anyone wanna introduce themselves? Let's strike up some conversation...we are the largest group on this site, I would love to see more conversation.

Well here is my introduction......my name is Dana, im a 35 yo dude in central texas..small town of gatesville it is the waco, temple, killeen area. and yep--im pentecostal. lol.

I am Jackson, live in Melbourne Australia, currently attending a Baptist Church was ostracised from a Pentecostal Church due to my sexuality but I still very much identified my self as a Pentecostal.  

Hi, group

I'm David. I was raised in the United Pentecostal Church. I found a wonderful church home in the Episcopal Church several years ago, but I still miss the music and worship of the Pentecostal Church. I have been in a committed relationship with my partner, Kevin, for 13 years. I truly believe that the emotions, sights, and sounds that we become accustomed to as children become hard-wired in our brains and can never be completely erased. The same is true for our faith and the the things that we associate with our spiritual experiences. I think that it's important to differentiate our spirituality from the associated experiences, however, and realize that God communicates to us in an infinite number of ways.

Thanks for joining the group. I know many UPC brothers- they started a "denomination" Called RPI and GAAP; Reconciling Pentecostals International and I forget what GAAP stands for.  There are many of us out there- i grew up baptist but converted to Assembly of God at 16 and have been spirit-filled ever since.  I agree-sometimes there is a little more emotionalism in the pentecostal church, but you can find balance as well and still "feel the Spirit" in ways ive never experienced in more liturgical churches.  Thanks for writing...

Hi, group

well lets see I am John a closet gay man that is married and has children. I go to a penticostal church but if they knew my true identity they would love me but ask me to leave is that a contrdiction or what.

Hey John welcome. Coming to terms with one's sexuality is not an easy thing- ask most of us! i will definitely say a prayer for you.

God bless you,

bradley

Hey!  I'm Joey.. I'm not really good at these things but here it goes.  I am a 33 yr old guy currently living in Northern GA.  I love spending time in God's House and hangin with friends.  If you live in the Northern GA/Chattanooga TN area and you don't have a church home...  Hit me up.. I'd love to talk to ya.  God is doin some exciting things in my neck of the woods, and I'd love to share :)

Ilove Jesus and I know he loves me

I was brought up Baptist. In my early 30s I joined the Assembly of God .I loved the freedom of worship. I worshiped with them for many years. Because of their attitude to homosexuality my spirit was crushed and I left the church altogether. It has been only the last five years that a wonderful change has happened.I am at present worshipping with the Plymouth Brethren.I have been fully accepted by my church and the Love of Jesus has been there. I still miss the freedom of worship but God knows my heart

so awesome to see what God is doing in GA Joey.  I didnt realize u were almost my age! I remember when we met up in Tennessee one night- that was fun.  Glad u are well bro,

Bradley

Hey thanks for the message.  its sad to hear this, but not surprising in mainline pentecostal circles. Thats why God is bringing people together through glbt spirit-filled churches all across the USA.  What part of the country are you in?

Bradley

Hi guys! I'm new to this space, but am really glad something like this exists! My story is actually a bit different. I am a minister's daughter. As a child, I was taught by my father that homosexuality was the "one unforgiveable sin." Of course, this was pretty crushing when in fifth grade, I began being attracted to women as well as men. I did come out to my parents as bi when I was 17. They loved me, but did not accept this info. warmly. They hoped it was a phase. It was not. Like many Christians, throughout my life, my religion has complicated my attitude toward my sexuality; my sexuality complicated my attitude toward my religion; all of this, complicated my attitude toward myself. Unfortunately, shame, guilt, fear and doubt have been common conditions in my life. My father has lightened up some on gays. I think this has much to do with me. However, although he acknowledges that God loves and saves gay people, he still believes that being gay is a sin and is somehow worse than many other sins. At this point, my parent's and I just don't talk much about the subject.

But that's my history. In truth, I have come a long way over the years in my faith and in developing a healthy attitude toward myself. I give my God the glory for this. I'm hoping and believing in faith that God will take me further in the years to come! It is a difficult road I think, and sometimes I still feel confused, sometimes lonely, etc. Still, I hope that maybe I can be helpful to others somehow because of going through this.

Currently, I'm looking for a church in which I feel at home. This doesn't mean I want a church that never challanges me; I would just like one where I don't feel like an outsider or 2nd class member, so to speak, and where I can worship God openly and grow in my understanding of His Word. If you live in the South Florida area, do you have any suggestions? I would also like to meet other GLBTQ Christians to talk to about our specific struggles and experiences. I am the only one I know personally! lol

God bless and be with you all! :)

Hey Sarah, I am in Fort Lauderdale! Sorry I dont read this page much- I just sent you a message I hope you will come visit my church, Church of the Holy SpiritSong in Fort Lauderdale. Its not really my church but its where i attend! God bless you!!!!

