Hello My name is Robbie!

[shortfarmboy]

Hello My name is Robbie! I live in the small town of Gladys, Virginia (about thirty miles south of Lynchburg, Virginia) This is a very big step for me as I am still in the closet with the clothes and shoes. I am a twenty nine year old extrovert when comfortable. I work as a mental health counselor with children and adolescents who have severe mental health illnesses, emotional and behavioral problems in Lynchburg, Virginia. I graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Child & Adolescent Development. I am a born-again saved Christian. Tammy Faye Bakker Messener was one of my spiritual heroes and believe me if anybody can go through trials and come out on top of the mountain it is her. (It breaks my heart that I will not have an opportunity to meet her on this side of glory!) I have been raised by an extremely conservative Southern Baptist family whom I am extremely close. I am writing for two reasons: (1) I am looking for friends in the gay community. (I truly feel all alone and am struggling to find the truth about my sexuality.) (2) I am looking for a local support group.

[u-dog]

Hey Robbie!

Welcome to the forums. If you are looking for a safe place to explore the truth about who you are in the context of faith... you are at the right place. We are a diverse group. Many Christians of various types and many non-Christians of various types. Many people here grew up in conservative Christian homes and will no doubt pipe up before long. In the meantime let me call your attention to the books and pamphlets and videos in the "resources" section

[scott snedeker]

There is always room for one more son.

You are a man with the soul of a man. Your gay nature is a God-given gift. When you make love to a man God smiles from the joy his gift is giving you. Just like when a parent's heart leaps when he see's his childs eyes light up when opening a present at Christmas. When you come to know this, all that remains is to explore the many ways to let in joy!

I am one of the pagans who embraces the message of Christ. It is spirituality based on Nature and the connection of all life to each other. I also embrace unconditional love of self and my fellow beings, because the truth is that we are all connected.

[paul]

Welcome.:wave:

My moniker on some sites is "farmerpaul." Gladys! I used to have a farm in Charlotte Court House. I too was raised in the very conservative baptist situation, so, we have tons in common.

I am glad you have made the choice to not be alone anymore. The closet is death itself, and no place for a human being. You sound as though you are still struggling with whether or not it's okay to be gay. Feel free to air any and all questions, come as you are. You are accepted here.
paul

[SomervilleGuy]

Hi Robbie,
Glad to have you here! I too am a Christian college grad - Wheaton college, graduated in the 80's. I just am coming out now, and it is scary, but yet very freeing. People will surprise you too,when you come out. Some will be a lot more accepting than you expect! I met with my pastor last night - its a fairly conservative Bible-type church in NJ. Was surprised to discover that the pastor did some of his masters thesis for his seminary degree on homosexuality. And we actually had a productive conversation. Amazing. He knows that I am coming out, and divorcing, and did not slam me with the Bible. He even accepted a copy of "What the Bible Says" (Mel White's article here on soulforce.org), and I told him that this had influenced my beliefs alot. He does not agree that homosexuality is right, but did tell me that one of his closest roomates in college is now a gay rights activist and that they are still friends and he still loves him as a brother. Quite amazing and refreshing to hear. There are lots more details that I could tell.

Hey, if you or any other Soulforce members come up to New York City for a weekend and want to spend a day or two exploring New York City - just really touring and getting to know each other - let me know. Would be cool to get a small group of us to do this. :D This is not for the purpose of anything more than just making friends with other gay Christians and having fun exploring the city. I live just 35 miles from the city (that's what we in NJ call Manhattan - "the city"). Since this is rather new for me too, I want to just spend a morning in Chelsea walking around and people watching, so as to perhaps see some examples of male couples, which I've not seen in person before. But also to just see the regular touristy sites too. It is just fun walking around the city and exploring and making new friends.

Anyway, again, welcome to Soulforce!

Geoff

[Zerbie]

Welcome Robbie:):)

Wow, this IS a big step - I noticed you posted a profile pic and everything! Well, if you can work with that population that you do - which has to be so demanding and so difficult - you can do anything. ;)

This is a good place to come discuss questions, concerns - all sorts of things! You'll find a lot of extremely intelligent, caring, generous people here. Amazing, given the internet.

We're very glad to have you here. :)
Zerbie

[elcharrom]

Yay, you've come far already by deciding to try and accept yourself :D dont worry man, theres alotta people here who been at this and are goin thru it and are gonna go thru it, so no matter what we can help and we can be a badass support group :love:

[Lek]

Hi, Robbie:

Welcome. I am a newbie here too. I'm glad to see you are peeking out from amid the clothes and shoes, and I am sure you will find that coming out into the fresh air is full of warmth and sunshine.

[Assured]

WELCOME ROBBIE

Glad you were able to connect yourself to SoulForce...I am also a born again Christian who is just recently trying to come to terms with my sexuality. I was also raised in very conservative Christendom and have left that to enter another phase of Christendom that appears less conservative in many ways but as you know whne it comes down to sexuality the crap hits the proverbial fan and attitudes between liberal and conservative Christianity merge unfortunately.

Dont be alone anymore and feel free to be yourself

[Gennee]

Welcome to Soulforce, Robbie. I will be graudating from a Christian college in June with a degree in childhood education. I am transgender and a crossdresser. It seems though more and more schools and churches are dealing with LGBT people and their issues. I wuld love to work with transgender people in the education area. I want to teach English, reading and writing.

Gennee

:):wave:

[littlebuddhaboy]

Robbie!

Taking the first step is always a hard and trying experience, but I know for me it was a rewarding, inner-look at myself and who I was.

And I can completely empathize with how it feels to be gay in Virginia. I, too, live and work in Lynchburg as an openly gay, spiritual person. The good news is that you are not alone. There are so many others like you around here, and you're to be commended for having the courage to look for support and a community. I don't know of a ton of resources, but if you contact me, I can put you in touch with some of the best ones I know.

Cheers, and be blessed!
Jerid

[pnggrad79]

Robbie,
I was raised very conservatively in a Southern Baptist family so I understand your situation very much. I hope that you soon come to understand that God honors an authentic existence and I had to overcome a lot of what I was raised with in order to live my life authentically. I am a lesbian, and virtually all my family has written me off.
There is another website I think may be of use to you as you walk this road. It is whosoever.org. The editor's name is Candace Chellew-Hodge and she is from South Carolina. She was raised like we were in a Southern Baptist home and calls herself a "recovering Southern Baptist". Her website is extremely helpful if you want to browse around on it. I encourage you to learn as much as you can because I know your faith means a lot to you and you want to reconcile your faith with your sexuality and it can be done. It may take awhile as I am sure you have been ingrained with a lot of beliefs that may need to be shaken up.
I realized that while my mom and dad believe things that they taught me, for my life now, I don't necessarily hold to those same things anymore. I was important for me to still have a relationship with God and be a lesbian. I also encourage you to read Mel White's book, Stranger at the Gate. It was a tremendous help to me coming out as a Christian. God bless you.:)

[crm3]

Wow Robbie, It sounds like you've been through a lot and you're just beginning to embark on the journey of being your true self. Soulforce is always a safe place to fall and there's such a wealth of people here with such diverse and varied experiences, you've come to the right place to find friends and supporters! I wish you luck on your journey away from the closet and you will be in my prayers!

[Jennifer5]

Welcome, glad to have you here :love: