Posts with the category “ministry”

This week I was told that someone who had looked at our website had complained that, “I was dogmatic about my truth.”  They were someone with more liberal views on the nature of what the Bible teaches about sexuality, and who disagreed with the more conservative views of this ministry.I don’t get upset over people who disagree with my beliefs, I see it as “job done”, when I share testimony and wha...  Read More

We have to admit to a degree of excitement as TBGL is hosting its first overseas retreat in just over one weeks’ time.  Previously we have held our annual get togethers in the UK, and we have enjoyed some great teaching and times of passionate worship, and firm friendships have been formed. We've been very blessed that some of our members from the US have made the trip in the past, so it's even mo...  Read More

Transformed Ministries are delighted to be working with the team at Coastline Vineyard Church to launch the first in-person TBGL group, offering a safe and welcoming space for Christians and seekers from the LGBTQ+ community to explore and pursue their faith. Having offered online groups via Zoom with members from across the world, we felt the time was right to follow God’s prompting for multiplic...  Read More

What does God want to say to the person who identifies as LGBTQ+, and how does it differ from what they're hearing from Christians?Sadly, we live in a world where many Christians are very judgmental, and seemingly unable to love the sinner while hating the sin. That's a phrase that's often used (not one I'm very keen on), but not applied well.As this ministry has been conducting some research into...  Read More

It's an exciting time for us as a ministry as we launch our first in person Abba’s Heart group next month.  From our earliest days we had a vision of multiplication, and this is a huge step forward in enabling us to reach more people around the world. Abba’s Heart groups are places where Christian parents and grandparents can gather together and share their experiences.  This helps families to pro...  Read More

“Don't take your moral cues from animals.”Never a truer word than this, spoken by Christopher Yuan in a video I was watching last week, which explored yet another one of the reasons given by some Christians for the acceptance of homosexual behaviour as being from God. (Video now available on our resources page)I was honestly surprised that he felt the need to make this video, as I have not heard t...  Read More

It is unlikely that your child or teen won’t have their own ideas about Pride and may speak with some authority about it.It’s important therefore that if you are going to talk about this with your kids you have formed your own views and know why you hold them. Part of that may mean you say to your kids ‘I’m on a journey of discovering all about this’ or ‘I’ve not quite made up my mind yet’, or eve...  Read More

Pete Greig writes a great book about unanswered prayer, which has also been made into an easily accessible course online – The Prayer Course II – unanswered prayer.  He talks about the wrestle with huge issues, for him his wife's battle with illness, and the cry of a heart when we feel abandoned by God.Every week faithful parents from around the world are meeting to pray for their children who hav...  Read More

As Christians we are aware that there is a spiritual battle, a “good v evil” if you like.  God, who is good, has made us to his own intricate and perfect design.  Satan, who is evil, is doing everything to twist that design to convince us to reject God. In the battle over our sexual identity, Satan’s thinking is surely, if they believe they were born this way, then they will either blame God for t...  Read More

I’m sure many Christians are dismayed at the amount of time spent on debating what God’s Word says about homosexuality, and how we as churches must respond to those who want equality in marriage.  This is a huge distraction for church leaders and while their focus is on this, their eyes are turned from our great commission, namely, to make disciples of all nations.  Rather, many leaders today are ...  Read More

This is a question we hear repeatedly, and it’s not a question that’s reserved solely for Christian parents.  Despite what the media portrays, this is not an easy conversation for most parents to have.  It is almost certainly going to come as a huge shock with a whole host of side questions, many of which come from our own place of fear of the unknown.‘How did I not know?’, ‘When did this happen?’...  Read More

I read with interest Emily Sargent’s article in the Times, 31 January 2024 titled – “Conversion therapy? It must be banned. I should know.”  Reading this article, led me to delve deeper into Emily Sargent’s work, and I discovered a series of seven podcasts called “Thinking Straight,” which explore conversion therapy, and advocates for an extensive ban. Emily is a non-Christian, lesbian reporter, a...  Read More

