News & Events
Faith Stories 2
Shay and Cole Koyama
We have attended All God's Children since the last Sunday of Advent 2009. From the moment we stepped into the doors we have not only felt welcomed but at home. Today, our family at All God's Children has blessed us far greater than we have ever thought possible. We have been unemployed and struggling to get by for the past few months. When we attended Second Faith we shared our story of how God has blessed us and baptized us through fire. We may struggle but every time we need a bill paid we somehow find a way to do so. Every time we need transportation, transportation magically arrives. We walked into church today with only $4 to our name but left with enough money to get us by for awhile and enough love and faith to get us by forever. We want to thank all of the congregation for reminding us how strong and beautiful God's love can be. Thank you to all of you whose kind words and donations have made our lives easier.
Blake King
I am a TS guy who went through the program at the U many years ago. I set out to be a Lutheran pastor, but Dad became Mormon and said I had to if I wanted financial help for college, so I caved! I met Marie at BYU in Utah. She has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from abuse at the Mormon Church from some men, at home in her childhood, and had a gay husband who battered her, because he couldn't hack being gay and LDS. We got together when she was in the process of divorcing him, and raised her son from age 1 1/2 and he is thirty now!
I have a very small life – never got back to school for the ministry, because helping Marie is an intense job. No meds helped – abandoned them after 20 years, and slowly she is coming along! We have had 30 years of actual shunning by both families! So, we have led lives of intense prayer, but I can drive her shadows away by singing her hymns until the cows come home every night, and praying and reading her Psalms and great Bible verses, mixed up with Twins games, and the History Channel basically, while she does her art and writes. Not a very big life, but an important one, perhaps. We work together refinishing cabinets, etc., so I can keep her focused out, and she can have a great quality of life.
So, your pastors are lucky, so lucky, to be ministers! I come from Methodist ministers and tent preachers going way back on my Mom's side, although my parents became Lutheran when I was very young, and Mormon later on! Having the "call" and never fulfilling it – well, maybe I can help out at the ancient age of 56 and pass on this following scriptural information to you. You realize, it can become “the shot heard around the world”, if you are brave enough to face the theological wolves of hatred!
In the translation of the Holy Bible from the Ancient Eastern Text, the Aramaic of the Peshita, which is what Christ spoke, and famously translated by George M. Lamsa, who is bi-lingual at least, this is what Jesus ACTUALLY SAID. Matthew 5:22.
“But I say to you that whoever becomes angry with a brother for no reason is guilty before the court; and whoever should say to his brother Raca (which means I spit on you) is guilty before the congregation; and whoever says to his brother YOU ARE EFFEMINATE is condemned to hell-fire." The associated footnote is [Aramaic brutish, abnormal] – the gay colloquial slur in Aramaic, in Christ's day, and in ours.
Dana Loberg
For many years, I would attend different churches, and wasn't sure where I fit in. I never felt right in any of them, and just thought it was a great way to make friends. I grew up Lutheran, but my parents never lived by the standards. When I was living on my own, I then found my real self. I was a lesbian, and never was supposed to be with men. God has blessed me in so many ways, and one big one was when I was pregnant. I always made a promise to myself, and that was I would automatically give my child up for adoption if I were to get pregnant in my teens. Sure enough, I ended up pregnant at the age of 18 and gave birth when I was 19. I met the adoptive parents and thought they were truly a gift from God. Even though I was very sad when I gave my baby up right away, part of my heart was not empty, it was very much filled. I went to a Bible study with some friends years after I had my baby, and at that point, I finally let God into my soul, and then I would call friends, and ask them the question..."If you were to die tomorrow, do you know where you would go?" and all of them did not know. I then got my Bible out, and started reading them verses, and even prayed with them on the phone. They thanked me and then knew the answer to that question. I also would often tell people that God loves them, and if they don't ever think they are loved, they are. As time went on, I would meet women, and didn't really find the right one until I met Danica. I just thought that the past relationships were tests, and to see if I would really give up, or stay strong and let God take over. And, sure enough, I finally met the right person. About 5 years ago, I was invited by my good friend(s) to go with them to a Pentecostal church, and it was shortly after that I met Danica. We were actually having a ladies night, and all had dinner at the Olive Garden. When we met, I wasn't out to a lot of people, because I was scared. It took me a while to tell Danica, and when I did, I was not prepared by her reaction. She just said, "So?" I asked her, “What?! You don't think I am wrong?” She told me, who cares, I sure don't. As time went on, more people knew, and they of course, wanted to pray for me, and kept telling me that was wrong, and how I should change. I realized after not going to that church for a while, that they too were sinning. I remember one of the commandments, "Thou shall not judge"... and to me, that is not what I expected out of people. Then again, they wanted to believe what they wanted. I must say that my friends who invited me that one day, and I am still friends with them, they are not like the others there. Yes, they did try to pray with me, but realized I am not going to change. Danica and I both wanted to have church a big part of our relationship, and make God our number one. I always tell people how we found a church that we like, and feel comfortable in. We don't have to worry about people staring at us, or preach at us, because we are together. I truly believe that God brought us together and wanted us to have a future with each other. Not only has God made my life better, but also others by using me to spread God's word.