I'm new as of five mintues ago. my nickname is silly cause my real name is arabic and few can say it. currently I am going to this non-affriming  charismatic church it is amazing. But I have been going to MCC boston to recently just to see some other gay christian its nice to be here!

nice to meet you silly! welcome...

I am Jose I am 22 year I sort off in the closet but not to my family but I get most stress from them for being Gay. I am student in DeVry University Austin Business Administration in Accounting. Austin Community College in Paralegal. I am Tax Professional in H&R Block coming will be the third year working for the company and my fourth year in Tax Preparing Industry. I also have few businesses like AVON. I like to workout whenever I can.

G'day from Australia,

Who would have thought the would be a gay Pentecostal site. It's good to see everyone's stories on this page. I grew up in a Pentecostal church with homophobic (prejudiced) elders. They  would probably thinbk i'm going to Hell if they new i was seeking a husband. Poor them. As a young adult I grew up believing my sexuality was abominable, it was only a few years ago I sorted things out. I was seeing a counsellor who kept saying it was alright to be gay and Christian, she even said she wouldn't want to know God if He held people's sexuality against them. I didn't know what to do with that at first. For a long time I felt she shouldn't be saying that because she's a Christian.

Eventually, she got through to me and I got determined to get to the bottom of it all. I read books about 'those' passages of scripture, and met someone from the Rainbow Sash Movement who helped me work through all my issues. It took me 2 months to realise there is no evidence either way as to what to believe, this led me to realise I must make a choice what I believe. Although there was no absolute evidence God made me gay, everything seemed to point that this was the case, particularly given that the Bible didn't hold anything against gay relationships afterall.

One factor i considered was many years ago i went up to an alter call for prayer to become straight. I didn't say anything to the minister, but eventually he looked at me and said 'all I'm getting is "Stop Running"'. I thought because of Exodus' teachings that God must mean stop running from the things that make me gay and this will set me free from being gay. The next day at home, a package from Joyce Meyer Ministries came in the mail for me. I tore it open and the first thing I saw was a red stop sign that said "Stop Running". I knew God was serious!

It wasn't till a few years ago when i sorted through things that I realised what god was saying. I searched for the things that made me gay and all I kept coming up with was "I'm gay because I'm gay," there were no "things." I realised God was telling me to stop running from who I am. The acceptance this offered me seemed too good to be true after feeling like a walking abomination all my like.

After choosing to believe God made me gay I have never looked back. Life is Good! Finally (lol)

Scott 

Hi, everyone

First, it's just so amazing that we have this kind of forum, because i don't really have much of Christian gay friends around and it's so hard to find a friend who can understand just how true it is that i love God but also undeniably gay.

I'm 22 yrs old girl and brought up as a catholic, but to me who my God was just an identity, until recently. I was introduce to Jesus by one of my Charismatic Christian friend (who later on turn up to be gay) just a couple of years ago. I don't think that it's just a coincidence at all.

I'm born gay, i've been dealing with it since primary school, it's hard but there are no confusion nor denial. But, eventhough i rarely go to church, i know that homosexuality is an unforgivable sin and i'm not and ignorant child about this, plus there are so many homophobia from where i came. I was scared and i want to have a happy life i guess, thus when i was in high school i tried some relationships with boys, kinda a long complicated story, but let's just say it didn't work and i got fed up with dating. So for a while i haven't really though and didn't want to care about my love life, let alone sexuality. Years later Jesus came into my life, then the guy who introduce me to Him came out to me. It was like a wake up call and i was like "oh yeah, there are this problem too". I think, God just want me to deal with it, but clearly not with trying to have a relationship with guys. If my friend didn't come out to me those day, i would clearly be alone and completely ignorant to this problem. Know that i've been dealing with it, i have a better understanding of my self and my surrounding, i've been able to come out to some of my friend, i felt so relieve that i don't have to lie with them. Jesus let me embrace those side of me that i haven't been able to have when i'm afraid of the fact that i'm gay.

All and all, i'm not specify my self with any church, but i just love Pentecostal and Charismatic way of praise and worshiping.

I hope we can be friends

Jbu all

I'm Rev. David Strong, and Pastor Sojourner Truth Christian United Church in Seattle. We were formerly members of the Unity Fellowship Movement.

I have a mixed background of pentecostal and Anglican/Old Catholic and the Christian United Church is committed to the convergence movement of bringing the sacramental, evangelical and charismatic streams together.  We a small but growning denomination.

I love all of my hertiage and watching people praise God in order and spirit.

David