Nigeria's gay church is reborn amid a climate of fear

Nigeria's gay church is reborn amid a climate of fear

House of Rainbow church offers underground prayer and preaching to Christians ostracised by rampant homophobia
Shyamantha Asokan in Lagos
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 24 April 2011 19.57 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/24/gay-nigerians-church-services-secret

When Ade's aunt learned he was gay, the then 16-year-old Nigerian was made to go through an exorcism to expel "the demon of homosexuality".

"The priest came to the house with candles, holy water and anointing oils. I had to kneel down, holding candles in my hands," recalls Ade, now 25, as he sits in a cafe in Lagos. He does not wish to reveal his full name. "He kept shouting 'Come out! Come out! Come out!' in a fevered voice … I was allowed to go back to church after that but I had to pretend to be straight."

In a country where homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, it is no surprise that many of Ade's friends – those who, like him, are both gay and religious – stay away from church altogether for fear of being outed.

However, an alternative could soon be at hand. Ade is helping to resurrect a religious refuge for himself and his friends. He is part of the team restarting House of Rainbow, the country's only gay church, which was forced to close in 2008 after a witch-hunt stirred by exposés in local newspapers.

The Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay, the gay minister who founded the church, is leading the comeback even though he remains in self-imposed exile in London.

"Religion is a backbone to life in Nigeria, so we all want to go to church," he says. "But we don't want to lie to God about who we are."

Macaulay first set up House of Rainbow in 2006, when he openly held Sunday services in a Lagos hotel hall decked out with rainbow flags. A public backlash culminated in members being beaten as they left church. Macaulay fled to the UK after death threats.

This year, he has recruited a small team that includes Ade as his local leader in Lagos. In his voluntary role, Ade started holding prayer sessions and Bible study groups at his house at the end of last month. A full church might be set up again if it is considered safe.

The project could even spread beyond the borders of Africa's most populous country. Macaulay has recently recruited a local leader in Accra, the capital of nearby Ghana. He is considering applications from Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Religious groups are central to Nigeria's culture of homophobia. Pentecostalism, an evangelical school of Christianity thought to have started in America just over a century ago, has blossomed in southern Nigeria and across Africa in recent decades. The "megachurches" in and around Lagos can attract tens of thousands of worshippers to a single service.

Pentecostal pastors often see gay desire as the work of demons. "You might start casually but, once you get into it, you will be possessed by the spirit," says Emmanuel Owoyemi, a pastor in Lagos.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria's mostly Muslim north, 12 states have adopted sharia law over the last decade. Gay sex carries the death penalty under sharia, although no executions have yet taken place. A national anti-gay marriage bill, which pushes for jail sentences for anyone who even assists gay marriage, has been before Nigeria's parliament since 2009.

Being gay is regarded as an offence across much of Africa. Uganda's parliament continues to debate a proposed law that would introduce the death penalty in some cases. Malawi's president only pardoned a gay couple last year sentenced to 14 years in jail after an international outcry.

Apart from being on the wrong side of the law, many homosexual Nigerians say exclusion from church is one of the hardest parts of being gay.

"We are brought up to believe that you should belong to a religion. We feel that, if we don't go to church, God will not answer our prayers," says a young gay man in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. "When I recently told a friend I was having financial difficulties, he said, 'When did you last go to church?'"

In oil-rich Nigeria, where corruption robs many of even basic services, religious groups provide more than spiritual assistance. Muslim movements such as Izala have built schools in the north, while southern pentecostal groups such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God run universities. "[We] lose out on all these services," says the young man.

Some argue that African homophobia is slowly waning. Marc Epprecht, an expert on sexuality in Africa at Queen's University in Canada, says the continent's growing number of gay rights groups are challenging negative stereotypes.

He adds that despite the bad press it attracts, African homophobia is not markedly stronger than that of poor or patriarchal parts of the Middle East and South America.

Macaulay, however, is not taking any chances this time. Prayer sessions are being held in secret locations. No unknown newcomers are being admitted. He continues to preach via YouTube from London – he thinks it would be unwise to return home. "We have learnt our lesson," he says. "It is a hostile situation."

