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Love Won Out
John and Anne lived in different cities but shared the same burden-a heart-wrenching personal struggle with homosexuality. "Love Won Out" is their amazing, true story of how God's transforming love healed them from a life of destruction and then brought them together to marry. Through their touching testimonies, readers discover how the grace of Jesus can change any troubled heart into a new creation. The Paulks' lives are proof that no matter how far people may run from the Lord, the moment they turn around, they'll realize God's been running toward them all along.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 17, 2024
THE STORY OF A NOW-DIVORCED ‘EX-GAY COUPLE’
(This book was published in 1999; you’ve perhaps heard that since, then, John Faulk has admitted that he is still gay, has been divorced by his wife, and of course is no longer associated with Focus on the Family, or Exodus International. And he no longer supports the ‘Ex-gay’ movement, or efforts to attempt to change an individual’s sexual orientation. Anne Paulk, however, is the executive director of Restored Hope Network, an interdenominational ex-gay ministry, and she still identifies herself as an ‘ex-lesbian.’)
Anne recounts that she spoke with a ‘gay Catholic,’ who told her, “‘the most important thing for you to understand is that you can be a Christian and still be gay… The Bible isn’t really against homosexuality. After all, God is love, and the Bible never speaks against love of any kind. Those verses you mentioned [Sodom and Gomorrah, Lev 18:22] are in the OLD Testament Jesus said to love your neighbor, and that’s what homosexual attractions really are---love.’ As much as I wanted to believe him, I couldn’t accept his interpretation of the Scripture passages. On the other hand, I felt no obligation to obey the Bible. I remembered the empty, hopeless experiences I’d had with church and youth groups. Church had never offered even a glimpse of the hope and new life that Gina had temporarily provided, and she wasn’t even homosexual! I imagined the fulfillment I could have with another woman who would love me in return…” (Pg. 59)
John recounts a conversation with Tom, a Christian friend: “‘Tom… I’m gay, so God can’t love me… All I want to know is, if I die right now, will I go to heaven?’ ‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘You’ve been a Christian all these years. But… It’s one thing to give your life to God… It’s another thing to live a life that is pleasing to Him. You may go to heaven, but you’ll have nothing to show for your life, no reward…’ I suddenly realized that I DID believe the tenets of Christianity… I had just pushed it all down into my subconscious for years, allowing myself to be brainwashed by the gay lifestyle and rhetoric. Now I felt GUILTY.” (Pg. 124)
Anne records a conversation with her parents: “Well, Mom… I’ve had those feelings for most or my life. But I don’t want to be that way anymore. I’m a Christian now, and I want to overcome those feelings.’ …both my parents said, ‘We don’t want to make you feel you have to change, We want you to know that we will accept you whether you change and leave homosexuality or not.’ That conversation was wonderful! It gave me the freedom to make any decision I felt necessary. More importantly, it demonstrated the unconditional love for which I’d always longed.” (Pg. 134-135)
She states, “How hard was it to turn things around, to move out of homosexuality and into a new life? For me, the pain of going through those miscarriages, losing something John and I really treasured, was infinitely harder than the process of coming out of homosexuality. There’s just no comparison.” (Pg. 211)
I would give Anne’s story 5 stars, but John’s account drags the rating down.
(This book was published in 1999; you’ve perhaps heard that since, then, John Faulk has admitted that he is still gay, has been divorced by his wife, and of course is no longer associated with Focus on the Family, or Exodus International. And he no longer supports the ‘Ex-gay’ movement, or efforts to attempt to change an individual’s sexual orientation. Anne Paulk, however, is the executive director of Restored Hope Network, an interdenominational ex-gay ministry, and she still identifies herself as an ‘ex-lesbian.’)
Anne recounts that she spoke with a ‘gay Catholic,’ who told her, “‘the most important thing for you to understand is that you can be a Christian and still be gay… The Bible isn’t really against homosexuality. After all, God is love, and the Bible never speaks against love of any kind. Those verses you mentioned [Sodom and Gomorrah, Lev 18:22] are in the OLD Testament Jesus said to love your neighbor, and that’s what homosexual attractions really are---love.’ As much as I wanted to believe him, I couldn’t accept his interpretation of the Scripture passages. On the other hand, I felt no obligation to obey the Bible. I remembered the empty, hopeless experiences I’d had with church and youth groups. Church had never offered even a glimpse of the hope and new life that Gina had temporarily provided, and she wasn’t even homosexual! I imagined the fulfillment I could have with another woman who would love me in return…” (Pg. 59)
John recounts a conversation with Tom, a Christian friend: “‘Tom… I’m gay, so God can’t love me… All I want to know is, if I die right now, will I go to heaven?’ ‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘You’ve been a Christian all these years. But… It’s one thing to give your life to God… It’s another thing to live a life that is pleasing to Him. You may go to heaven, but you’ll have nothing to show for your life, no reward…’ I suddenly realized that I DID believe the tenets of Christianity… I had just pushed it all down into my subconscious for years, allowing myself to be brainwashed by the gay lifestyle and rhetoric. Now I felt GUILTY.” (Pg. 124)
Anne records a conversation with her parents: “Well, Mom… I’ve had those feelings for most or my life. But I don’t want to be that way anymore. I’m a Christian now, and I want to overcome those feelings.’ …both my parents said, ‘We don’t want to make you feel you have to change, We want you to know that we will accept you whether you change and leave homosexuality or not.’ That conversation was wonderful! It gave me the freedom to make any decision I felt necessary. More importantly, it demonstrated the unconditional love for which I’d always longed.” (Pg. 134-135)
She states, “How hard was it to turn things around, to move out of homosexuality and into a new life? For me, the pain of going through those miscarriages, losing something John and I really treasured, was infinitely harder than the process of coming out of homosexuality. There’s just no comparison.” (Pg. 211)
I would give Anne’s story 5 stars, but John’s account drags the rating down.
