?But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God?s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light?  1 Peter 2:9

MINISTRY UPDATE

A few days ago, I read an outstanding article written by Dr. Mark Ongley entitled, ?Wesleyans and Sexual Chaos?, printed in Firebrand Magazine, dated March 15, 2021. The article speaks to how the Church, despite being ?late in the game? regarding the tsunami of sexual changes within popular culture, can still become a beacon of hope and healing to a hurting world. That?s especially true for people damaged by false promises of freedom and the rampant sexual immorality of our times.

Dr. Mark Ongley has also authored a compelling and hopeful book on sexuality and the church, entitled: ?Into the Light, Redeeming the Church?s Discussion of Sexuality.?

His recent article stirred a familiar concern I?ve had for years now. If the Christian church in America falters, it will not be the result of outward pressure, but rather the hidden compromises we?ve made with sin, especially around sexual brokenness, saying one thing publicly, but engaging in forms of sexual immorality ourselves.

Tragically, over the years, we have plenty of very public examples of moral failure within the Church. We need look no further than the recent example of Ravi Zacharias; world renown apologist who died in May 2020. Following his death, many credible accusations of sexual abuse and manipulation spanning over years of time sparked a four-month investigation that has led to the release of grievous and shocking report confirming years of sexual addiction and intentional cover-up.

Sadly, I believe there will be two primary reactions to the coverup, hypocrisy and criminal behavior of such a public figure as Ravi Zacharias, as has been the case with every other shameful revelation over the years.

First, the world and young believers watch and listen to reports that only reinforce their doubts about God and His people, driving them further away from Him. Secondly, most Christians will look on in dismay and grief, but at the end of the day, we simply pick up and move on, believing that Ravi was an aberration and anomaly within the Church and Christian leadership.

Will we even stop to consider how deep the ?rabbit hole? of sexual immorality goes within the lives of men, women, youth, and yes, even pastors and leaders within the Church? Will we let that realization compel us to break the silence and bring our personal and corporate sin into the light in genuine repentance, so God does not need to expose us for the whole world to see, so His Kingdom can advance on solid moral ground, in love?

The Christian church in America has experienced several tumultuous decades when it comes to sexual morality and human sexuality, no question. Some of us have lived in apathy, lived in materialism, lived being lukewarm. There is no shortage of problems or issues that the Church has been grappling with internally, let alone the additional challenges brought on by a hostile modern culture.

However, those problems are also nothing new. They are the result of our fallen human nature and the New Testament Scriptures clearly show that the humble early churches struggled with many of the same human problems that we have today. But, the level of sexual sin within the church, and the degree to which is has spread? This is new. This is different.

In one sense we can certainly agree with Solomon in Ecclesiastes, ?there is nothing new under the sun?, but on the other hand we are in the midst of a new global crisis (and I?m not referring to Covid-19). The reinventing and distorting of maleness and femaleness, and hence, God?s image in humanity (Gen 1:26-27), is a deconstruction happening on a global scale never experienced or imaged before.

Rampant pornography addiction is epidemic across denominations, with both men and women struggling. Adultery, divorce, open celebration of identity alternatives, and homosexuality within the church; all of it together is degrading the vitality and witness of the Church.

However, God is not done with His people or the Church. Over and over throughout the Old Testament we see that no matter what public humiliation or disaster strikes the Nation of Israel, due to their sin, God preserves a remnant of true followers.

Since the inauguration of the New Testament Church and throughout the completion of the book of Revelation, the Lord always preserves a remnant of His people and keeps his Church alive and ministering to others, no matter what hell might throw against her.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says He is building a church that the gates of hell won?t be able to overcome. God takes His Church seriously enough that He will expose our sin in order to purge the immorality and bring a repentant remnant back to a place of authentic and integrated living. We are living in a day when the Church desperately needs this revitalization.

While all this might sound dire for the Christian Church in America, we also have to remember that the opportunities before us are incredible! In this generation (and those that will follow), how we prepare our foundation and methods of ministry are of utmost importance.

There is still time for God?s Church to start anew, in transparency and truth upon the core teachings of Scripture, and positions herself to offer hope and vision for a life lived in authentic and integrated holiness can set her apart in clarity, across denominations or individual churches that have either compromised or utterly abandoned truth altogether, or has taken the path of mere whispering or silence on the topics that are devouring our nation and world.

