Former “gay” Stephen Black addresses Americans For Truth “Teach-in” Oct. 20. Black said he grew up feeling “shame” after twice being molested as a boy by adult homosexual male predators. AFTAH presented Black with its 2017 American Truth Teller Award. Black runs First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City and is Board Chairman of Restored Hope Ministries. Click on photo to enlarge.

The following videos cover the full Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) banquet and Teach-in, held October 20-21, 2017 at Grace For Life Bible Church in Naperville, Illinois. Our featured speaker was Stephen Black, who shares from his experience as an ex-“gay” man who was twice victimized as a boy by homosexual adult male sex predators–yet whose life was radically transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ. Stephen, who has become a good friend, is the author of Freedom Realized: Freedom from Homosexuality & Living a Life Free From Labels.

[Special Double-Resource Offer to Help AFTAH: receive Stephen Black’s book “Freedom Realized” PLUS a 2-DVD set of the entire 2017 AFTAH conference for your gift to AFTAH of $40 or more (postpaid). Give online or send your check to: AFTAH, PO Box 5522, Naperville, IL 60567-5522. Or order the book alone for $20 postpaid or the 2-DVD video set alone for $25 postpaid.]

Black is executive director of First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City and Board Chairman of Restored Hope Network–two wonderful Christian ministries that reach out to the “sexually broken” from a biblical perspective. His testimony and others at the conference are a reminder of the politically incorrect truth that homosexuality can be overcome as in person’s life, and that Jesus Christ is alive and still in the life-transforming business.

Like all AFTAH banquets and educational events, this was a tremendous time of learning as our speakers–each a truth warrior in his or her own right–confronted the myths and lies of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) lobby. Stephen’s love for Jesus and his call for obedience in the Church to the gospel of Christ alone was compelling, but please take the time to watch all five videos below. And please share them far and wide to educate your network of friends. And to help us, if you are able, please support Americans for Truth with your donations, perhaps with our Special Offer below. — Peter LaBarbera, AFTAH; Twitter: @PeterLaBarbera

This story contains all videos from the conference.  We will isolate out separate portions of the conference in forthcoming posts.

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Here are some introductory teaching remarks opening night by my pastor and our host, Grace for Life Bible Church pastor Steve Schroeder (Video 1 of 5):

The following are my (Peter LaBarbera’s) opening remarks Oct. 20, followed by Stephen Black’s banquet night “overview” presentation (Video 2 of 5):

Here is the opening of the Saturday Teach-in, including remarks by LaBarbera. Black, who received the 2017 AFTAH American Truth-Teller Award the previous night, comes to the stage at the 29:00 mark (Video 3 of 5):

In this segment, two men who came out of homosexuality, Darren and Jeff, share their testimonies. Note the cruelties growing up faced by Darren and the sexual abuse and family dysfunction (and the miracle!) in Jeff’s story. Stephen Black then gives his final presentation (Video 4 of 5):

The AFTAH Teach-in ended with this expert panel discussion and Q-and-A. The speakers include (left to right): Stephen Black, First Stone Ministries; Denise Shick of Help 4 Families Ministry, who gave harrowing testimony about life as a girl growing up with her “transgender” father; Diane Gramley of American Family Association of Pennsylvania and Laurie Higgins of Illinois Family Institute (who preferred not to be shown on camera) – (Video 5 of 5):

[Special Offer to Help AFTAH: receive Stephen Black’s book “Freedom Realized” PLUS a 2-DVD set of the entire 2017 AFTAH conference for your gift to AFTAH of $40 or more (postpaid). Give online or send your check to: AFTAH, PO Box 5522, Naperville, IL 60567-5522. Or order the book alone for $20 postpaid or the video set alone for $25 postpaid.]

Company now says it would print poster, and that Wisconsin store “misinterpreted” guidelines

Silencing Dissent: This is the Wisconsin Christian News flier that an Office Max in Marshfield, WI refused to print, presumably because it violates the corporation’s anti-“hate” policy. 

