It’s not often I’m moved to tears during a Church service… maybe it’s because I was going through a pretty tumultuous time of life, or because this is a particularly moving testimony, or more likely both. This is a bloke from our church sharing about his tough, but rewarding journey in life. This testimony penetrates a generation gap and shows that our faith is best placed in the Lord Jesus.
Where Is Your Faith? ::: And Now For Some Questions Jesus Asks from Creek Road on Vimeo.
On Sunday (24 February 2013) we asked the question “Is the Bible anti-gay?” as part of our “Got Questions?” series. We opened up the Bible to let it speak for itself.
A young woman (who we won’t identify) from our church community asked if she could share her story, with the hope of encouraging others. A big ‘Thank You’ to this young woman – thank you for sharing your story.
Here it is. We hope you find it encouraging.
“I first came to Creek Road through a friend who was coming here at the time. I was a bit wary of going back to church. I had already had a bad experience at a previous church, which had been very judgemental of me.
You see, at that time, I was in a homosexual relationship with another woman, and had been for three years.
My previous church had told me that I was not welcome there unless I changed. However, Creek Road seemed different, and over the next few months I started going more and more. Often I would sit by myself on one side of the church, and a group of girls noticed. They would come and speak to me, and over time, we became friends. These girls are now my best friends.
Creek Road was different because their approach was one of being welcoming and loving towards me. There was not a sense that I needed to be ‘fixed’ before I could come to church. They accepted me, and encouraged me to seek out God and find his will for me.
As I joined a growth group, and became part of Young Adults here at Creek Road, I slowly began to open up about my past. I felt more comfortable talking about my life with people I knew would not reject me.
I went to several Growth Groups before settling into an Adult Growth Group last year. Just recently, I shared my story with my Growth Group in the hope that it would encourage them to continue to treat people with love.
I am a Christian. I am no longer in the relationship with the girl, and she has visited church at Creek Road on several occasions. It is my hope and prayer that she will become a Christian. It is thanks to God’s redemptive power that my life has changed so radically.
Last Sunday’s bible talk was immensely encouraging for me to hear. Steve spoke about the sexual brokenness experienced by everyone, and he didn’t single out gay people as being the worst offenders. Instead, he made it clear that none of us are in a position to judge others.
I wanted to share my story today to encourage others who may be struggling with this issue to reach out to people they trust – maybe your growth group. I want to encourage people that this is not something you need to struggle with alone.
Recently I returned to my previous church where I had been rejected. They were happy to see that there had been some big changes in my life. I’m glad that my relationship with that church has now been restored.
The love and support of God’s people here at Creek Road has played a huge part in these changes occurring in my life. God has given me the strength to talk about this difficult subject in the hope that it might change other people’s lives, too.
I know I can safely say that if I had been treated with judgment and rejection at Creek Road, I would never have come back to church again.”
Praise God for how He has worked in this young woman’s life.
Please pray for her that she would grow in her understanding of God’s love for her.
Please pray for others who struggle with sexual brokenness.
Please pray for us as a church, that we would always be a community of love, grace and acceptance – introducing people to Jesus.
Hey there, this video is an interview with Keryn who has had a long journey to find Jesus. Keryn is from New Zealand and grew up with family who were Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. Keryn asks the tough question: “How is the God of the Bible the one and only true God?”
If Keryn’s story of coming to know freedom in Jesus in the midst of other religions interests you, a 20 minute bible talk on the same topic can be found by clicking here!
John works with kids from the streets of Brisbane and has at times been challenged to think about and share Jesus’ views on sexuality. In this video John is winsome, compassionate and loving. John asks the questions: “How is the Bible’s take on sexuality authentic?” and “Is the gospel for homosexuals as well?”
If John’s message challenged you, provoked you or led you to ask questions regarding the bible’s perspective on homosexuality, you can check out a 20 minute bible talk asking the tough questions by clicking here!
In this video Ros shares of her personal experience with breast-cancer and her view of human suffering.
If your keen to see a 20 minute bible talk that uncovers the issue of human suffering in a world that was created by a God who the Bible defines as ‘Love’ you can click here.
Inverted Culture 