December 20, 2019
This is the story of John and Anne who came out of a homosexual lifestyle, became Christians, found each other, married, and gave birth to two boys. It showed the emotional detachment from their fathers growing up, molestation of one of them, addiction to pornography, and other factors that led to their gay desires. After several adult years of actively living a gay lifestyle they became Christians and became involved in a ministry that helped them overcome their sinful desires. They found that living as a married couple and living for Christ is far better than their life in the gay community. Their lives are a glowing testimony to the grace of God.
Though the story was tastefully written, it shared a bit more of the details about the homosexual urges and details than I really wanted to hear. They also mentioned visions several times, Christians basically prophesying about their future, and God talking to them, not audibly, but in definite words. For the positive way these incidents were presented, I can only conclude that they come from a different doctrinal position than I.
Though the story was tastefully written, it shared a bit more of the details about the homosexual urges and details than I really wanted to hear. They also mentioned visions several times, Christians basically prophesying about their future, and God talking to them, not audibly, but in definite words. For the positive way these incidents were presented, I can only conclude that they come from a different doctrinal position than I.
February 18, 2008
This is another book dealing with homosexuality. It tells the story of two Christians, who desired to overcome their sexual orientation because of their belief in Christ. They worked on it, found each other, got married...etc. Definitely worth a read.
November 23, 2021
A life story of the broken road of two homosexuals finding redemption and their journeys to heterosexual love and marriage. However, the undercurrent belief that the true redemptionfor homosexuality is conversion to heterosexuality is not one I endorse.
April 14, 2017
This is a well-written and touching story of how God used a broken road to bring two people to Himself and each other. What I call a "multi-tissue" book, it's one that will tug at your heart and reveal the power of true Love to save, deliver and heal those who may seem most out of the Lord's reach.
John and Anne share how early exposure to pornography, sexual encounters, poor relationships with parents and insensitive remarks from others caused gender confusion in their formative years. This made them vulnerable to same-sex attraction, which eventually led to them becoming immersed in the scintillating, but ultimately dissatisfying "gay" lifestyle.
I love how they tell their stories in tandem, each sharing scenes from their lives at similar ages and stages. The reader goes back and forth between John's experiences and Anne's, but it is not confusing or jarring in any way, as their accounts compliment one another.
The book sensitively reveals aspects of the homosexual, lesbian and transgender mindsets which may not be familiar to outsiders. It also shows how kindness and acceptance of Christians toward gender confused persons goes a long way in attracting them to Christ and encouraging them to seek healing and transformation in Him.
The Paulks' testimony of how they came to faith in Jesus, came out of homosexuality with the help of Exodus International, and then fell in love with each other is living proof that no one is outside of the Holy Spirit's reach and power. It also shows how environment--not genetics--shapes individuals' sexual orientation, and how patient peer counseling, encouragement and accountability can transform their perceptions of themselves and others. To see a couple who had zero attraction to the opposite sex in their young adulthood fall softly, sweetly and tenderly in love with one another in a healthy and wholesome way should give hope to anyone who cares for individuals enmeshed in same-sex lifestyles that God can do something equally powerful in their lives. Greater, still, is the way God is using them to help others find the same faith and freedom.
This book is a must-read, if you are involved in ministry of any kind--especially with families, youth or persons struggling with gender confusion. If you have friends engaged in the homosexual lifestyle, then this would be a good book to give to them. It is in no way condemning or cruel, but very sensitively points to something better than what they may know. If you know someone who believes the lie that people are "born" homosexual or that same-sex attraction is something that can never be changed, then this is a great book to recommend. It would be an excellent addition to a personal, academic, church or other ministry library.
John and Anne share how early exposure to pornography, sexual encounters, poor relationships with parents and insensitive remarks from others caused gender confusion in their formative years. This made them vulnerable to same-sex attraction, which eventually led to them becoming immersed in the scintillating, but ultimately dissatisfying "gay" lifestyle.
I love how they tell their stories in tandem, each sharing scenes from their lives at similar ages and stages. The reader goes back and forth between John's experiences and Anne's, but it is not confusing or jarring in any way, as their accounts compliment one another.
The book sensitively reveals aspects of the homosexual, lesbian and transgender mindsets which may not be familiar to outsiders. It also shows how kindness and acceptance of Christians toward gender confused persons goes a long way in attracting them to Christ and encouraging them to seek healing and transformation in Him.
The Paulks' testimony of how they came to faith in Jesus, came out of homosexuality with the help of Exodus International, and then fell in love with each other is living proof that no one is outside of the Holy Spirit's reach and power. It also shows how environment--not genetics--shapes individuals' sexual orientation, and how patient peer counseling, encouragement and accountability can transform their perceptions of themselves and others. To see a couple who had zero attraction to the opposite sex in their young adulthood fall softly, sweetly and tenderly in love with one another in a healthy and wholesome way should give hope to anyone who cares for individuals enmeshed in same-sex lifestyles that God can do something equally powerful in their lives. Greater, still, is the way God is using them to help others find the same faith and freedom.
This book is a must-read, if you are involved in ministry of any kind--especially with families, youth or persons struggling with gender confusion. If you have friends engaged in the homosexual lifestyle, then this would be a good book to give to them. It is in no way condemning or cruel, but very sensitively points to something better than what they may know. If you know someone who believes the lie that people are "born" homosexual or that same-sex attraction is something that can never be changed, then this is a great book to recommend. It would be an excellent addition to a personal, academic, church or other ministry library.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews