"I struggled a lot with my sexual orientation. Many churches preach that you have to be healed from homosexuality and it's caused by a demonic spirit, and so forth. That's what I was taught, and that's what I thought what the Bible said. I believed homosexuality was wrong, but my heart always wanted God's will, regardless of the cost. "

And so ensued a 6 year struggle of trying to "become straight". There was much prayer, deliverance, and all the things we're told to do as a recipe to converting. I can only speak for myself when I say that I do not believe that I could ever be heterosexual without total denial of truth of that which I was created to be, and thus living a lie. How can God be glorified when we live a lie?

One day, God met with me and the Holy Spirit ministered to my heart and so clearly told me that "there is no condemnation for those in Christ" (from Rom 8:1). The truth was injected into my heart and a freedom began to unfold. But there was still a lot of healing that had to take place from years of indoctrination.

I had a lot of supportive friends at the time, who didn't condemn or judge me, even if they didn't understand things totally, which really made the difference in such times. The more I gave to God, the more God blessed me. The more obedient I was, the more God showed me. I began to research the scriptures in their original context and languages, and more relevation struck me that there truly was no condemnation for gay people in Christ. I fell in love with Justin and God blessed me with him as a partner. We gave God the rightful place as head of our relationship. God also continued to bless me with friends that helped to encourage me and just displayed the love of Christ.

A dear friend of ours led us to Deo Gloria Family Church where we shortly after became members, and my heart was able to heal from all the untrue teachings I'd been indoctrinated with, up to a point that I can say that I have been set free from the bondages of false doctrines.

Being able to worship God openly whilst being real at church and not hide such an integral part of myself not only gives me a beautiful peace, but more importantly, allows the hope and glory of Christ to be revealed, through living openly and without shame of who God created me to be, and to pursue God's plans for my life.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)