UPDATE Nov. 8:  An Office Depot (Office Max) corporate executive called Wisconsin Christian News publisher Rob Pue to profusely apologize for the Marshfield, WI Office Max store’s refusal to print the poster (at right) for WCN’s “Exposing the Homosexual Agenda” speech by Peter LaBarbera Nov. 16. However, Pue has received no formal written apology from Office Depot, and no assertions that anti-Christian discrimination of this sort will not occur again. 

People who contacted Office Depot’s corporate headquarters to complain about the Marshfield, WI incident received a variation of a letter stating the following from Office Depot:

“Office Depot is aware of this situation and it has been addressed. A representative of the company previously contacted the customer to explain that the decision to decline to print the order was made by an associate who misinterpreted our policy regarding the types of items that we will print.

“When reviewed at the corporate level, it was determined that the order did not violate the policy and our representative contacted the customer to apologize. We also offered to complete the order in question, or provide a future order at no cost.

“Store leadership has also re-trained the associates at that location to ensure that our customers have a positive experience in the future.”

AFTAH contacted the Marshfield Office Max Nov. 6 and was told by Print Supervisor Jeffry Costigan that he would now print the identical poster (above) that he and the store had previously rejected.

Said Pue, who is still considering legal action: “While I DID receive a phone call from a man at corporate headquarters, and while he DID apologize for the incident, he ALSO told me he would be emailing me immediately a formal apology, and statement indicating that Office Max/Depot will NOT discriminate against Christians (specifically) in the future.  To date, I have received nothing in writing.”

— PL

Best Contact Info for Office Depot (Office Max): we heard from someone who called Office Max’s (Office Depot’s) HQ and this is the best way to reach them: call 561-438-4800, then hit Option #2. From there, hit “0” and ask for the “Executive Consumer Relations Department” and you will be able to leave them a detailed voicemail message.–PL

TAKE ACTION: contact Office Depot (Office Max): National HQ [see “Update” above]: 1) online contact page; 2) 800-GO-DEPOT (800-463-3768); 3) Local Marshfield, WI Office Max store: 715-389-8820.

Note from AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera:

Folks, add this story to your “Intolerant Gay Activists” file. An Office Max in Marshfield, Wisconsin has refused to print a flier submitted by Wisconsin Christian News (WCN) advertising my upcoming speech on the “homosexual agenda” November 16.

WCN publisher Rob Pue Pue created a poster for the event with a (LGBTQ activist) “rainbow flag” covered by the words, “The Homosexual Agenda EXPOSED!” and submitted it Oct. 25 to his local Office Max, which had printed many fliers for him in the past, for various conservative cultural events. He also submitted a Veterans Day poster for printing.

Initially “Eric” from Office Max sent Pue an email saying that they could “definitely” print both posters and that they would be ready by 10:00 AM the next day. But that morning (Oct. 26), Pue instead received another email from Store Manager Jeff Schweiger informing him that while the store could print the veterans poster, “we are unable to print the first print” advertising LaBarbera’s speech.

When Pue inquired as to why the poster could not be printed, he received another email, this time from Print Supervisor Jeffry Costigan, which read:

Good morning Rob,

Unfortunately we will not be able to print the contents of the poster for Peter Labarbera.

The contents of the poster falls under the prohibited guidelines of our company’s Duplication procedures.

We will be able to print the second request for the Veterans poster.

Pue then requested the Office Max (owned by Office Depot) “prohibited guidelines” policy but instead of sending him the “prohibited guidelines” he had previously cited, Costigan simply replied:

Dear Mr. Pue,
I stand by the decision not to duplicate your material.
If you have anymore questions, I request that you contact OfficeMax at 1-800-GoDepot.

Again thank you for your understanding.

Jeffry A. Costigan
Print Supervisor| Office Depot, Inc.
1629 N. Central Ave, | Marshfield, WI. 54449
Tel: (715) 389-8820 | ods06637cpc@officedepot.com

Pue is now weighing possible legal action against Office Max (Office Depot), which has previously been in the news for refusing to print a pro-life flyer. In 2015, a Chicago-area Office Max refused “to make 500 copies of a flyer featuring a pro-life prayer—that calls for the conversion of Planned Parenthood—that was written by a Catholic priest,” CNS News reported.

