Ex-Gay Ministry

National | "I know what I need to do" | Roy Maynard

A Sunday school room in a sprawling Austin Episcopal church slowly fills with about 15 men and women, most of whom are wearing shorts or jeans. It's an informal support group gathering, not a church service, but the men and women begin with prayer and praise.

Nancy Brown, wearing a Harley T-shirt and black jeans, fills the room with praise music from a portable stereo. Her husband, Don, greets and hugs the participants as they arrive. Jaime is a regular, but he's not here tonight. He's in Houston at a Promise Keepers meeting with his father.

It's a mixed crowd here: a doctor, a newspaper reporter, a couple of students, and even a classic Austin slacker who works sporadically on movie productions. Don and Nancy founded the support group for ex-gays, LifeGuard Ministry, about six years ago. Though they now have five children, Don was once "in the lifestyle," a part of Austin's gay community.

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