Nancy Heche - The Truth Comes Out

2006 Nancy Heche

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Previously published by Regal Books.

Ebook edition created 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-2522-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New International Version . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Other versions used are:

NASB Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Phillips The New Testament in Modern English , Revised Edition, J. B. Phillips, Translator. J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 866 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

PRAISE FOR

The Truth Comes Out

Nancy Heche is an expert on overcoming great obstacles! She is an example of what the Church needs most: grace, truth and reality. Her transparency in life and in her book The Truth Comes Out is a testament to the fact that there is life even in the midst of pain. I am so pleased to recommend this incredible book.

Alan Chambers

P RESIDENT , E XODUS I NTERNATIONAL

Weve just got to say, Yeah, Nancy Heche! In The Truth Comes out , Nancy tackles a topic that many Christians run fromhomosexuality in our families. Yes, our families. Anyone who thinks that it is not an issuesomewhere in their family or in their extended familyis either in denial or unaware of whats going on. Nancy tells a very honest story of her life and what God has taught her about love, forgiveness, moving on and overcoming!

Clay and Renee Crosse

H OLY H OMES M INISTRIES
D OVE A WARD W INNER

Anyone who has suffered betrayal and loss will find a kindred spirit in these pages. Nancy Heches The Truth Comes Out walks the reader through the terrain of a mothers heart as she faces death, deception, family alienation and, finally (amazingly), a quiet and ongoing triumph. The elements that make up her lifes journeya husbands duplicity, a daughters celebrity, homosexuality in the family, Christianity and AIDSdo not normally come together in one book, let alone one life. Yet they are woven here in a remarkable chronicle of faith and sorrow, written with a survivors grit and the humility of a self-confessed work in process. Read it and weep; learn and hope.

Joe Dallas

A UTHOR , T HE G AME PLAN AND W HEN H OMOSEXUALITY H ITS H OME

I absolutely loved The Truth Comes Out . Once I started reading, I couldnt put the book down. I love how real and authentic Nancy is in sharing her life. I love how she lets us know of her great pain, confusion and spiritual struggles. Her book shows how God has transformed her heart and is a testimony of how God leads and guides us through all of our struggles and pain. Her story offers much hope.

Jan Dravecky

A UTHOR , A J OY I D N EVER K NOWN

W OMEN S M INISTRY D IRECTOR

W OODMAN V ALLEY C HAPEL , C OLORADO

Nancy has been to hell and backnot once, not twice, but many timesas she has had to deal with the loss of children and the issue of homosexuality up close and personal. She has learned the depth of Gods grace, the power of forgiveness and the peace found in the shelter under Gods wings. In this book you will find great wisdom laced with practicality that leads you to a larger understanding and a compassion that brings healing.

Ruth Graham

C HAIRMAN AND F OUNDER , R UTH G RAHAM AND F RIENDS

A UTHOR , I N E VERY P EW S ITS A B ROKEN H EART

Nancy brings a compassion and insight to The Truth Comes Out that can only come from personal experience and pain. Not only has she lived through, but she has learned from two of the most traumatic situations any of us could facelearning of her husbands secret homosexual life and losing him to AIDS, then having to face the media firestorm of her daughters very public declaration of being a lesbian. Her story of Gods grace and provision as she navigated her way through these eventsseeking to reflect His love and submit to His authority all the whilewill be an inspiration to anyone who is unsure how to respond to a loved ones coming out.

Mike Haley

D IRECTOR OF G ENDER I SSUES , F OCUS ON THE F AMILY

C HAIRMAN OF THE B OARD , E XODUS I NTERNATIONAL

I have befriended, supported and counseled men and women in conflict with homosexual feelings and behaviors for more than 18 years. I am continuously humbled by their willingness to ask hard questions and explore and challenge some of the most shameful, disappointing and confusing areas of their lives. Many of their parents, spouses, pastors and friends often have no idea what a difficult journey they have personally chosen as they seek to obey God in the realm of relationship and sexuality. That is why Im so deeply moved and grateful for Nancys book The Truth Comes Out . She did not merely seek to understand anothers journey and pain; she entered her own journey of self-discovery, growth and healing. In this painstakingly honest book about a real family with real problems, Nancy highlights the truth that there is no greater gift that we can give to a loved one than to be willing to submit to our own process of redemption. For it is indeed out of the love with which we are loved that we can love another well.

Janelle M. Hallman, MA, LPC

P RIVATE P RACTITIONER AND A DJUNCT F ACULTY

D ENVER S EMINARY

After walking with Nancy Heche, my dear friend, for oh so many years, through many fires and tests, I can think of no one better to tell you how to find beauty in the ashes of life. Truly this teacher has been a student first. I have witnessed the grace with which she has endured unspeakable trials and rebounded countless times. Not only is she a gifted counselor, but she is also an incredible woman who is a worthy testament to the faithfulness of a God who fashions us into vessels of honor, sometimes through excruciating circumstances that raise unanswerable questions but accomplish incredible results in our character.

Michelle McKinney Hammond

A UTHOR , T HE D IVA P RINCIPLE AND U NVEILING THE D IVA M YSTIQUE

I read The Truth Comes Out every page of itbecause I wanted to know what God taught Nancy as she walked through the pain of a marriage broken by homosexuality and the anguish of children variously affected by the sins of their father. Nancy offers no easy answers except that Gods grace is sufficient.

Dr. Erwin Lutzer

S ENIOR P ASTOR , M OODY C HURCH

C HICAGO , I LLINOIS

Nancy Heche knows more than anyone the pain of love and loss, joy alternating with almost unendurable sorrow. Anyone who has a family member living homosexually will understand another challenge Nancy has faced: How to show unconditional love when she disapproved of her loved ones lifestyles. Change my hard heart, Lord, Nancy asksand so began a process that has taken her on a remarkable journey of faithful endurance.

Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D.

P SYCHOLOGIST AND A UTHOR

Nancy Heche has addressed a most painful and important subject with great depth and tenderness. Any father or mother who struggles to reach out to a child whose path in life is prodigal in any wayusing the word as it was originally meantwill find both wisdom, comfort and (the former not necessarily leading instantly to the latter) a way to patience in this heartfelt, insightful chronicle of alienation and love.