motivate and train the Body of Christ to restore sexual wholeness to men and women who desire to overcome their homosexuality. Besides ministering to overcomers, their family members, and their friends, we also seek to assist local church leaders in dealing pastorally with issues related to homosexuality. Finally, we desire to come along side new ministries in order to supplement their growth.

This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Exodus North America's Mission Statement is:

Exodus North America's primary purpose is to proclaim that freedom from homosexuality is possible through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We believe such freedom is increasingly experienced as the former homosexual matures through ongoing submission to the Lordship of Christ and His Church. This transformation process enables people to shed the old, sinful identity and in its place learn new ways of relating to self and others.

Exodus seeks to motivate and train the Body of Christ to restore sexual wholeness to men and women who desire to overcome their homosexuality. Besides ministering to overcomers, their family members, and their friends, we also seek to assist local church leaders in dealing pastorally with issues related to homosexuality. Finally, we desire to come along side new ministries in order to supplement their growth.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

The 1990s marked a new era in publishing for Exodus-related authors, with numerous books being released by major Christian publishers. Andy Comiskey of Desert Stream (Los Angeles) had led the way with the 1989 publication of his book, Pursuing Sexual Wholeness. Numerous other books followed, including Desires in Conflict by Joe Dallas (1991), Out of Egypt by Jeanette Howard (1991), Coming Out Of Homosexuality by Bob Davies and Lori Rentzel (1993), Unwanted Harvest? by Mona Riley and Brad Sargent (1995), and Someone I Love is Gay by Anita Worthen and Bob Davies (1996). In addition, dozens of articles on Exodus-related ministries appeared in both religious and secular periodicals and newspapers with increasing regularity.

Important speaking opportunities also came to Exodus leaders. President Joe Dallas taught two workshops at the 1993 Promise Keepers men's conference in Boulder, CO; Bob Davies and Lori Rentzel taught multiple workshops the same year at the huge Urbana 93 student missions convention near Chicago, sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Joe Dallas was invited to address a CAPS (Christian Association of Psychological Studies) convention in San Francisco in 1994; the next summer, Bob Davies taught at the international Congress on the Family in Denver.

Through the 1990s, the growth of the National Association for Recovery and Treatment of Homosexuality (NARTH) helped bring added credibility to the Exodus message.

Probably the biggest exposure for the Exodus message among secular college students came in 1995, when Campus Crusade for Christ launched their "Every Student's Choice" campaign on 50 campuses nationwide. Full-page advertisements featured the testimony of a former homosexual or lesbian (the majority involved in various Exodus-related agencies) brought a storm of controversy to Campus Crusade's doorstep -- and a flood of publicity to Exodus among college students around the nation. The publicity campaign was expanded threefold to 150 campuses in 1996.

Exodus also became increasingly pro-active, rather than reactive, in other ways. One Exodus agency launched "National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day" in 1995, as a response to the pro-gay "coming out" days promoted in the secular media. Prayer was emphasized as an International Day of Prayer and Fasting was also launched, a day when all Exodus leaders worldwide could pray together for each other's needs and the growth of Exodus ministries around the globe. The Exodus display booth began making regular appearances at various national meetings, such as the Urbana student missions conventions in 1990 and 1993, and various denominational gatherings. Exodus also had an increasing presence at the huge Promise Keepers (PK) men's conventions, with a display at 7 of the 1995 conferences, and 16 of the 1996 conferences throughout the USA.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Exodus International's statement of faith is:

We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, the final authority for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in right living.

We believe in one God, existing eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, only-begotten Son of the Father. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, buried, and rose physically from the dead. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will come again in power and glory.

We believe that faith alone in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord frees us from the mastery of sin, and its consequences of death and eternal damnation. He assumed the penalty of death Himself, and enables us to live out of His resurrected life unto eternity.

We believe the Holy Spirit carried out this work of renewal in our lives, empowering us to grow in loving union with our Heavenly Father and to walk in obedience to His will.

We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is formed of all those who know Him as their Savior and Lord, regardless of denominational beliefs.

History [ Back to top ]

Exodus North America began as a sovereign move of God, in the early to mid-1970s, Christian ministries to men and women struggling with unwanted homosexual feelings sprang up spontaneously all over North America and overseas: Los Angeles, Tulsa, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Montreal, Holland, England, South Africa.

At first the leadership of each ministry assumed they were the only such outreach in existence. Then, slowly, as tapes and tracts found their way around the world, these ministries discovered they were not alone.

In 1976, several staff of EXIT in Anaheim, CA, began phoning all around North America to locate other ministries that shared their vision. They discovered over a dozen ministries to homosexuals; that September, staff from most of these isolated ministries came together for the first time.

This summit conference marked the official beginning of what is today an international coalition encompassing over 100 ministries worldwide. It was a small beginning, but the birth of a new movement of international impact. Here are some dates in Exodus history --
September 1976 -- Exodus begins at Summit Conference in the Los Angeles area
February 1978 -- Exodus International incorporates in Nevada (later re-incorporates in Maryland)
June 1982 -- Exodus office established in San Rafael, California
June 1985 -- Bob Davies appointed as executive director
June 1988 -- Staff increases to two persons when Kevin Oshiro is hired
June 1991 -- Brad Sargent joins staff to assist with publications department
January 1994 -- Claire Ezekiel begins as Exodus receptionist / bookkeeper
September 1996 -- Exodus office relocates to Seattle.
2002--Exodus office relocates to Orlando, FL.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

2003 Needs: Cultivating the Promised Land...fulfilling the mission.

Projects/Needs for the next step:
• Exodus Youth ($50,000)
• Exodus Women ($50,000)
• Computer Upgrades ($20,000)
• Displays/Booths ($12,000)
• Travel ($12,000)
• Brochures & Materials ($10,000)
• Newsletter ($10,000)
• Website ($7,000)
• Internship Program ($6,000/intern)

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Advocacy Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		132 of 348	9 of 22
Fund Acquisition Decision		132 of 348	9 of 22
Resource Allocation Decision		of 348	14 of 22
Asset Utilization Decision		of 348	14 of 22