The Lord delivered me from a gay identity, lifestyle and related addictions (slavery to sin) 12 years ago.
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, God of the impossible, God of the second chance!
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Parents of a Gay Prodigal: How Rick & Carole Karchner (Dad & Mom) Handled my “Coming out”.
Click below to listen to the podcast (35 mins):
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:9-11
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Tim 4:3-5
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Praise the Lord!
ព្រមទាំងចម្រើនកម្លាំងដល់ពួកសិស្ស ឲ្យមានចិត្តរឹងប៉ឹងឡើង ហើយទូន្មានឲ្យនៅស្ថិតស្ថេរក្នុងសេចក្ដីជំនឿ ដោយពាក្យថា ត្រូវតែទ្រាំរងទុក្ខវេទនាជាច្រើន ទើបនឹងចូលទៅក្នុងនគរព្រះបាន
កិច្ចការ 14:22
“…we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
ដ្បិតតើខ្ញុំរកបញ្ចុះបញ្ចូលអ្នកណា តើជាមនុស្ស ឬព្រះ ឬចង់បំពេញចិត្តមនុស្សឬអី បើសិនជាខ្ញុំចង់បំពេញចិត្តមនុស្ស នោះខ្ញុំមិនមែនជាបាវបម្រើរបស់ព្រះគ្រីស្ទទេ។
កាឡាទី 1:10
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
Requested by Preacher Jong Madlang-awa with a Filipino (church) audience in mind. The message is universal.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Praise the Lord!
| Prayer Partners: Thank you for your faithful support! 2020 was tough. We trust that one day we will look at Covid in the rearview mirror. But through it, the Lord reminded that suffering yields gratefulness for blessings big and small. Even the most bitter of unbelievers will have a testimony of thankfulness for simple things that we all previously took for granted – such as eating in a restaurant with family. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4 |
2020 began with a much longer-than-expected stay in the U.S. The Lord used it. Many believe that they were born “gay”. Fighting back lies with truth, getting ex-gay testimony out there is vital. To recap highlights:
My testimony is not about me. It’s about what the Lord did for me, that He can do the same for anyone who is willing to repent and fight to follow.
The Lord Jesus Christ is truly “The God of the Impossible”.
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Click here to read more about 2020 U.S. ministry.
In late October, we arrived in Cambodia and hopped back into the saddle. Highlights:
Evangelism with a Focus on Reaching the LGBT:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
| “Long time, no see!” gave way to opportunity. Two men came to church with us. Sharing Ex-gay Testimony in Cambodian Churches & Schools: Before Christmas, I was honored to shared at a Bible school. Click below for video excerpts: |
| I shared, and we sang at another church in the capital city this past Sunday. Five more churches are on deck. Praise the Lord! “Satan, which deceiveth the whole world… And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:9-11 Teaching Neighborhood Children: Against much opposition from culture and family, our neighborhood students are growing and did an excellent job again this year performing in church. Praise the Lord! |
Click here for more Christmas Ministry photos.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
At 6pm that same evening, the students and their families joined us for Christmas dinner at a Korean restaurant.
Similar to last Christmas, the gospel – including the Second Coming of Christ – was shared prior to asking the blessing. Tracts were made available.
Buddhism focuses on “being a good person” / doing good. It can appear that the Christian is likewise “just trying to be a good person”. This confusion leads people to believe that “All religions are basically the same” and steers them around the cross to everlasting damnation. With unbelieving parents in attendance, my wife suggested that I use this occasion to clarify.
“…seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1 Timothy 4:1
“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…” Mark 7:8
So I worked with our Cambodian language teacher to get the proper words necessary to convey that message clearly. I shared that we do not “do good” because we are trying to “be good people” but because we want to point them to the Lord Jesus Christ – the only One who can save them… so that they will be ready to meet Him when they die. Click below for video excerpts:
Much thanks to Aunt Bobbie who contributed to bless the kids and their families for Christmas, 2020 & 2019.
Praise the Lord!
Ways to Partner with Us:
1. Pray for:
– Conviction, eyes to see and ears to hear for the LGBT.
– Revival for the U.S. – that we would stand for all timeless, Bible truth in these days no matter what the cost.
– Spiritual fruit from U.S. church engagements.
– Open hearts & spiritual fruit here in Southeast Asia.
– Stand with us in prayer for the promised son.
– Financial support to keep us in the field doing what I am called to do.
2. Click Here to Donate via PayPal (tax deductible)!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
And Thank You for your support!
Thanks to #Unshackled for revising (some details changed) & acting out my #ExGay #Testimony as a dramatic story for radio.
Click the following link to listen (30 mins) – https://unshackled.org/program/matthew-karchner-pg/
Praise the Lord!
Moved to support our ministry? Please click here.
Prayer Partners:
Thank you for your support. Our Visa applications were approved, and we passed our Covid tests. After 10 months back in Pennsylvania, we headed out to return to Cambodia. Praise the Lord!
In spite of Covid season, through this extended homestay, the Lord opened doors. We were blessed to serve 23 churches and 1 school through sharing ex-gay testimony and being a resource. Dad & Mom also shared perspective as parents of an ex-gay prodigal at many of the churches. Praise the Lord!
Click Here to view “Serving Churches USA 2020” photos.
There is a way out of a gay lifestyle for those who are willing to turn away from following their deceitful hearts to follow Christ. Must be born again. Praise the Lord!
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU, BUT you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
To pastors & churches who welcomed us: Thank you for standing with us on difficult Bible truth in these last days!
We came home for Christmas 2019. Little did we know we would still be here 10 months later. The Lord has a way of bringing good out of challenges.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
2 Ways to Help:
2. Click Here to Donate to either fund via PayPal (both tax deductible)!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
And Thank You for your support!
Many Christian families are impacted by homosexuality and gender confusion.
Below is an example of how we serve. Song starts @ minute 7:00, testimony @ minute 15:00. Please watch!
We would be honored to share at your church. Contact Matt @ 814-826-9534.
Video #1 – ExGay Testimony: Matthew Karchner with dog Snoopy
Description: How the Lord brought me to repentance and delivered me from a gay lifestyle 10 years ago. As of this recording, I am 42 years old. My wife and I serve as missionaries to the LGBTQ+. Praise the Lord!
Video #1b – The Karchners sing “He Lives”
Description: He is Risen! Praise God! “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” Romans 8:16
Video #2 – ExGay Ministry: Matthew & Rebekah Karchner
Description: Forgiven sin is ministry. What is the Lord doing with our prodigal son story? Referencing the Word of God as the source of truth, what have we learned from it? Praise the Lord!
Video #2b – The Karchners sing “The Old Rugged Cross”
Description: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 Praise the Lord!
Video #3 – ExGay Lessons Learned: Matthew Karchner
Description: Lessons learned, reflecting back on a gay lifestyle with spiritual blinders lifted and the Word of God as guide.
Video #3b – The Karchners sing “Victory in Jesus”
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Video #4 – ExGay Testimony: Prodigal Matthew’s Parents Share Perspective
Description: Our exgay prodigal came home! How Christ led his parents from his “coming out” as gay to deliverance. Praise the Lord!
To God be the glory!
Matt & Rebekah, now home in Pennsylvania, would appreciate the privilege to share “ex-gay” testimony & song at your church.
Please reach out to matthew.karchner@castawayministries.org
Past & Scheduled Future Sunday Mornings:
Praise the Lord!
If you are in the area, please join us!
Castaway Ministries 