There has been huge controversy in recent years over so-called 'conversion therapy', the attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using 'prayer counselling' or other psychological or spiritual means. All of which makes this enterprising new publication all the more intriguing.

Core Issues

X-Out-Loud is an international project stemming from the Northern Ireland-based Core Issues Trust, who come under an awful lot of fire simply because they offer counselling support to those who approach them. (CIT insist that they operate according to standard therapeutic and counselling approaches and do not engage in coercion; nor do they recognise the term ‘conversion therapy’).

This colourful output consists of 44 short testimonies from 20 countries across the world, of men and women who found they had a homosexual orientation, but who chose to renounce their same-sex identity or lifestyle following an encounter with Jesus Christ, and who now seek to live a God-honouring life.

Lives turned round

The stories, every single one, are transparent and deeply moving. More often than not, they follow a pattern of gender confusion at an early age, often brought on through a feeling of rejection or disconnection from their same-sex parent. This caused intense emotional pain, and often led to a search for affirmation in others of the same gender - which often became sexualised following puberty. This in turn usually developed into a full-blown homosexual lifestyle, but rarely to any sense of fulfilment. Indeed, some of the contributors felt they were living in sin even though they had no religious background or Christian experience.

Following a personal encounter with Christ, a sense of peace and well-being flooded their lives, often for the first time ever.

Extreme loneliness is a common element in these testimonies. Often, reaching a point of desperation, the person cried out to God for help. Following a personal encounter with Christ, a sense of peace and well-being flooded their lives, often for the first time ever. They quickly sensed they had to give up their wayward life and begin to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Of course, every story differs in a great many details, but each one is refreshingly real and thoroughly engaging. The intense pain that so many endured is heart-breaking; I was near to tears as I read some of these accounts. And their pain didn't always vanish on finding Christ; ex-gay believers are regularly despised by the LGBT community that they were once part of, but also, tragically, rather than being welcomed with open arms by the evangelical Church, and shown the unconditional love and affirmation they have been deprived of all their lives, they are too often misunderstood and held with a degree of suspicion by Christians.

Works in progress

I'm not sure the audacious, coffee-table presentation style of the book really works; I find it rather clumsy to handle. More significantly, while many of the contributors have been living as ex-gays for many years, quite a number only left the LGBT community in the last few years; making their ex-gay testimonies perhaps somewhat premature - the reality is that temptations to return to same-sex relationships or sexual encounters are strong – only time will tell if any succumb.

The publishers make it clear, however, that they are not platforming "finished products", but simply introducing those "who have begun a journey that reflects the reclaimed core values of their true selves".

Grounded in Him

I see no evidence of coercive 'conversion therapy' in this book; the stories shared are of those voluntarily choosing a route out of the LGBT lifestyle; indeed many are desperate to leave. The contributors are not against those who continue to identify as LGBT. Rather, they are simply clear that for themselves, they will no longer be forced to stay gay, lesbian or trans.

The stories shared are of those voluntarily choosing a route out of the LGBT lifestyle; indeed many are desperate to leave.

Thankfully, there is little triumphalism here. Few, if any, of contributors claim 100% healing from homosexual desires. Offering hope, but not unattainable promises, X-Out-Louders admit that temptations are still very real, but they find strength to say 'no' to them for they have found a better way in Christ.

Respect and support

This book compliments various popular individual life-stories of those who have left the gay lifestyle to follow Christ; best-selling titles like 'War of Loves' by David Bennett, 'Washed and Waiting' by Wesley Hill, and 'Gay Girl, Good God' by Jackie Hill Perry.

X-Out-Loud comprises beautiful stories, of lives, like all of ours, once broken and fragile, now mended or partially so, by the love of Christ. The brave individuals who opened up their hearts in this volume – with personal names and even face pics attached - know they might be directly opposed by some and ostracised by others. They fully deserve our respect, our love and our much-needed support. May God protect them, bless them and lead them onwards into his richest purposes and their own highest calling.

‘X-Out -Loud: Emerging Ex-LGBT Voices’ (98 pp) is published by Core Issues Trust and is available from X-Out-Loud for £16.50