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average age

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4JC
 
Joined in 2007
November 13, 2007, 22:32

Hello I’m new here and I have a question what is the average age on this forum. I’m 26 years. I’m disappointed in the struggle that I’m in, reading Anthony’s strory and the fall of preachers in this gave a conclusion you can not be free of this feelings.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
November 13, 2007, 23:04

welcome 4JC……its hard to tell the average age of this forum…….i’m a really old cogger……56.


there are others around your age though.


we are actually thinking of starting a special youth section……after all i did start Youth Alive.



frogger
 
Joined in 2005
November 14, 2007, 07:56

i am 28… everyone here is not old


November 14, 2007, 08:02

I’m 40 in six months time. Hoping that it really is true that life begins at 40.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
November 14, 2007, 08:55

I’m disappointed in the struggle that I’m in, reading Anthony’s strory and the fall of preachers in this gave a conclusion you can not be free of this feelings.


Dont be dissapointed 4JC……no one told me all those years ago that i could have a rewarding fulfilling life as an openly gay man, live a moral life…….and have a rich and vibrant faith. Thats why it took me 22 years to work that out. It certainly will be much shorter for you. organisations like F2B is certainly speeding up the process for many individuals.


There are 1000’s of us now coming out of the closet. Here is a press release i sent out last month that is relevant to this and hopefully will encourage you. Your struggle is not to overcome and reject your true self……its a journey to loving the person God made you to be and live your life honouring God within that. Hope this media release helps you see that.


12 October 2007 MEDIAL RELEASE


The Second Coming………Out


When former Assemblies of God leader Anthony Venn-Brown was announced as one the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians this week, it reflected an often-unnoticed shift in Australia’s religious world. Some are calling it the ‘Rainbow Revival’. It appears that what we were seeing in ‘70’s, with the birth of the equality movement and gay rights, is happening again, 3 decades later, as gay Christians come out and proudly declare both their sexuality and their faith.


As Australia’s first openly gay Pentecostal, Venn-Brown’s autobiography, ‘A Life of Unlearning’ has been instrumental in helping homosexuals in churches, resolve their conflicts. ‘It can be a long and dark journey. Previously, most of us have had to work through that in isolation and away from the church, knowing it was not a safe place to come out. There are already signs of change though’ Venn-Brown said.

Once a high-profile preacher in the mega-churches of Australia, Venn-Brown experienced first hand, the trauma and rejection of being honest about his sexuality. ‘When I resigned from the ministry in 1991, I was so full of self-loathing and, viewing myself as a failure, I’d planned a brief life as an out gay man. Commit suicide at 50, I thought, before you get too old and unattractive. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would become an ambassador for the gay community and be helping churches and individuals come to a more informed understanding of sexual orientation’, Venn-Brown said. ‘Here I am now 56 and feeling more passionate than ever about what lies ahead of me. Almost every day brings a new win or an encouraging email from a reader who tells me of their personal transformation after reading my story’. Venn-Brown added. From the contacts he has made, an organisation called freedom 2 b[e], was launched in 2005 to provide support and information to gays and lesbians from the same religious background.


Venn-Brown’s recent trip to the United States of America connected him with others who have had a similar journey. According to his research, there are nearly two hundred Pentecostal churches with either a gay man or lesbian as their pastor. And the numbers are growing apparently. ‘A decade ago this was unthinkable’, Venn-Brown commented. ‘And who would have thought the Australian Assemblies of God would acknowledge a differentiation between homosexual orientation and homosexual behaviour. Once, both were considered sin’. There is still a long way to go according to Venn-Brown but he sees encouraging signs that people are looking beyond a few bible verses and becoming more informed.


SameSame.com.au announced the 25 Most Influential Gay & Lesbian Australians at an event held at the Art Gallery of NSW earlier this week. Venn-Brown’s name appeared on the list of well-known people such as Justice Michael Kirby, pop singer Darren Hayes, sportswoman and Hockeyroo Alyson Annan, Senior Sergeant Joy Murphy of Victoria Police and lesbian mum and author from Playschool Viki Harding.


Venn-Brown’s message ‘My morality is a choice, but sexual orientation however isn’t’ seems to be spreading as his autobiography is into its second print in Australia and was released internationally this month.



Nick
 
Joined in 2007
November 14, 2007, 08:58

hi 4JC

I’m 30 y.o and i think i’m still pretty young 🙂

I’m kinda in the same boat as you mate so dont feel alone.



