Happy belated 21st birthday to me! Through the power of prayer and the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I was reborn into the kingdom of God in 1996. “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23 NIV). In January of that year, my former partner died of HIV/AIDS. That occurrence was a milestone in my life. It jolted me into a time to reflect on my life and realize that I was truly sick and tired of the homosexual lifestyle. 

After calling and telling my brother-in-law/pastor about coming out of homosexuality, he and my sister suggested that I be baptized at our family reunion at Montgomery Bell State Park swimming pool on June 23. I grew up in a good Christian home and went to the United Methodist church regularly. I was saved when I was around 10 years old at an old-fashioned tent revival in my hometown. 

Within a couple of years after that, an adult customer molested me in my father's business. He had become my friend, so I ended up seeing him occasionally until my sophomore year of high school. I dated girls in high school and college, but I could not totally get away from thinking homosexual thoughts. Finally in the summer after my third year of college, I started running around with a cousin who had been openly gay for a long time. I shared my feelings towards men to him and he gladly introduced me to the gay world. That was the beginning of my involvement with homosexuality for over 17 long years. 

However, prayer is powerful! “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b NIV). My large family had been praying for me for years, especially my four older sisters. They decided to pray for me three times a day, using the old Dr. Pepper advertisement of 10, 2 and 4 (10 A.M., 2 P.M & 4 P.M.) I do not know if they realized that Dr Pepper was my favorite soft drink during that period! Also, my sister Nancy and her husband Bob were stationed around the world, as he was a chaplain in the US Air Force. Nancy would fervently lead prayers for me wherever they were living. My sin did not stand a chance!

In 1993, I became involved with a business venture. Phil, the one who introduced me to the business, was a strong Christian. He came over to my apartment to assist me. While he was there, he saw some matches from a gay bar. He confronted me and I told him that I was gay. He told me that it was Biblically wrong and I respected him and his opinion. The business organization that I was in had strong Christian leaders. The quarterly weekend meetings in out-of-town arenas always had an interdenominational service on Sunday mornings. Attending this service was not required, but my leaders went, so I did too. Those services as well as being around my leaders slowly worked to draw me near to God. “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8a NIV).

Leaving the homosexual lifestyle and the sin involved with it has not been an easy road. But I found a verse early on that has sustained me through it all: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV). I needed a strong church, so I was led to my sister’s, (Nancy) denomination, which was Assembly of God. The altar time at church, Bible reading, prayer, and the love of family and friends have all been essential throughout my Christian walk. 

I praise God and am so grateful that both of my parents were able to see me come back to the Lord and be active in church again before they passed. I am also very grateful that the Lord brought me Margaret, my beloved wife of 11 years. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJV). 

Years of my life were stolen from me, but hallelujah to our Lord for giving me a new life in Him! God is still working on me and I strive to be in His will for my life. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6 NIV). 

[Ruse has served on Sight Ministry’s board of directors for several years]