Come Walk With Me – The Easter Prayer 2011

Come Walk With Me – The Easter Prayer 2011

1. Jesus is Condemn to death

Bible Reading; Matthew 27:22-26
Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’* All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then he asked, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’ So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood;* see to it yourselves.’ Then the people as a whole answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you were condemned to death for political expediency; be with all those imprisoned unjustly and help us to change the minds of oppressors and exploiters everywhere. Amen.

2. Jesus Receives the Cross.

Bible Reading; John 19:16-17
Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew* is called Golgotha.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you carried the cross, laden with the weight of our sins, through the rough streets of Jerusalem; be with those who are loaded with burdens beyond their strength; and help us to realize the cost of your love for us. Amen.

3. Jesus falls for the first time.

Bible Reading; John 12:23-24
Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Prayer:
How can it be, Lord Jesus, eternal Son of God, that you should fall down? O Jesus, I wonder how heavy was my share of the burden you bore on your shoulder. In your tender mercy, do not let me be discouraged by my failures but lift me up and bring me to the father. Amen.

4. Jesus meets his mother

Bible Reading; Luke 2:33-35
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon* blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, she stayed with you step by step, from stable to Nazareth and on to Cana; now she can only watch. How can a mother see her son suffer? Look mercifully on all parents who watch helplessly as their children grow, stumble and fall, and in wiping away their tears, give them patience and hope. Amen.

5. The Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene.

Bible Reading; Luke 23:26
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you were worn down by fatigue and in simplicity accepted the help of a stranger; be with those who are overwhelmed and exhausted by work, by stress, by responsibility and when an invited cross is loaded onto our shoulder, may we willingly carry it for you. Amen.

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Bible Reading; Matthew 25:34-40
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.”

Prayer:
O Jesus, may our contemplation of your passion move us deeply and inspire in us a fervent love for you, that the image of your tear-stained face may be impressed on our hearts. Amen.

7. Jesus falls the second time.

Bible Reading; Psalm 44:25-26
Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off for ever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in order to save the human race, you staggered on your painful journey; whenever people are tempted to give up, have mercy on those who are close to despair. Amen.

8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

Bible Reading; Luke 23:27-31
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the women of Jerusalem wept for you; move us to tears at the plight of our broken world and help us to weep for our sins; send your blessing on the city of Jerusalem today, that it may indeed be the city of Peace. Amen.

9. Jesus falls for the third time.

Bible Reading; Psalm 38:7-11
For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbours stand far off.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, as you crash to the hard stones of the Jerusalem street, I see what my falling into sin does to your heart of love. Be with me in my times of temptation and lift my eyes to see the glories of your kingdom. Amen.

10. Jesus is stripped of his garments.

Bible Reading; John 19:24
So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how anxious I am to conceal my real self even from you. How reluctant I am to acknowledge my responsibility for what I do and say. Help me to be confident of your love and forgiveness and remind me that I am made in the image of God. Amen.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross

Bible Reading; John 17:1-3
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people,* to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you bled in pain as the nails were driven into your flesh, transform, through the mystery of your love, the pain of those who suffer. Amen.

12. Jesus dies on the cross.

Bible Reading; Philippians 2:6-8
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in death you entered the darkest of all places; give us all the courage in the hour of our death and illumine our darkness with your glorious presence. Amen.

13. Jesus’ body is laid in the arms of his mother.

Bible Reading; John 19:32-38a
Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows* that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘None of his bones shall be broken.’ And again another passage of scripture says, ‘They will look on the one whom they have pierced.’ After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus.

Prayer:
Merciful Jesus, whose mortal body was returned to the loving arms of his mother; heal the sadness of all those who mourn. Amen

14. Jesus’ body is laid in the tomb.

Bible Reading; John 19:38b-42
Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, though you were the Lord of Life, you became as nothing for us and you were laid in a cold, dark tomb; be with those who feel worthless, those ignored by the world and those who dies alone and afraid. Amen.

Everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race, sent your son our saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross; grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility and also be made partakers of his resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dates for 2011 meeting at House Of Rainbow Fellowship

Dates for 2011 meeting at House Of Rainbow Fellowship
UNITED KINGDOM

EAST LONDON
Date: Every first Friday of each month
Time: 6.30pm Prompt
Location: Walthamstow LONDON

MANCHESTER
Date: Every six weeks on Wednesday, (23rd March, 4th May, 15th June, 27th July, 7th September, 19th October & 30th November)
Time: 6.30pm Prompt
Location: LGF Foundation Centre, 5 Richmond Street, Piccadilly Manchester M1 3HF • We have small groups in London and Manchester UK, Nigeria, Ghana and Lesotho

Contact Us:
House Of Rainbow Fellowship &
Revd Rowland Jide Macaulay Ministries

Email: church@houseofrainbow.org
Phone: +442085583485; +44 (0) 7507 510 357
Find House Of Rainbow on Facebook/Twitter/Youtube
Skype & Yahoo ID; revjide

About House Of Rainbow Fellowship
House Of Rainbow Fellowship is an inclusive and affirming religious community open and welcome to all people including Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender and Intersex people, a monthly gathering of “People of Faith” for “Prayer and Praise”, which focuses on the person’s journey towards reconciliation of sexuality and spirituality.

House Of Rainbow Fellowship aim to provide an inclusive Christian theological focus and interpretation of Scriptures.

The vision of the House Of Rainbow Fellowship was birthed by Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay, an openly gay African theologian. The style of the House Of Rainbow Fellowship is Pentecostal with “High Praise”, Prayers and Christian fellowship.

All are welcomed including;
• Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender and Intersex people (LGBTI)
• Parents and Friends of LGBTI people


Volunteer Local Leaders Needed.
Are you Called to be a Local Leader? House Of Rainbow needs you.

Are you a devout Christian?
Do you believe in the inclusive Gospel of Jesus for All people?
Are you able to manage a small group of people?
Are you passionate about helping people?
Can you provide pastoral care?
Are you aged 18 and over?

If you say YES to all the above questions, then contact us for more information at Church@houseofrainbow.org

Websites:
www.houseofrainbow.org
www.rjmm.co.uk
www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.org
www.youtube.com/houseofrainbow
Recommended Books:Holy Bible
The Children Are Free by Revd Jeff Miner & John Connolly
Pocket Devotional for LGBT Christians by Revd Rowland Jide Macaulay
The Queer Bible Commentary Edited by Guest, Goss, West & Bohache
The Queer God by Marcella Althaus-Reid
Indecent Theology by Marcella Althaus-Reid
Take Back The Word Edited by Goss & West
Biblical Ethics & Homosexuality Edited by Robert L. Brawley
In the Eye of the Storm by Gene Robinson

We Are God's Work of Art

We Are God’s Work Of Art.

By Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay

In the city we are accustomed to seeing many art works on display, some of us have artworks in our homes and we see them in the market places, in art galleries all over the world for some art lovers.

God is an artist, who built humankind to God’s pleasure and taste, God works ceaselessly and tirelessly and effortlessly to shape the work of art, that work of art is you, and me, we are molded and built according to God’s purpose.

An artist work with tools, different types of artists different types of tools, imagine the craft artist making a life like object, imagine the potter carefully molding from clays, and the ceramic artist putting the final touches on the paint work, imagine the portrait artist completing the replica of a family photo. We have seen artist at work trying to draw a portrait of a person and often we recognize the person through the work of the artist.

The bible tell us “All things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being, what has come into being in him was life and the life was light of all the people” John 1:3-4

Similarly when an artist is working on a project, it never comes to life until the last paint is dotted or wood has been peeled. Often there is a ceremony to unveil the beauty of the artwork. And then people who see it will be amazed. And then they will come closer to view and make comments on the beauty, the dedication, and the hard work of the artist producing perfect results.

Lets us pray.

Loving God, Holy artist, we are your work of art created in Christ Jesus. Help us to live the good life you intended for each of us and for our community, we know that God sees through the heart of all matters and to the heart of our matters. Like an artist who believe in their work, God, please express your confidence in our creativity through this scripture, as I bring your word to your people, let us acknowledge that we are good and that we are capable of doing good, and all the Divas, (divinely inspired victoriously anointed) say amen.

Ephesians 2
“You were dead to trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world…”

Following the course of this world, many of us who are not heterosexuals have been forced to conform to the world, we marry the wrong gender and make their lives miserable, we try to please our families, conform with culture and popular faith traditions, often like the wrong artist’s tool we don’t fit in, we try to blend in but often we fail awfully. We were dead through the trespasses and sins of trying to be who we are not, trying to be butch when we are effeminate, trying to be effeminate when we are butch, we come up with fancy walks by putting our hands in our pockets so we can conform to walking on a straight line, but often we fall, darling divas, we are divinely inspired and victoriously anointed, so we can walk with our heads high and relax, show the attitude and beauty of the holy artist, who made all the curves and the contours.

Our lives as heterosexuals or what society wanted us to be is over, tell someone “its over,” the bible says “once lived” but now that we are in Christ, now that we are on the way to reconcile sexuality with spirituality, we can understand 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says “so if anyone is on Christ there is a new creation, everything old has passed away; see everything has become new.” We are a new gay or lesbians Christians, we are able to tell people that God is the incredible artist that spent immeasurable time creating us.

We don’t have to pretend to be who we are not.

You can stand in front of the mirror butt naked and admire the beauty of God, you can feel your heart beat when you acknowledge the beauty of a man or woman that walks pass you, I don’t mean lust after them, you can say that you spent the weekend with Joseph who you are madly in love with and not Josephine the fictitious girlfriend who is often absent at the office Christmas party, “well oga she go village”.

Let me tell you when we work in disobedience we say to God I don’t like the way you created me, the bible tells us that this is a spirit that is at work among those who are disobedient.

We are by nature children of wrath because we live in the world, but we don’t have to be like the people of the world “if the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you, (Jesus declared to his disciples) if you belonged to the world the world would love you as its own, because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you” John 15:18-19.

We don’t have to do the things the world want us to do, if we become strong and bold and say we are gays which means God Accepts You, then our family and cultural heritage will have to understand. Often we are afraid to tell people the truth, the bible says and you shall no the truth and the truth shall set you free.

I Peter 2:9-10 “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of God who called you out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people”

We belong to the holy artist, if we are rejected by the world we live in, then don’t be surprise because they don’t know us, but let me tell you, don’t expect the world to love you, until we proclaim the mighty acts of our holy artist, who called us out of the darkness of homophobia, the violence and victimization, the rejection and ostracism, the mental slavery and spiritual bondage into relationship and light of Jesus our redeemer, comforter.

Verse 4-5, Ephesians 2, “But God who is rich in mercy, out of great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved”

The artist who owns the brushes, the paints, the colors, the tools, out of passion and love for us created us gays and lesbians, bisexuals and transgender, and some heterosexuals, if I told you that the real minorities are heterosexuals will you believe? This is a fact, there are many more same gender loving people, if they will acknowledge and admit, but how will they when they live in world that hates them. It is the love of God that enable us to reconcile sexuality with spirituality and not be judged or condemned, Romans said and “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (8:1) also said “but God proves God’s love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” I tell you, out of that great love we are called dearly beloved, out of that great love we can say we are divas.

Verse 8-10 “for by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast, For we are what God has made us (LGBTI) created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand to be the way of life.”

Finally, We can run but we cannot hide, we are God’s treasure and the bible is clear, we are what God has made us, we are LGBTI people, prepared beforehand to be the way of life, we only need to come to the throne of grace and mercy, because we have been saved through faith in God, it is not by power nor is it by might but the gift of God, not the result of our hard work. God made us and we are wonderfully made, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that is why 1 Peter 3:8-9 tells us “Finally all of you have unity of spirit sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart and a humble mind, do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary repay with a blessing. It is for this that you are called, that you might inherit a blessing”

Tell somebody you are blessed, if we go by the measure of hatred we experience from our families, neighbors, employers and general public, we will be subjected to everlasting pain. However, we are considered a blessing and we are Divas (divinely inspired victoriously anointed). Every negative headline and media campaign against our church we consider them a blessing, because I believe and I hope you will join me by faith that we would rather be a blessing to our community than gather evil or insult against their bigotry.

We are God’s work of art, regardless of how the world sees us, but we can display the beauty of God’s work by taking time to walk the walk and talk the talk of the beauty of the Holy artist in our lives. Tell somebody you are God’s work of art. Amen

One On One - Gay Film

The Ineffable Love of God for LGBT People

The Ineffable Love Of God
By Rowland Jide Macaulay
House Of Rainbow Fellowship
4th and 9th February 2011

Psalm 139:13-14 “For it was you (God) who formed my inward parts (the parts of me I have no control of, such as my senses, feelings, my thoughts etc); you knit (made, formed, mould, construct) me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works (creation including me)”.

King David spoke these words in Psalm 139 v 13-14, I cannot but imagine the love of God for all people, for you and for me, for many people hiding from God and truly afraid to be themselves.