4JC
 
Joined in 2007
November 14, 2007, 10:32

Hello

Yes but I’m more afraid to go the wrong way. I’m in a Christian bubble now. I have so many friends at this moment. These friendships are different than you can find in the world. I love them just as my brothers. It is not my heart to do something with them. The church were I go is the most incredible church. But it has also his weakness. I do not want to live in the gay community it is empty.


One of my greatest distress is that God is still using you even when you live a dubel life. I have a burdon a calling on my life and I don’t want to miss it.


I love God with everything that is within me. And I always believed to get married but somewhere I still can not find girls attractive, i don’t have it. And hearing your story’s and reading Tony’s book gives answers but also many questions. Is this the top of the iceberg of the truth. What happens behind closed windows what ministers still live a dubble life.

bless you



magsdee
Disabled
Joined in 2006
November 14, 2007, 11:22

Hi 4JC, Im 40.

You are right in saying, that as much as you get answers you also get as many questions on top of that. By all means ask anything you like. The one thing I know about someones call, is that when God calls you to something it doesnt get taken from you, there is no condition to the call apart from Jesus being your Lord and Saviour (thinking about it, I believe we are basically called from birth from memory). But the thing is, even if you did reject Jesus ( I know you wouldnt) the call is still on your life until the day you die.

Thing is we seem to think that it has to fit into a certain time frame or setting and if we dont get it done in that time frame or setting then we have missed it……..God doesnt think like us (thank God wink ) there is a time of preparation and we shouldnt be in such a rush, thing is God will bring it to pass his way and it may be surprising how that will be.


I knew my call was to the hurting and lonely people, people who need to know that they are loved and accepted and need a hand to keep going, it seemed no matter what I did or where I went God just ministered through me to others, I just had to have the guts sometimes just to step out (complete strangers on the street sometimes, actually most times), never in my wildest dreams did I think when I first became a Christian I would be ministering to people as a lesbian shock I thought “ok, Im a Lez, kiss the call goodbye” but no, when you become a child of God your his child full stop, he cant let you go, not in his nature, he loves you too much.


To me living a double life was hiding from the fact that I was a lesbian, it was torture sometimes, the day I just went “ok, this is me” I felt the most free I had been in ages and I questioned God along the way “you still love me? you still have plans for me?” and he answered along the way over time, I still get so blessed in many ways, sense his presence and also am healing from a disease which has been confirmed as being in remission for the last four years. He has protected me the whole time from the initial diagnosis until now and beyond I know. Its enough proof for me, I got ill when I wasnt a practicing lesbian and trying to go straight. When I finally just came out, my healing came via counseling of my past stuff and continued from their. I cant give you an answer for you personally in what to do, its between you and God, all anyone has on here is what has happened to them and good advise. I hope in everyway, you will find your peace and fulfill all you have been called to.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
November 14, 2007, 11:46

Hello

Yes but I’m more afraid to go the wrong way. I’m in a Christian bubble now. I have so many friends at this moment. These friendships are different than you can find in the world. I love them just as my brothers. It is not my heart to do something with them. The church were I go is the most incredible church. But it has also his weakness. I do not want to live in the gay community it is empty.

Is this the top of the iceberg of the truth. What happens behind closed windows what ministers still live a dubble life.

bless you


its a dilemma most of us have faced 4JC. I think that you maybe be getting the gay ‘scene’ and the gay ‘community’ mixed up. the only thing most people know of the G&L community is Oxford St. that is not the gay community that is the gay scene and is the tip of the iceberg I talk about in my book. I was in the gay ‘scene’ for 7 months in 1971 and felt so unfulfilled I went back in the closet and got married.


I’ve been out now for 16 years and have so many wonderful wonderful friends in the gay community. Unfortunately many christians judge G&L’s by the behaviours of the visible ones. Most of us just live pretty normal lives.


we meet informally for dinner most Friday nights at the Flinders Hotel if you want to join us. You can meet others like yourself who understand. Some are still working it out….some have come to a place of peace. I know longer live a double life. I have friends who are christians and friends who are G&L…..and some who are both. I value them all.



lloydjones
 
Joined in 2006
November 14, 2007, 13:29

hey there


I am 23 and going through the journey too. My name is Lloyd, and have come pretty far along. Coming to terms with my homosexuality and being at peace with it, after growing up in such a “christian bubble” my whole life, so understand where you are coming from. And then trying to reconcile faith with sexuality. I won’t lie, it can be hard, with so many beliefs drilled in since childhood.


Feel free to chat about anything with me, I am happy to chat.


Oh and 40 isnt old either everyone!! 🙂


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