Part 1 in this series looks at the founder of the Kerusso Ministries and its Internet and radio outreach programs. Part 2 addresses Kerusso Ministries' work in the area of public policy and other ministry outreach programs.

By Karen Battles
June 25, 2001

(AgapePress) - Michael Johnston did not ask to be a herald for God and considers himself least likely to be chosen. When asked if he ever thought God would take him and Kerusso Ministries to where they are today, Johnston's answer is humble, honest and with some humor.

"No, and if He had told me ahead of time I probably would have run the other way," Johnston says. "But you know, that’s how God is. Often, the one person you would least expect God to do anything with is the person He will use. There is no doubt in my mind that in the eyes of many people, and certainly in my own, I am not the individual I thought God would use to communicate some of the issues this ministry is raising up, even in the pro-family movement."

As founder and president of Kerusso Ministries, Michael Johnston has worked tirelessly to spread the message that there is freedom from homosexuality through faith in Jesus Christ. Johnston travels internationally proclaiming a message of truth and hope. Johnston always knew the secular world would not eagerly embrace the message he is called to proclaim. He was surprised, however, when even some in the pro-family movement also had differences with the message.

His firm stand on the cause and treatment of homosexuality is what some in the Christian community differ with. "We are challenging the integration of humanistic psychology with Biblical theology -- particularly, the use of the psychotherapeutic model of man," Johnston says. "The model sets forth the premise that the root cause of sinful desire can be traced to a bad environment, childhood trauma, bad parents or a whole laundry list of so-called unmet needs. The proposed ‘treatment’ for the emotional diseases resulting from such experiences is one of the hundreds of therapies designed to heal the poor victim. The problem: it’s not true, and it’s not Biblical."

Johnston asserts the root cause of homosexual lust, and of all sinful desire, is the fallen nature of man and the wickedness of the human heart. The only "treatment" is redemption through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and sanctification through the work of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God’s word. While he does believe counseling can be helpful, he staunchly asserts that it must be solid Biblical counseling which confronts sin (and sinful attitudes) and encourages the believer toward obedience and a deeper relationship with God. He opposes any counseling that tries to place the blame for sinful attitudes and/or behavior on outside influences rather than the condition of one’s own heart or that raises subjective feelings above the objective Word of God. "Biblical counseling will always result in dependence on God, not on self or others," he says.

In a conversation with Johnston, the word sanctification will probably come up often. He will tell you that the path that led him to freedom from homosexual lust was one guided by sign posts: denial of self, obedience to the Word of God, and commitment to the process of becoming like Christ in attitude and behavior. However, that process of sanctification has not eliminated all the consequences of his former life. In 1986, Johnston tested HIV positive and now has AIDS. While this has impacted his life in many ways, he has chosen not to live as a victim but, instead, to live the abundant life offered by Christ.

Twelve years after Johnston founded Kerusso Ministries, he is still enthusiastic about the future and about the many opportunities ahead. You don’t have to talk with him long before you realize that every facet of Kerusso has the same heartbeat -- the proclamation of the Gospel. Johnston says, "Everything we do ultimately takes us to a place where we can do a better job of proclaiming the Gospel."

Johnston realizes the policy makers of tomorrow must be provided with the truth. The best way to reach the high school, college and early career age groups is the Internet. He references a recent survey conducted with those 18 to 25 years of age. Between 70 and 75% of that age group said the Internet was their primary source of information. In part to meet that need, Kerusso Ministries has made a major investment into a completely new interactive website.

The site (www.kerusso.org) will provide an effective, fast, and economical communications tool, offering updated information and resources online. In concert with the ministry’s goal to link individuals looking for help with solid Biblical counsel, the site will include a list of Biblical counselors across the country. The ministry has begun a strategic partnership with the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC). NANC will provide the base of the counselor list, and the ministry will add other biblical counselors over time.

Johnston has a strong commitment to making sure the referral counselors are individuals who understand the issues from a solid biblical perspective. His passion on this topic comes partly from his own experience. "It made a huge difference in my life -- having someone who would challenge me with the Word of God," he says. "Those seeds developed in me a love and passion for God’s Word that ultimately became a cornerstone for our ministry. I will always be grateful that someone was not only equipped, but was ready and willing to challenge me with God’s objective truth. It changed my life."

Since 1995, Kerusso Ministries has been proclaiming their message on radio, beginning with Truth Under Fire, a 29-minute news and analysis program. The ministry added Time for Truth, a new 90-second daily commentary, early this year. Designed for a fast-paced society short on time and attention span, the program strikes a balance between communicating a Christian world view about homosexuality as it relates to both ministry and public policy. In the highly competitive radio market, many stations are unwilling to dedicate a large block of time to the uncomfortable subject of homosexuality. The new short feature will help overcome some of the hesitancy of these radio stations, allowing them to present information in a brief listener-friendly format. Twenty-nine stations now air the feature. and both programs can be heard on the ministry website.

Guyla Mills joined Kerusso Ministries last fall as the producer of Time for Truth. She is committed to ensuring the program addresses both ministry and public policy issues. "Adhering to a biblical perspective is key to the power of the program," Mills stated. "In a minute and a half we’re able to inform the public about what’s really going on regarding the many complex layers of this issue. But we also try to offer the hope of the Gospel so that people don’t say ‘Oh, it’s that homosexual program, we’re going to turn it off.’ We believe very much that the joy of the Lord is our strength and that as we confront these types of issues, it’s not something we have to do with a drawn face and dour look."

"There is hope in Jesus Christ no matter what may be swirling around us. At the same time we want people to be alert and informed. This is not an issue that the Christian community can afford to put their heads in the sand about."

Mills’ public policy and activism background began on the liberal side of family issues. At one point, she was voted one of the outstanding feminists by a local organization, escorted women into abortion clinics, and worked to win special legal protections for homosexuals.

That all changed on March 14, 1985, when Mills had what she calls "a woman at the well conversion." Her passion to serve God led her back to the political arena, only this time fighting for Him instead of against Him.

"I first got involved in the pro-life community, having had an abortion. Because I had worked for many years in politics, it was just a natural for me," she says. "From that I got extensively involved in the pornography issue because there is a tremendous relationship to abortion and pornography. It all deals with the lack of respect for women in our culture. Then, about five years after I had been involved in all those issues (about ten years ago now), I became involved in fighting the pro-homosexual lobby."

The more Mills took a strong stand for pro-family issues, the more she became the brunt of jokes from her liberal friends. But they did not ostracize her -- that is until she testified on a bill in opposition to the homosexual agenda. Pro-abortion friends had not rebuffed her because of her pro-life views, but to stand against homosexuality was intolerable to those claiming to seek tolerance. Mills ended up at the Nebraska Family Council (NFC) addressing pro-family issues. Just before leaving NFC and joining Kerusso Ministries, she launched a successful bid to pass the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in Nebraska.

Johnston is thankful for the addition of Guyla Mills to the Kerusso staff. "She’s got a great strategic background but she also has a wonderful love for the Lord and a heart for people," Johnston says. "Her broad range of experience will impact every aspect of the ministry."

Michael Johnston is enthusiastic about other new areas of Kerusso Ministries. Part 2 of this series is a continuing look at Johnston’s passion for ministry, desire to report on and affect public policy, his calling to speak the truth about homosexuality, and the inevitable effect this continues to have on Kerusso Ministries.