Danica Wagner
First of all I come from a Pentacostal, Assemblies of God background. I have been saved since I was 10 years old. I felt welcomed and love by the church family I was attending in Florida. I connected with others in every way. My love for God grew over the years and I was very much in love with God. I went to North Central University and it was there that I was able to evaluate myself in God's eyes and figure out who I really was rather than what people told me I was. I became confused and relied on God's hand for guidance during that time. I tried a relationship with my current partner for about a month then decided I wasn't ready... whatever that meant at the time. About 6 months later I decided to give it a try again (with my current partner) and things started off well. That is, until I decided to come out to my church family and "friends". My immediate family was and is so supportive. However, I felt rejected by the church and their responses to me. I grew close to everyone there and now they are acting as though I am an outcast and a menace to society. They said my partner was the devil and I needed to get away from her quickly. I was stuck with the emotions that I had never felt before and felt that I couldn't turn to God at this time. I left the church completely and put all that aside. I didn't want anything to do with church or God, I was hurt. After about a year I started feeling that void, something was missing from my life. I had become depressed and isolated from all my friends. Dana (my partner) and I decided to try AGC and see what it was about since our friend had mentioned it. We went one Sunday and at first it was more traditional than I preferred but the acceptance level and love from everyone was the deciding factor! I am finally getting close to God again and feeling God's amazing Spirit and Power in my life. God has brought me through these trials and condemnation but has never left my side. I am grateful for who I am in God's eyes!
John Tillitt
I arrived at All God's Children MCC on 2-8-1998 after my partner of 20 years died of prostate cancer on 12-8-1997. I took over the Hospitality Team Leadership in 2004 until June 2008. I met a lot of new people and members of the congregation who became my friends. All God's Children MCC is my church home and I am very spiritual and I enjoy every Wednesday and Sunday service. I enjoy the music and worship service and communion with my partner Kirk Morgan. We had our first meeting on April 12th 2009, Easter Sunday. He became a member on June 14th 2009. Kirk also enjoys the Wednesday and Sunday services and has been glad meeting my friends here as well and going out for brunch with us to various restaurants and getting to know them as well.
Patrick Myers
I am a 37 year old man, raised in a moderately strict Catholic family. I have had a huge problem with accepting that God can be in my life and me being gay. My family has never condoned me for being gay although they have always supported me and told me they love me for who I am and not what I am. I have never been able to connect who I am or why I am. I have longed for a relationship with God and a faith community. I have been on a long road of accepting myself and my beliefs. I am finally comfortable with who I am and need to begin my journey to find where I belong in my faith. I had visited All God's Children about a year ago, but didn’t feel like it was the right place for me, but, in my searching, I have not been able to find any other place where I see I can belong.
Easter Sunday I attended your church again, by myself, since my family attends a Catholic Church. I was nervous and feeling very alone while I was walking up the stairs to the church. What I need you to know is that feeling quickly left me and was replaced with ease and comfort. I looked amongst the people in the church and I saw families of children, mothers, fathers, partners, and everyone was accepting and hugging each other.
This was an eye opener to me, living in the south metro area and still not having any real Gay or Lesbian friends, I am not used to this openness. I started to tear up for a bit, but had to stop that. How embarrassing would that be – crying by myself in a pew next to strangers! Finally I realized they were not strangers at all. They are all friends and fighting the same fight as I am and if I were to cry, I know I would have been comforted.
My reason for writing this story is to let you know how you have touched my life. In just one service I have been given a new light on my life and my faith. Thank you for the gift you have given me. I will cherish it for a long time. I am still uncertain if I will make it every Sunday, since I live 30 minutes south and getting there is sometimes not possible (work, gas, or other reasons). Your message of love and faith will stick with me for a long time.
God Bless you and thank you for your message.
Roben Williams
When choosing a church I tried many different churches and denominations -- Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist and Pentecostal
As a young black man coming out in the 60s and 70s I found that I was very uncertain choosing a church because of all the prejudices that were associated with gay people. It was surprising to me to see other gay people. I thought I was the only one, or there wasn't many like me. There wasn't much spoken to me about gay people, and no one for me to talk to about myself. From time to time I would run into someone gay and I would ask them what church they went to. They would say they had given up on churches and Jesus. For me to think gay people did not have Jesus in their lives, how could I live or come out that way.
A friend of mine realized my religious dilemma and shared with me a book, "The Lord is my Shepherd and Knows I'm Gay," This was a big help to me coming out. I fell in love and was in an 18-year relationship. We had some struggles as a couple. My family had more difficulty accepting us. They did their best. My partner's parents were quite accepting and very loving to both of us. They are still in my life to this very day. My lover and I lost our business to a fire. That experience drove my partner to drink. I tried for a long time to make things better living the life of a co-dependent and in 1999 by partner died of alcohol-related problems. My heart's been broken ever since. My partner and I lost many friends, including my best friend since grade school to AIDS so I've felt the loss of love and sense of community.
l began looking for a church when a friend of mine and I decided that we would look into the church on 31st Street. My friend went first and decided to take notes and fill me in later. Six or seven months later I found myself walking into the doors of All God's Children being welcomed by all and having a sermon that touched me to the core. It seemed as if Pastor Paul was speaking directly to me. It was wonderful and inspiring. After the sermon he invited everyone to go downstairs for cookies. I thought to myself, "What are those cookies all about?" and I would just go home. One day I got up the nerve and went downstairs for cookies, and met several very warm people that I now call family and I can say with an open heart, "go downstairs for cookies and find your spiritual family." I am proud to wear my T-shirt that says we are family. All my losses can never be replaced, but I can say I have sense of community and love that I take with me everywhere I go, I thank God for blessing me with All God’s Children.