I am reading a fascinating book called Mercy Triumphs over Judgment, by Joanne Highley. Joanne brings so much experience, wisdom, and knowledge to the Christian response to homosexuality. In response to those who suggest that homosexuality is something that we are born with, she comes back with what I feel is the perfect response.“The truth is God would never create people as homosexuals and then ...  Read More

Today we simply wanted to shine. the spotlight on our TBGL groups, because we have a passion to ensure that no one who is on the journey of exploring sexuality and faith for themselves, feels alone. We want everyone to have access to a community of like-minded Christians who support and encourage each other. That is why we are so committed to our peer support (TBGL) groups.  These groups allow lik...  Read More

Do you struggle with emotional dependency – OK let’s spell that out – do you have a relationship / friendship with someone who you feel you could not exist or function without?  Is this person central to your life to the point maybe of idolatry?If this describes you, or simply makes you stop and think for a moment about some of the relationships you are in, you may be subject to a form of addictio...  Read More

The story of Nehemiah is one that has many lessons for us.  As Nehemiah heard of the devastation back home, the destruction of the city and the danger those who survived the exile were in, he wept, he fasted, and he sought God, confessing the sins of the nation and reminding God of the covenant He had made with Moses.When reading this yesterday I thought about the devastation we face in the 21st c...  Read More

Something has been bothering me for a little while now, and I feel compelled to put some thoughts on paper.  You may have heard of side A and side B Christians, terms commonly used to describe the two main approaches to Christian sexuality.  Side A promoting the idea that you can be an openly gay Christian, and side B teaching a more traditional biblical sexual ethic, of being same-sex attracted b...  Read More

I struggled for many years with sexual sin. It was my “go to” way for comforting myself each time I struggled with emotional pain. At times it was constantly a problem, other times I could go for several months without it being an issue, but as soon as something hurt emotionally it would begin again.When some people realise they are struggling with sexual sin they have prayer and are delivered imm...  Read More

This week a friend shared how she has been told by a friend of 20+ years that they can no longer be friends because of her Christian beliefs on homosexual behaviour.  To get it clear, my friend has simply responded to a request from her friend to send verses from the Bible which said that homosexual behaviour is sinful.  Having shared those verses (as requested) she now finds herself ostracised, d...  Read More

In his book “Gay Children, Straight Parents: A Plan for Family Healing,” author Richard Cohen lays out his suggestion that there are 10 factors we can look at which may contribute to children developing same sex attraction.  Looking at these factors myself, I can also see how some of them may also be factors that are at play when previously heterosexual adults find themselves attracted to the same...  Read More

It never fails to sadden me when people who contact the ministry tell me that they are struggling to find a church where they feel welcome and safe to speak of their same sex attraction, whether current or historic.  The tendency seems to be that they either find a church that has become inclusive, to the point of celebration of same sex relationships.  Or, they find a church where they feel judge...  Read More

This world increasingly encourages us to wear labels, whether it’s our gender, sexuality, relationship status, career or something else.  Psychologists would say that we put ourselves in boxes, trying to define who we are.  When you introduce yourself to someone, how do you describe yourself?  This is an eye opener as to where you see your worth or how you view yourself within society.One label th...  Read More

Psalm 18:16-19He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.  He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.Oh that the church would take heed of these verses when it comes to...  Read More

Acts 5:29 (New Living Translation) tells us that when Peter and the apostles were summoned to the High Priest to answer why they had continued to teach in the name of Jesus, despite being banned, they replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.As I read today of the discussions within the Scottish parliament, and recognising that similar conversations are taking place in Wales and ...  Read More

If your teenager comes out as gay or has already come out as gay then you are not alone in the Christian community, there are many other families who walk the path with you. We have taken some of the advice given on an online Christian peer support group, some from parents who have recently found out their son or daughter is gay, and some from parents who have been dealing with this for many years...  Read More

It’s always a privilege to be asked to speak about my faith and personal testimony, it’s usually the Q & A session that I find the most fun as I get a chance to really hear what’s on people’s hearts.  In a couple of weeks I am speaking to a youth group and have been furnished with their questions in advance.  One question that popped out of the page to me was this, “Will LGBTQ people go to hell?We...  Read More

I love delivering the Freedom in Christ course, it has become a key part of the discipleship we offer our group members and it never fails to deliver.  On the Freedom in Christ website they highlight three “T’s” that they associate with the course:Truth, turning and transformation.The ten week course gives us space and time to look at the truth of who we are in Christ, and of course the truth that...  Read More

Ephesians 6: 12-13 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.Bible believing Chri...  Read More

What did Jesus say about homosexuality?OK so this is a question we hear all the time, and many people will say that Jesus was silent on this.  I disagree with that; Jesus did speak about sexual immorality and I will cover that shortly.  But the other day I was reading the book of John and was drawn to the final verse which says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were writt...  Read More

Seeing the Church of England continue to implode this week reminded me of a recent article I wrote about how we can be welcoming to all, without affirming sinful behaviours.Sadly, living in a post Christian society we are challenged to declare our support of, and uphold the personal rights of, everyone and anyone to do life their way.  Saying that you’re an affirming, inclusive and progressive chu...  Read More

This week the Church of England has sent a very stark message to all those who have turned their back on their homosexual past to follow Jesus.  By voting to bless same sex marriage they have told us that we were mistaken, that we shouldn’t have picked up our cross and followed Him, that our sacrifice was unnecessary.However, the good news is, we don’t follow a denomination or a church body, we fo...  Read More

There was a time in my life when I was out and proud in the gay community and felt that I actually belonged there. Yet at the same time I didn’t entirely feel like I was meant to be there. I had enough of a Christian upbringing to know the lifestyle I was living wasn’t for me.  In church for a long time though, I had also felt very alone and I didn’t feel like I belonged there either. Having same ...  Read More

I was deeply saddened this week to read that St Nicholas Church in Leicester has given pride of place (excuse the pun) to the progress pride flag on its altar.  The Daily Mail online reports that “Church reverend Canon Karen Rooms claims the huge fabric Progress Pride Flag is merely a way of letting visitors know they are ‘welcome and safe”.I will come back to the ‘welcome and safe’ comment in a m...  Read More

25 years ago God spoke to me regarding being involved in a future ministry helping and leading those in the LGBTQ+ to Christ.  Little did I know that all those years later how much the world would change and the seed that was sown back in 1997 would start to bear fruit.When I shared this with my Pastor at the time, his reply shocked and hurt me to the core, “Those people can’t be helped.” he said ...  Read More

As we get close to a New Year, the words “Hope Shouts Louder” have been placed on my heart.  Credit must go to Rebecca Townley and Rosie Godfrey, the authors of “Hope Shouts Louder”, as the title, and content of their book spoke deeply to my heart.  The phrase has been rattling around my mind for the past few days and I believe it is a significant message from the Lord for our Ministry and the peo...  Read More

Our TBGL groups are studying the 10 Commandments and it’s refreshing to revisit them with a new lens and see how they should impact our lives today.  This week we have been looking at command number 9 -  “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour”, which basically is a reminder to be truth tellers in all and every circumstance.  The study has opened up conversations around the conc...  Read More

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:11This week I received another unprovoked rant against the ministry, accusing us of being liars, of lying to ourselves, of being ignorant, hateful bigots and being told in no uncertain terms where to go.  This person sent a message via our Instagram account and had clearly...  Read More

Never underestimate the power of a praying parent, sister, brother, grandparent or friend.  Satan is targeting children of Christian families and luring them away with the promise of fulfilment, acceptance and a new identity that’s applauded and celebrated by the world.  We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of t...  Read More

Transformed Ministries is 3 years old today!  We celebrate God’s goodness as we look back and see his hand of blessing over our work.  What the enemy meant for harm; God turns around for our good.  I see that in so many ways as I look at how this Ministry was conceived, birthed and how it grows.  As I hear prophesy speaking into our future as a ministry, I celebrate the love of Jesus for us and th...  Read More