We have been looking for affordable office space for quite some time. We are so pleased to report that the wait has definitely been worth it. God has gone before us and opened up connection with a local Christian University. In a time when many Christian leaders are either apologetic toward or adamantly against a biblical perspective on human sexuality, the leaders of this Christian University have expressed a strong appreciation for our work and a desire for our ministry to be based on their campus. What a blessing and what an opportunity to have such close proximity to current and future Christian leaders!
BUILDING OUR TEAM. Most of you will recall that Garry Ingraham leads two ministries: Transforming Congregations, a renewal ministry for the United Methodist Church, as well as Love & Truth Network, for a broader body of Christ and other denominations. Garry has been traveling, teaching, preaching, making new connections with pastors and Christian leaders, opening up new doors of ministry, doing conferences, exhibiting our ministries, praying with hurting people, raising support and partnerships, frequently posting and expanding our influence on social media, writing ministry updates, as well as running the back-office functions as a non-profit organization.
As responsibilities and ministry opportunities have greatly increased Garry has been praying and looking for a key person to join our rapidly growing work and expand our capacity to equip and train pastors and leaders in these vital areas of need. I?m so delighted and blessed to let you know that Jeremiah Sheppard has enthusiastically accepted our job offer.
While we have needed someone like Jeremiah for a long time, until recently we haven?t been in a financial position to to make an offer. Even now, we are unable to offer a full time position, but I am incredibly thankful that Jeremiah is willing and able to join us part-time to start. We are prayerfully anticipating the ability to bring him on full time as our partnerships grow and financial support increases.
Friends who have been supporting our work, we thank you and deeply appreciate your sacrifice. We wouldn?t be able to take this important step of growth without you! I know there are some who receive these updates who are on a very limited fixed income and you let me know that you faithfully pray for us. Thank you as well! I can?t begin to express what a comfort and sense of protection it is to know that we have faithful partners covering us in this way.
For those who receive these updates, but have not supported Love & Truth Network (or haven?t in some time) would you consider partnering with us to help share the life-changing transformation of the gospel and the work of Christ? Would you help us equip pastors and Christian leaders to offer real hope that is based on the truths of scripture? We need and welcome your support and partnership. Will you also join us in letting others know about the work we?re doing? Will you talk with your pastors and friends and let them know they should sign up to get our ministry updates and learn more about what we offer to the Church and Christian leaders?
POLITICAL NEWS
We are not only facing opposition that is part and parcel with a highly sexualized culture but also from a political philosophy that has enshrined LGBTQ ideology as a religion whose gods are pleasure and self-fulfillment. Through the court system and political maneuvering this new religion threatens the orthodox faith and practice of Christianity, indeed any dissenting perspective. In its latest and most aggressive form to date, this opposition has arrived as H.R.5, the so called Equality Act, which passed in the House of Representatives on May 17th, 2019.
There?s nothing equal about H.R.5 unless the word equal is intended to mean the oppressive overreach of government against deeply held religious beliefs. Putting a nice title on a horrible piece of legislation doesn?t change the devastating impact it would have if passed into law. A more honest name for this proposed legislation would be the Obliteration and Punishment of Christian Values Act. This bill isnow on its way to the U.S. Senate where, thankfully, it is not supposed to make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote- not this time, but we haven?t seen the end of bills like H.R.5 if the radical left gains more power.
If passed into law the ?Equality? Act would raise the LGBTQ agenda above religious freedom as well as freedom of speech. Employers, church leaders, and even parents will be legally compelled to support the delusion that a biological boy or man can be a female, or a girl or woman can be a male.
On the HumanEvents.com website was the following quote from Terry Shilling, executive director of the American Principles Project:
?Let?s call this bill what it is- the ?Inequality Act?- one of the most hateful bills to ever pass the House of Representatives. This is a direct attack on the rights of hundreds of millions of Americans. Parents, women, people of faith- almost every American stands to lose if H.R.5 becomes law.
Today House Democrats voted to eliminate women as a protected class under the Civil Rights Act. They voted to effective end Title IX. They voted to abolish conscience rights. They voted to end religious freedom as we know it. They voted to strip parents of their fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children. This is wrongheaded policy on every level.?
If only the Church were experiencing attack from without, but as we all know the core teachings of God?s design for human sexuality and regularly and systematically undermined from within as well. It isn?t enough that Christianity is under attack at the federal political level, but the truths of scripture, God?s gift of the transformed life and an authentic gospel are consistently undermined by leaders of many mainline denominations and even some non-denominational churches.