So, there is a great comfort and hope God is preparing a revived global witness through the Church. I am convinced that every single person in God?s Church and family can live and thrive in meaningful purpose and service to our Lord and Savior, no matter what our past has been like, and no matter what our present struggles are. By saying this, I am not minimizing the struggle with sin, the world, the devil and our own flesh. Those experiences are real and painful, but the struggle against sin and coming into agreement with the purposes of God for our lives are worth it.

The pathway of real life always begins with, and is sustained by repentance and surrender. We are all called to tear down our idols and allow Jesus to transform us from the inside out, rather than engaging in mere outer appearance, image management, and ?window dressing?, designed to look good to others.

Let?s pray for the foundation and structure of the American church. Let?s seek God on how we can actively participate in a fresh, global movement of the Holy Spirit founded on the sound teachings of Scripture, and living out those teachings in our public and private lives.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD

In addition to online curriculum development, we are offering leadership team development, as well as individual coaching/spiritual mentoring for individuals via Zoom. We?re also offering Webinar equipping opportunities. God has been so good to shine light on ways we can pivot from primarily in-person events and weekend ministry opportunities to virtual trainings and teachings. 

TESTIMONY: MELISSA INGRAHAM

I grew up in a church-going family with an older brother and an identical twin sister. Despite attending religious school for 12 years, I did not have a personal relationship with God. My parents? marriage was troubled from the beginning, and my father was absent. I held a lot of anger inside towards my father. I also saw my mother as weak, passive, and a victim for not standing up for herself. I vowed never to be like her?emotionally and financially dependent on a man. That vow profoundly impacted my relationships and my view of myself as a woman, because I put a wall between my mother and myself, rejecting everything feminine, both the good and the bad. I believed that it was not safe or advisable to be a woman. My violent encounters with my brother after school, and exposure to pornography confirmed this belief.

In high school and college, I was involved in several long-term, emotionally-dependent, sexual relationships with men. I was searching for the love, affirmation, acceptance, identity, and worth that I had never received from my father. He wasn?t around to bless me as his daughter, and say, ?You are beautiful, you are acceptable.? These relationships left me empty and unfulfilled.

In college I began to question my sexuality, and my senior year I entered a lesbian relationship. I felt like this is what I had been looking for my whole life! This woman would accept me and love me! Except she didn?t ? she dumped me after a month. I was devastated, but God used this situation to bring me to the end of myself. 

Although I attended church regularly, it didn?t impact my sexual behavior ? until my struggle with lesbianism. For the first time, I wrestled with guilt, shame, and condemnation. I was torn. I knew that my lesbian relationship was ?wrong?, but it felt ?right.? The deficit of feminine love caused by my rejection of my mother cried out to be filled in the arms of a woman.

About a month after my break-up, my identical twin sister (who?s never struggled with same-gender attraction) invited me to a Christian conference, where I attended a workshop on sexual wholeness. I gave my life to Christ and repented of my lesbian relationship when I saw how I had been deceived into thinking that lesbianism was God?s best for me because it felt so right. After accepting Jesus Christ, I knew I needed help to overcome my distorted patterns of relating.

I struggled spiritually and emotionally in shame and silence for about two years until I could join Living Waters, a teaching and discipleship group that helps the relationally and sexually broken find healing and freedom. Living Waters changed my life! I began to understand the impact of my childhood, and the damage of my own idolatry. I could be real about my own brokenness. I received truth about my identity in Christ?that I am a beloved, precious, beautiful, and cherished daughter of the King! I also came to accept my femininity as a gift from Him.

As a result of God?s healing work, He called me to pursue a Master?s Degree in Counseling from Regent University. I graduated in 2006 and was licensed as a professional mental health counselor in New York, as well as Arizona. I am passionate about helping Garry equip the Body of Christ so we can all experience transformation.

As I look back, I can see not only the faithfulness of God and His hand upon my life, but the fruit of a life submitted to His healing. I have wonderful, healthy friendships, and I am closer to my family. In the fall of 2004, I met my husband Garry. We were married in 2007, and now have two sons (and even a bearded dragon).

Our marriage is an outward reflection of an internal reality. For me, being with Garry is about so much more than merely not being with a woman. This year, Garry and I will be celebrating our 14th anniversary. God truly has restored my femininity and sexuality. I?m forever grateful and love to share about the goodness and power of God to transform lives! (Eph 3:20-21).