Posts with the tag “lgbtq”

A wrestle with God
by Sarah Sedgwick on February 11th, 2025
The account of Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32) is pivotal to Jacob’s future; it’s symbolic of the lifelong struggle he has had with God and with his own family.  This physical struggle depicts the scene of someone striving in his own strength to succeed, whilst seeking the blessing of God.  He recognises within this struggle his own limitations and dependence upon God, hence the desire for a...  Read More
A watered down gospel?
by Sarah Sedgwick on February 6th, 2025
My morning devotional concluded with a number of questions.  One that jumped out at me asked this, “when I share the gospel, do I change the message in anyway?This is a thought provoking question, especially when barraged by many from the LGBTQ+ community who are seeking a god who accepts them, just as they are.  Is the temptation for us to try and lead them into a relationship with Jesus so great...  Read More
God's Child
by Sarah Sedgwick on December 20th, 2024
This Christmas our hearts are with the many families who will sit with an empty space at the table where a son or daughter once sat.  Our heart for 2025 is to see reconciliation between parents and LGBTQ+ children who have come from Christian homes, and we are already working on some resources to encourage conversation.This poem is for all our Abba’s Heart members.GOD’S CHILDUnto us a child is bor...  Read More
6 beautiful words of truth
by Sarah Sedgwick on December 9th, 2024
 1 Corinthians 6:9-11Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were ju...  Read More
Love like Jesus
by Sarah Sedgwick on September 6th, 2024
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
A difficult response
by Sarah Sedgwick on June 26th, 2024
This week I've been contacted by a Mum whose daughter is transitioning.  Her daughter sent her a picture that simple said:"They all said the same thing about my Transition, be patient with your Mom."The sad thing is, we are not seeing that patience from many of the children who are transitioning.  There is often a high demand on Christian parents to compromise their beliefs and affirm their child,...  Read More
Thinking Straight
by Sarah Sedgwick on February 6th, 2024
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
Shining the spotlight
by Sarah Sedgwick on January 3rd, 2024
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
Some of us choose to reject the world’s label
by Sarah Sedgwick on October 25th, 2023
In the UK there is still a lot of unrest around the proposed legislation for banning conversion therapy.  The aim of those proposing this ban is “to improve the lives of LGBT people.”I am all for lives being improved and am against any form of psychological or physical abuse against anyone.  I am also very mindful that not all LGBT people are the same, there are many different views, experiences a...  Read More
If my people will humble themselves
by Sarah Sedgwick on October 4th, 2023
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
Be in the conversation
by Sarah Sedgwick on September 12th, 2023
Sometimes when you write, you have no idea if the person you are directing your thoughts at will ever read them.  But, when God puts thoughts on your heart, I believe it is well worth recording them, because he has a great way of directing people to the right place at the right time.  Even within this Ministry, we have had people contact us for support, who cannot even tell us how they stumbled ac...  Read More
Living with an identity you can't walk in
by Sarah Sedgwick on August 31st, 2023
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
The problem with labels
by Sarah Sedgwick on April 26th, 2023
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
What if my teenager comes out as gay?
by Sarah Sedgwick on March 30th, 2023
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
Truth, turning and transformation
by Sarah Sedgwick on March 6th, 2023
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
Bowing down to idols
by Sarah Sedgwick on January 31st, 2023
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
Has God shaped you for such a time as this?
by Guest Blogger on January 30th, 2023
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
Prodigal Come Home
by Sarah Sedgwick on January 3rd, 2023
Prodigal come home – the cry of the Father’s heart to the children who were brought up in church, yet have been drawn away by the empty promises of the world.The NLT version of the Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6 – “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”My personal experience of this is so true.  I was brought up in church and taught Biblical tr...  Read More
Hope shouts louder
by Sarah Sedgwick on December 20th, 2022
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
Warring Parents
by Sarah Sedgwick on October 28th, 2022
Christian parents sometimes ask us what do they do when their child comes out as gay or Trans?  I suggest that two things are essential:Love unconditionallyGo into your prayer closet and start warring in the SpiritIf you think about it, your child has gone through an incredible struggle to get to the point of telling you.  They have almost certainly warred with themselves, shed a lot of tears, suf...  Read More
What's the dumbest thing......?
by Sarah Sedgwick on September 22nd, 2022
I thought it would be interesting to ask a group of Christians who have experienced, or still experience, same sex attraction (SSA) about their experiences in church.  I asked the tongue in cheek question – what’s the dumbest thing someone’s ever said to you in church about SSA?I was not ready for the answers I received, it opened my eyes to a level of offence and ignorance that must be changed if...  Read More

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