The following is a case-in-point- put out by ?Greater NW Pride, all-inclusive news & views on LGBTQ issues, The United Methodist Church & the Oregon-Idaho Conference.? With an article entitled: Children?s Literature, LGBTQ+, and Church, written by Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell, an openly gay Presbyterian pastor in the Portland area serving as the part-time LGBTQ+ advocacy coordinator for the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the UMB writes:
?I am preparing for a trip to visit my granddaughter on the east coast in the coming weeks and started to shop around and see what I might bring with me in my new role as the grandfather who spoils his grandchildren. On one of the websites I scan daily, mombian.com, there was a new book that made me smile: A Plan for Pops! By Heather Smith and Brooke Kerrigan. It is one of the first gay grandparents books that I?ve seen publicized, and also made me smile because my chosen ?grandparent? name is ?Pops?. My partner Christian has already chosen to be ?Uncle Christian? to his nine nieces and nephews and twelve great-nieces and nephews, so together we are ?Pops and Uncle Christian.? To say the least, I?m looking forward to reading the book with my granddaughter and will encourage her parents to read it too.
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell, the author of this blog post, sounds like a really nice guy. I have zero doubt about his intention and desire to be a good and doting grandfather. However, God doesn?t call us to good intentions, but to truth and good works.
How about scrapping the indoctrination and bringing your granddaughter a soft, cuddly stuffed animal instead? How about picking up some storybooks of the Bible that actually supports and complements the truth of Scripture and lead your granddaughter to an understanding of a true gospel message rather than a gospel remade into whatever flavor of relational, sexual expression or identity confusion we want to see supported by a false, revisionist interpretation of the bible? Webb-Mitchell continues:
?The importance of reading to our children and the ?norms? that children?s literature presents was also emphasized this week in the news of the latest episode of the PBS show, ?Arthur?, an animated series, which has been on for 22 seasons and a show I watched with my daughter and son on my lap. On the latest episode, Mr. Ratburn, a third-grade teacher, marries another male character on the show! This cultural-cornerstone for the generation called ?millenials? cannot be emphasized enough, and celebrated. In other words, LGBTQ+ characters as portrayed in a healthy fashion on children?s T.V. shows, books, movies, games, and website geared for young children, is doing the important work of teaching the next generation that being LGBTQ+ and straight is simply part of the wonderful world in which we live, and the fantastic body of Christ in which we know who and whose we are. If more parents had read these storylines, perhaps we wouldn?t be in such a mess as we are in the Church today in figuring this all out, and so behind where the rest of modern society is in acceptance of all people.?
Spoiler alert? the church is actually supposed to be out of step with ?modern society.? The true church does accept all people, while also loving them enough to share the life-giving words of Jesus rather than the self-help or feel-good philosophy of modern society, ?Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me? Luke 9:23. We are actually called to die to our fleshly desires and surrender to the authority and Lordship of Jesus. We share the same good news that was shared with us and that Jesus shared with sinners, ??neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin? John 8:11. The good news of the Kingdom is that we aren?t just going to heaven when we die. Rather, we do not have the let sin rule over us, even in this life.
What value is a church that is just like the dark and broken world all around it? How are we to be salt and light in such a condition? What I find to be so profoundly sad isn?t the world?s behaviors. Why would those who do not believe in Jesus behave as if they do? What?s tragic is when people (even pastors) say they are Christians and offer a counterfeit gospel that offers no transformational or life-saving value.
We can do better as the Body and Bride of Christ. We must do better, for the sake of all that God is calling out of the kingdom of darkness, into His marvelous light.
I hope that you will be as encouraged as I was when you read Mateo?s story, posted right under the partnership tab.
PARTNERSHIP
We need your help to stand firm and continue to share truth in love to a lost world and an increasingly confused Church. When you partner with Love and Truth Network you allow a grace-based, traditional Biblical message to be heard, and more importantly, experienced. You join with us in loving others in a way that offers them authentic hope and new life in Christ.
For those reading this update, but have not yet linked arms with us in ministry, will you join with us and become part of our team of support?
Ever grateful for you!
TESTIMONY ?Pastor?s Kid?
As a PK (pastor?s kid) from as early as I can remember everyone assumed they knew me. I was ?loved? and approved of for the image I portrayed. I was the perfect, altogether, oldest son? or so everyone thought, I guess that last part was right.
By 18 I was preaching on Sundays, singing on the worship team and leading a men?s group. I was busy ?doing,? but much of that busyness was a restlessness that covered up fear, insecurity, a lack of deep connection with God? and I had a secret.
I was born in Columbia, South America and lived 22 years from there. Family and church were nearly synonymous terms with no separation between them. My parents and extended family were pastors of our church. I was constantly told what to believe and expected to simply get in line with what I was told, without question or struggle.
When I saw that a leader?s words or teaching didn?t agree with their behavior, I wasn?t supposed to asked about that. I was often told that others didn?t understand Scripture the way my family and church leaders did and rather than find myself categorized in that group I did my best to appear as if I had it altogether. This was the only way to stay in the ?good graces? of my family. Approval was withheld and commitment to God questioned until whoever was deemed to be in error repented and complied.
Because I grew up in this family and church system and it was all I knew, for most of my life I believed what I was told, but meanwhile the divide widened between my public and private self. Gradually, I began to understand that I and others in my church were experiencing spiritual abuse.
