Gettingthere and Pentatropics,
You both asked for an update, so here it goes:
I am a very happy confident care-free Holy Ghost-filled guy, really really in love with the King of the Universe, Jesus.
God is doing awesome things. This year has been like a dream. Everyday is amazing. I love God so much and feel His presence. Its all the work of the Holy Spirit, my best friend. I love Him so much. They can take anything – my house, my clothes, my TV, my boyfriend, anything – but Lord, “take not your Holy Spirit from me”.
All my desire for “ministry” has died, and yet, when I got my eyes back on Jesus and really focused on loving the Holy Spirit with all my heart, He has started resurrecting everything Himself. Its like I’ve died and He’s starting to live through me. Its an amazing ride! I want to die more so I can experience more of His life. It really is amazing.
I haven’t gone back to the original church I ministered at, but think about them often and will probably end up becoming good friends with them I think.
Instead I have started going to a big Hillsong-like church here and am connecting with the leaders slowly, letting them get to know me. I actually came out to the main pastors already via email last year, but I don’t think they have put two and two together yet, so more openness will be required at some stage. Just waiting on the Holy Spirit for the timing and grace. I put rainbows etc on my Twitter and YouTube, but even then some people are slow, so I probably will need to be more direct if they ask me to minister.
One thing I am not going to do is seek or accept any leadership or speaking at this new place unless they suddenly become comfortable with my sexuality. But the Lord is already using me to find the new GLBT believers who come in through their outreaches and encourage them, and that’s enough I think.
And now the Lord has given me a vision for evangelism and reaching out with the love of God, not in the church but out on the streets and in the bars and in the parks – and no one can stop that. I am sharing the vision with pastors and leaders in Japan and the response is good so far (I guess they all want the newly saved in their churches haha). Started on Twitter and YouTube to reach Japanese with the Good News, follow up new Japanese believers and connect with Christians who are visiting Japan.
I am also doing a 2 year bible course via the ACTS bible school, a division of Encounter Missions International led by Janet Robertson and Sandy Turnbull of Glory Tabernacle in Long Beach California. The students are all GLBT on fire for God who love the Word and the Holy Spirit. I have really been blessed and encouraged in my faith, and seeing the rich faith of all the students. Its humbling. They love the Word and God so much it makes me more hungry for God myself.
Anyway, hope that updates you a little. If you want more info about what we are doing here in Tokyo or the vision, message me and I will email you. If any of you speak Japanese or ever visit Japan, come and say Hi. You could go out on the streets with us too!
Oh I almost forgot. Lonnie Frisbee. I was so blessed to find out about the ministries of Lonnie Frisbee and Brant Baker. They were both gay but used of God powerfully, carrying an anointing like Kathryn Kuhlman in the 1970s and 1980s. God used Lonnie to spark the Jesus People movement and help grow both Calvary Chapel and the Vineyard movement. He was a pioneer for us. I have been in contact with people who were close to him and they have been really encouraging. They told me to dream big and speak in tongues throughout the day. This has revolutionized me. I am like speaking in tongues nearly all day everyday and its just absolutely amazing all the supernatural things God is doing.
I believe God is going to spark a movement similar to the Jesus People movement among the youth of Tokyo, and that He will use Rainbow youth to be a big part of it. The first drops of rain are already beginning to fall, but the storm is coming.
Bless you all!
Tim
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