Joel 2:25 International, Inc. ("Joel 2:25") is an ex-gay ministry.
Name Verse 2:25 from the Biblical Book of Joel states: "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you." The organization's website states:
Formation Joel 2:25 was incorporated in the state of Texas on November 26, 2013 as a non-profit organization. It is a tax-exempt public charity.
Positions Joel 2:25 supports individual freedom of conscience for all, but believes that sexual purity is a life and death matter: "Sexual holiness for Christians matters to such an extent that living an unrepentant sexually immoral life can get even self-professed Christians excluded from the kingdom of God".
Reception Joel 2:25 received increased media attention and scrutiny when it was revealed that the organization's founder, Jeremy Schwab, had authored the platform amendment for the 2014 Republican Party of Texas platform to protect the right of access to “reparative therapy”.John Wright, "Meet the Ex-Gay Man Behind the Texas GOP’s Reparative Therapy Plank", Texas Observer, 06/11/2014 Brittany Martin, "Texas Republicans’ backing puts spotlight on therapy for gays", Dallas Morning News, 06/20/2014 James Withers, "Ex-gay advocate defends Texas Republican support of conversion therapy", Gay Star News, 06/22/2014Bud Kennedy, "Texas GOP’s ‘gay therapy’ stand misunderstood, author says", Fort Worth Star Telegram, 06/10/2014
Schwab issued personal statements in defense of the platform plank on television and in his personal blog.
See also Christianity and homosexuality Ex-ex-gay Homosexuality and Roman Catholicism Homophobia Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination Sexual orientation change efforts
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