I knew something was ?off? and clearly unhealthy about my church and family, but it wasn?t until coming to the states to participate in a year-long discipleship program that I began to see the contrast between healthy discipleship and the spiritual manipulation I grew up under. This was the first time I felt at all safe to tell my secret. I confided in a few others back home in Colombia, in my ten years, but no one knew how to help or what to tell me. They believed if I put the thoughts out of my mind or tried harder somehow my struggles would magically go away. So, no one I went to for help or spiritual guidance ever brought it up again. They never inquired about how I was doing in that area.
I was so terrified of the same reaction that I almost decided not go to go the discipleship program in the U.S., but God was gently coaxing me along, knowing how desperate I was to be fully known and still fully loved. Since I had to fill out an application for the program and it asked a very specific question, I called the leader to talk with him and say I wasn?t coming. He heard my confession and encouraged me to come anyway. I was assured that I would be loved right where I was at.
Even as a young boy I was attracted to other boys, and for a short time I also felt gender confusion. In my teenage years, I experienced intense emotional dependency toward my male friends and quickly became addicted to pornography and masturbation. I lived a double life: preaching and sharing the gospel, all the while I felt like I was dying on the inside. I was incredibly lonely even while living in a relational culture.
When I arrived at the discipleship program in the U.S. all the students gathered together for a retreat to kick off the year. I was horrified when I learned that we would all have a ?chance? to share our stories with the group. I panicked. I went to another leader and told him I was not going to share. I told him my secret and he said ?you don?t have to share any of that. I would encourage you to, but you don?t have to.?
I was determined to be vague and keep my secret to myself. That is until one by one, other students began opening up about their pornography addiction, sexual struggles and other shameful experiences many had faced. Because of their honesty and willingness to be known it gave me courage to finally be known in a group of my peers. I shared my whole story and was surrounded by a community of people who cared deeply about me. This was a brand new experience. Once that retreat was over and I shared, I was so thankful for the genius of the leaders in having us break the ice in this way and enter into a year of community life and discipleship being fully known and encouraged onward in our walk with Jesus.
During this year of discipleship I was introduced to a podcast by a guy named Garry Ingraham. I was shocked as I listened to his story, with many similarities to my own, as well as his ease at communicating hard and once shameful aspects of his life. I reached out to Garry and we had several phone calls. Eventually, he was on a ministry trip to my area and we met at a local restaurant.
After this intense year of discipleship I returned to Colombia to finish my degree. I felt like God had cracked open the tightly sealed can of my life and allowed me to see and experience what being truly loved was all about. This was an incredible time of growth for me, but I knew I needed more.
Garry and his wife, Melissa, invited me to participate in a 20 week, inner-healing program that they are regional coordinators for in the U.S. Living Waters, developed by Desert Stream Ministries, by Andrew Comiskey. Again, I was nervous and wanted to be sure of God?s leading. I finished my degree and felt that God was giving me an open door to return to the States.
In early January I arrived in Phoenix, AZ where I would be living with Garry and Melissa, their two boys (and their other housemates) for 5 months while going through this intensive 20 week program. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. However, I knew God was in this.
Even though living with a family in a pretty unfamiliar culture was not without it challenges, it was a blessing in so many ways. God gave me these five months to really press into my own healing and He gave me a safe place to do it.
Through Living Waters and the mentorship of the Ingrahams, God was able to access and bring healing to some really deep places in my life- not the least of which were the effects of the chronic, spiritually abusive environment that I grew up in.
As an added gift from God, my parents have also recognized the unhealthy structure that was all around us and have decided to continue ministry elsewhere. Through God?s healing my life and transparency my parents have also experienced significant healing. Since my journey through Living Waters my parents and I have had discussions about incredibly important things that we?ve never spoken about. My father has opened up about his young life and shared his past with me.. all of this has drawn us closer together. When I go back to Colombia I will have the added benefit of practicing my new-found freedom and being planted in fresh ?soil.?
Garry and Melissa often say that ?we?ve been hurt through relationship and we?re made whole through relationship.? Rarely does God do what we want and simply zap an obstacle, temptation or unwanted attractions. Rather, He leads us as we yield and follow Him. His grace is sufficient. While I wanted God to take away every vestige of my struggle with same-sex attraction I now realize that He intends to use it for His purposes and His glory. I now realize that He can sustain me as His son and grow me as a man made in His image. Same-sex attraction no longer needs to be the defining issue of my life.
I will no longer live in secrecy and isolation. I have been ruined (thank God) for returning to the emptiness and loneliness of such a life. We are called to ?walk in the light as He is in the light? 1 John 1:7. I now hate the shadows as well as the lies of the enemy that I believed- holding me prisoner there.
I don?t know what the future holds for me in marriage, but I do know that God is forming and maturing me into a good gift as a man made in His image, and the removal of all same-sex attraction doesn?t have to occur for me to live in open fellowship with God and the Body of Christ that He puts around me- and one day that may include the incredible gift and blessing of a wife and children. Only God can accomplish such things and I will trust Him in the process.