The company relented but stood by its right to refuse print jobs based on its “hate” policy prohibiting “the copying of ‘hate material’ that advocates for the persecution of groups of people, regardless of the reason.”

Pue told AFTAH, “By refusing to do the job, Office Max proved my point, that there is a homosexual agenda. There is no ‘hate’ in that poster, and our speaker is not about ‘hate’ but Christian love and truth.”

Pue and LaBarbera appeared as guest Wednesday on the VCY America program “Crosstalk,” which reaches several states, to discuss the Office Max rejection of the Wisconsin Christian News poster.

AFTAH Media Release, November 1, 2017; 312-324-3787; americansfortruth@gmail.com.

Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) presented its 2017 “American Truth Teller Award” to former homosexual Stephen Black, executive director of First Stone Ministries in Oklahoma City, at its annual banquet and teach-in Oct. 20-21, held outside Chicago.

AFTAH President Peter LaBarbera presented Black with a check for $1,000 as the recipient of the annual award, which is given to a pro-family leader who stands boldly for biblical truth and time-tested Judeo-Christian morality against the lies and myths of homosexual and transgender activists.

As AFTAH’s keynote speaker, Black gave riveting testimony of how he grew up filled with shame after being twice molested as a boy by adult homosexual male predators. He joyfully touted the transformative power of Christ and the many successes of ex-“gay” ministries like First Stone, described in his new book, “Freedom Realized: Finding Freedom From Homosexuality & Living a Life Free from Labels.”

The secular media, which generally caters to LGBTQ activists, rarely covers successful ex-homosexuals like Black, who has been married to wife Robin for more than 30 years.

Stephen came out of the homosexual lifestyle after receiving Jesus Christ as his Savior in his twenties. He and his staff have counseled hundreds of men and women with unwanted same-sex attractions into a life in line with biblical morality and their Christian faith.

Black is also Board Chairman of Restored Hope Network, the umbrella group for “ex-gay” Christian ministries that formed after Exodus International imploded under the failed leadership of Alan Chambers. The latter embraced pro-“gay” apostasy and falsely and arrogantly declared that true, lasting change away from homosexuality is nearly impossible to achieve. Chambers’ top aide at Exodus, Randy Thomas, re-entered the homosexual lifestyle yet still claims to be a faithful Christian—in defiance of Scripture.

LaBarbera praised Black as epitomizing the Christian ideal of speaking biblical truth in the pure love and grace of Jesus Christ, and for leading the effort to hold Chambers and Exodus accountable for their worldly drift.

Black joins a list of accomplished recipients of the AFTAH American Truth Teller Award:

• Don Wildmon, founder of American Family Association (2009);
• The late Kenneth “Hutch” Hutcherson (2010), founder and pastor, Antioch Bible Church, author and bold family advocate;
• Scott Lively, author, “The Pink Swastika,” and other books, founder, Abiding Truth Ministries (2011);
• Judith Reisman, author, “Sexual Sabotage,” and leading exposer of corrupt sex researcher Dr. Alfred Kinsey (2012);
• Sandy Rios, AFA talk show host and former president of Concerned Women for America (2013);
• Michael Brown, Christian talk show host and author. “Something Queer Happened to America” (2014);
• Robert Reilly, author, “Making Gay Okay: How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything”(2015), former director, Voice of America; and
• Linda Harvey, author, “Maybe He’s Not Gay: Another View on Homosexuality,” and founder and president of Mission America (2016).

“People in ministry and those nobly fighting the good fight against the LGBTQ sin movement would do well to follow Stephen’s example,” LaBarbera said. “Stephen has tremendous compassion for people caught up in homosexuality, gender confusion and sexually broken lifestyles. And yet he is unyielding in defense of biblical truth, even when it is politically incorrect.”

“In an era in which LGBTQ activists and even mainstream evangelicals are pushing the idea of ‘gay-affirming Christianity,’ Stephen remains faithful to the timeless Gospel, which never changes to accommodate sin and self-delusion but rather holds up the Lord Jesus as the hope for repentant sinners,” he said.