Liverpool church draws controversy for offering 'gay cure' therapy

A church in Liverpool has sparked controversy after it was found to be offering a gay 'cure' program that involves starving a person for three days.

An undercover investigation conducted by ECHO reporter Josh Parry has found that the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry in Liverpool was offering gay people the chance to "rid themselves of their homosexuality" through a prayer session that includes three days of fasting.

Parry, who posed as a member of the public struggling with his sexuality, was invited to a group prayer session in the church's branch at Breck Road and was later offered a private counseling session with the church's assistant pastor, known only as Brother Michael.

During the session, the assistant pastor allegedly made a series of statements, including that homosexuality is a "deceit of Satan," and that people chose to be gay to get "celebrity" status. The undercover reporter was then told that he could be turned straight through prayer and worship.

The private counseling session with Brother Michael was captured by the undercover reporter's concealed recording device.

"You cannot be saying God gave you your penis and make it a rod, and now he created another thing like a hole that it fit properly into it," Brother Michael was quoted as saying.

"So for you to have a penis, it means you are a man. That is the way you are created. I will say one thing as well, you say all these things about 'I'm feeling I'm confused about my sexuality.' Thank God you say that you are looking for deliverance because you have got your deliverance," he continued.

Parry also attended a group prayer session in which the assistant pastor repeatedly shouted phrases, including "you are a liar, die in the fire, die in the fire," while the congregation was heard speaking in tongues, crying and swearing.

When the church's pastor, Dr. Desmond Sanusi, was confronted over the investigation, he claimed that the assistant pastor's advice was not officially sanctioned and denied that the church discriminates against anyone based on sexuality or gender.

Sanusi went on to say that similar programs have been running for 20 years, but "nobody has dropped dead."

Mental health professionals and LGBT activists have criticized the church's methods as "dangerous" and damaging.

Dr. Louise Theodosiou, a consultant psychiatrist from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said that the program's fasting element poses "huge" risks to physical health and could affect the brain function of those undergoing the treatment.

Further investigations revealed that Sanusi is a doctor registered with the General Medical Council. He is believed to be working as a neurosurgeon for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which oversees eight different hospitals. The trust has confirmed that Sanusi was an employee, but it has refused to disclose his job title or which hospital he works in.