Who is God? How can I know God? What does God think about homosexuality--my homosexuality?

Those questions remained unanswered until, in college, I came to understand what it means to have faith in Christ as personal Lord and Savior. I shared my struggle with one of the Christian campus leaders. Instead of rejecting me, he read Scripture and encouraged me. A huge burden was lifted. I started to grow spiritually, go on mission trips, participate in Christian fellowship.

But my struggle with homosexuality remained. Deep convictions about God's intent for human sexuality waged war against my overwhelming same-sex attractions. The first professional counselor I sought out believed it was impossible to change one's sexual orientation. Though I longed for change, it seemed as if no one could help me.

My journey of transformation

Years went by before I heard about an "ex-gay" ministry and finally began my painful but rewarding journey, exploring past wounds and neglect that left me devoid of a secure sexual identity. Often it was healing just to have someone listen.

From an early age, I was labeled a "sissy" or "faggot," rejected by classmates, even ridiculed by family members for not measuring up as a "man/boy." When an older male sexually abused me at age 15, it was as if the last stitch was sewn into the label I wore so prominently.

Through counseling, I realized my homosexual attractions were not about sex, but natural feelings to belong with and be accepted by other men. The men I found most attractive possessed qualities that I desired for myself. I had wrongly believed that sex would cure my lack of self-esteem. Eventually, I felt strong enough to say that I was a heterosexual man who had experienced homosexual struggles.

Sharing my testimony publicly was a huge step that helped solidify these convictions and test things I had learned in counseling. Amazing to me was an awakening of desire for women--not lust, but rather an attraction for companionship and intimacy. My shame faded as my legitimate needs were addressed. As a result, I've rarely experienced same-sex erotic desire over the past five years. Understanding that these desires are birthed from feelings of inadequacy and envy allows me to deal with them at an emotional level, squelching the desire to take them farther.

My recent appointment to serve on the staff of OneByOne has reconfirmed my calling to proclaim the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly its power to transform sexual identity. God has taught me truths about homosexuality and given me the ability to be an "overcomer." I am humbly blessed to be able to proclaim those truths on behalf of OneByOne.

Don Corne is Assistant Director of OneByOne. He was formerly program director at "Set Free," an Exodus referral ministry, and has served on the OneByOne board of directors and in their speakers bureau. He is a deacon at Christ Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia.

PFR has established a formal relationship with OneByOne, whose mission is "to educate and equip the church to minister the transforming grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ to individuals in conflict with their sexuality." For information about OneByOne, see www.oneby1.org.