Prominent U.S. evangelical Christian leader, the Reverend Ted Haggard, has confessed to his followers that he is guilty of sexual immorality.
In a letter read by a church spokesman at the 14,000-member New Life Church in the western state of Colorado, Haggard apologized for his acts, calling himself a deceiver and a liar.
His comments come a day after a church investigative committee found that the influential leader had engaged in "sexually immoral conduct" and dismissed him from his job.
Late last week, male prostitute Mike Jones told U.S. media that Haggard regularly paid to have sex with him and used the drug methaphetimine during their encounters.
Amid the allegations, Haggard resigned as head of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals. He had earlier denied Jones' sex claims. He also admitted to buying the drug, but said he threw away the drug before ever using it.
Jones said he was angered because Haggard has been a vocal opponent of homosexual rights, and supports a ban on same-sex marriage.
Haggard is a prominent church leader and has participated in conference calls with conservative Christian leaders and White House and congressional officials.