Joe Stark Interview

Joe Stark did what he believed any responsible Christian parent would do. In late May, Joe’s 16-year-old son, Zach, told his parents he was gay.

The Starks, devout Christians, enlisted the help of “Love in Action International,” a Memphis-based ministry that provides prevention and treatment for behaviors like homosexuality and drug addiction. But little did the Starks know that their actions would create a firestorm among local homosexuals.

In an exclusive interview with CBN News, Joe talked about his decision to enroll Zach in the “Love in Action” program, and the controversy that has followed.

“We felt very good about Zach coming here because… to let him see for himself the destructive lifestyle, what he has to face in the future, and to give him some options that society doesn’t give him today,” Stark said. “Knowing that your son... statistics say that by the age of 30 he could either have AIDS or be dead.”

The Starks’ story took on a life of its own when Zach began posting his thoughts on an Internet blog. “My mother, father, and I had a very long ‘talk’” he wrote, “…where they let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist Christian program for gays… I’m a big screw up to them, who isn’t on the path God wants me to be on. So I’m sitting here in tears.”

“Zack has got a mind of his own, and that’s a God-given gift,” Joe said. “And Zack will have to make those choices when he is an adult as to what exactly he is going to do with his life. But until he turns 18 and he’s an adult in the state of Tennessee, I’m responsible for him. And I’m going to see to it that he has all options available to him.” It wasn’t long after Zach’s blog appeared online that protestors began lining the streets outside “Love in Action.”

They said that homosexuality is not a choice but something that comes naturally – and that Zach is being deceived by his parents and “Love in Action.” “When you ask someone to live in a lie, it’s a dangerous, dangerous slope that you’re running down,” one protestor said. But according to Rev. John Smid, homosexuals do have a choice – and his life is a perfect example.

Smid is “Love in Action’s” executive director, and he left the homosexual lifestyle in 1984. He’s been happily married since 1988, and he wants others like him who have struggled with homosexual feelings to know that they do not have to act on their same-sex attractions. “I just see so many people who want to discount my life,” Smid said. “My story, my life, my experience, counts. And I have found tremendous freedom from homosexuality and a deep level of change in my life that would have never occurred had I never been given the opportunity to leave homosexuality.”

Smid credits his faith in Jesus Christ for giving him the courage to leave homosexuality behind.

Since the Zach Stark controversy began, “Love in Action” has been investigated by the state of Tennessee over allegations of child abuse. Although they were cleared of all charges, the stigma remains, and those who have followed the case closely say that’s unfair. “The child services of the state dismissed the charges,” said Mike Fleming, a local radio host. “And I frankly think that the bottom line of this is that homosexuals are afraid that this does work, and they have set out to destroy “Love in Action.” I don’t think there can be any doubt about that.”

Zach is communicating a lot more with us, now.” Stark said.

Zach has completed his time at Love In Action and as of press time has been compliant with his parent’s wishes.