Sy Rogers misled me and I tried to be straight for the next 27 years
“I was 20 years old, and a Christian when I first met Sy Rogers. I was in the closet and severely troubled as I knew the Assemblies of God church I attended opposed homosexuality.
I was invited to a small private meeting in an upstairs’ room in Hindley St, Adelaide organised by some church group which I can no longer recall. I remember clearly though, from his talk and presentation, including photos of when he was dressed as a woman, I left believing that being gay must be a choice and I didn’t have to be gay if I didn’t want to be.
I was profoundly misled and went on to trying to be straight for the next 27 years.
I took every opportunity to hear Sy preach several times at C3 Oxford Falls and also at Hillsong. After the preaching, I’d always go and buy the recordings and studied what he had to say. If God could do it for Sy, then He could do it for me, I believed.
Whenever he preached, he gave me a false hope that I didn’t have to be gay, and I just had to keep trying. Trying meant prayers for deliverance, marrying a good Christian woman, having children, and constantly dealing with the guilt and shame of having gay thoughts daily.
One thing always bothered me – he never once said, “I am now completely straight and heterosexual”.
Since coming out I have found so many more who were also deceived by his message. In the church none of us dared question or doubt the authenticity of his dramatic story. Like me, they also felt they’d wasted years of their lives holding on to a false hope.
Name witheld on request.
More articles on Sy Rogers HERE
Hi Don F,
It is a pity you speak about Sy misleading you, when he is no longer on earth to speak to this. If your last statement ‘always bothered’ is true; was there no opportunity to ask Sy?
My reading this week of Paul’s first letter to Christians at Thessalonian, (chapters 4 & 5) addresses the topic of ‘sanctification’ – this is the process of becoming more like Christ in our conduct and character. I have just started to read ‘Five Views on Sanctification’ by Mike Sullivan; could be helpful.
Regards Stephen D
He didn’t like what Sy shared so he’s spending his life sharing just the opposite for others. His teachings go completely against the Bible. Sy turned his life around when he decided to start following the teachings in the Bible. How does this make this man any better? In my opinion, Satan loves this author. He has shamed a man who dedicated the remainder of his life to the Lord and tried to help others do the same thing. What really irks me is talking about meeting in a small room and trying to be descriptive. Well what does the room look like where he’s having sex with other men? What kind of art is on the walls? What kind of messages are being spoken about?
Sy did turn his life around in some ways. But not all. He was still gay.
Hi Don,
I am really sorry you had this experience. I had a similar experience with Sy; small meeting, pics, and alot of lies and brainwashing. I was in my early 20’s-late 1980’s. I even had a brief correspondence with Sy. I do know the initial week long encounter with Sy in a small church room planted a root of brokenness, confusion, and doubt in God’s love that I didn’t have before. I spent the next couple of decades trying to change which led me into more darkness and depression. I had been through deliverance and other suggested conversion tactics.
Fast forward to May 2020, I had a near death experience with double embolisms in my lungs. My life literally played itself in my mind like a movie. I was scared. Didn’t know if I was going to live. But if I did, I wanted to track back where my life had taken such a negative turn.
When I was released from hospital, I was getting my affairs in order. From out no where Sy Rogers name came to mind. I hadn’t thought about him or that time in decades! I googled him and learned he had died. Anthony Venn Brown’s name was the next link I came across.
Contacting Anthony began a healing process I was seeking. Just talking with others about our common experiences has been comforting.
For me, it’s not about Sy the man as much as it is those people who have a magnetic, hypnotic, charismatic charm like Sy did that feeds already vulnerable people who might be caught up in the equally deceptive evangelical or conservative movement. If Sy had been alive, I would have written to him knowing I wouldn’t get what I wanted, an apology.
Four years later, I am still alive but suffer from the disease that caused the embolism. Life is very short. I have spent most of it thinking I was broken and trying to fix that which wasn’t broken.
I am almost 67 years old, finally free, an old gray gay, at peace with self and God. Today, if I had a chance to talk to Sy, I would have no words for him. Just a hug— I have no more time nor energy to think about this person. What I have time and energy for is sharing my story-like you have Don. We need to hear one another’s stories. It’s part of the healing process for ourselves and others. We need to know we’re not alone.
Peace,
Bodhi
Hi Don F,
I had a very positive experience with Sy Rogers instead. I respect him as an honest person although he made mistakes. Stop blaming Sy for your inadequacy.
I pray for your understanding.
Blessings,
Many people did have a positive experience with Sy, particularly in his latter years as he tackled topics others avoided.
Not all people did and they were often LGBTQ. Thier voices and experiences are as valid as yours.
Well said, Anthony. Thank you!
Sy, didn’t mislead you. He shared with you his life experience. He tried to teach you what is in the Bible, but you chose a different path, one that is also shared in the Bible. You chose a worldly path where Satan is your leader instead of Jesus Christ. It’s that simple.. I’m sorry that you cannot accept what thousands of others have gone through that has helped them enormously and that you speak against it and try to make that your mission. We all have a choice to make. It is your choice.
I know the man whose story this is. He isn’t deceived it was Sy who decieved himself and others.
Sad to see people deceive themselves into believing God approves and blesses their broken, sin filled state. God reaches out to His fallen creation in love and attempts to pull the sinner out of that ditch and he sends preachers like Sy, who succeeded in crawling out, to share how, with Gods help, he did so. Sy repeatedly states: the goal isn’t heterosexuality but wholeness with God. How was this mis-leading?
Hi Paul. It was misleading as for decades Sy told a story that he had turned from gay to straight which his wasn’t. He never publically corrected that.