How many of us can truly imagine what we would do without God, how would our parents feel, knowing how much God loved them that he formed us, made us, moulded us in our mother’s womb? How many of us can say that we know ourselves well and what we are capable of doing? How many of us are willing to allow God to take control of all of our anxieties and pains?

How can we be assured of the ineffable love of God? For many Christians it began with the love of God to the world, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”. John 3:16-17.

At the purification ceremony of Jesus, Luke made a further clarification of the love of God which was witnessed by Simeon and Anna in the Gospel of Luke 2: 30-32 (paraphrased) “... Simeon said for my eyes have seen your salvation, (Salvation brought by the extent of the love of God) which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (an indication that all are called to share in this Salvation, without prejudice or discrimination) a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Romans 9:19-21, “You will say to me then, ‘Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?’ 20But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is moulded say to the one who moulds it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ 21Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?”

I believe today that God has created us for a very special use, to liberate the world of its ignorance of marginalised minorities, it is the same God that helped Black people to overcome discrimination on the grounds of their race, it is the same God that delivered women from sexism, and I believe the same God will deliver sexual minorities from the pain the world has caused us. (AMEN).

Who can resist the will of God to be who they are, Just as they are? What are the challenging that you are facing, the burdens that you bare? God can handle it? Many of us have complained to God, why have you made me Black or White?, why am I jobless, why am I going through all these problems, many of us have spoken against God in our moments of desperation, but you know I believe God knows best and that is why the Bible says who can resist God’s will?, who can argue with God? If he made you straight then you are straight, if he made you gay then you are gay? If you are Nigerian nothing can change that, What we do with what God has given us and where he has placed matters most, the gift of God for us is for a reason.

Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw everything that he had made and indeed, it was very good” ofcourse that includes Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Trans and Intersex people, it includes healthy people and those very ill, it includes people of all race, sizes and religions, from every part of the earth.

Today, I want us to focus on the ineffable love of God, unimaginable, immeasurable, unbelievable love of God goes beyond human understanding, it goes beyond the love of parents or family.

Today we may struggle with our human identity, let us pray for our families, our friends and those who also face prejudices because of us, let us hold them in our thoughts.

I cannot end this short talk without a mention of our friend David Kato who was murdered in Uganda last week, he was a fine man, a fighter, a man who was not selfish but stepped out of the shadows to speak out, he stood up for the equal rights of LGBT people, he spoke against the Nations media and against the anti-gay bill, he spoke so loud that it cost him his life. In Micah 6:8, Micah spoke to the persecutors and the persecuted, he said. “Hear what the LORD says:...O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”. I believe that David Kato dedicated his life to do justice, love kindness and walk with God. What are you prepared to do?

God’s ineffable love is evident, and we need not worry anymore, Romans 9:25-26 “Those who were not my people I will call “my people”, and her who was not beloved I will call “beloved”. And in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not my people”, there they shall be called children of the living God.”

The ineffable love of God goes beyond human comprehension and I want us to rethink what our definition of love is, when we say we love God do we really mean this, are we able to express such unimaginable love to God through the people around us?

The love of God is recognisable in Isaiah’s prophesy, “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness”, God’s love can also be recognised through our actions to share each other’s burdens and in our deeds to speak out for justice and show that we care.

(SLOWLY) “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister* whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen”. 1 John 4:16b-20.

Give God a chance and accept that he loves you unconditionally, GAY means God Adores You, God Accepts You, God Affirms You, God Accompany You, it doesn’t matter if you are heterosexual, married or unmarried, if you are LGBT, if you are healthy or ill, if you are wealthy or poor, if you live in the city of Village. What we do know is that God loves you because he knew you, formed you from your mother’s womb. God bless you all. Amen.

A Prayer for David Kato

A prayer for David Kato, for LGBTI people, friends, allies, relatives and families.

We are free to worship God without fear; Holy and righteous all the days of our life.

God of glory and unquenchable Spirit,
May your Son direct us afresh to the fire of your presence
Where nothing may amaze us more than your love
Nothing may inspire us more than your forgiveness
And nothing may dazzle us more than your beauty.

(Keep Silence)

Disclosed to us in your world, your story and your Son Jesus Christ our Lord and also in our understanding of same gender love, a refreshing path to reconcile with you just as we are.

(Keep Silence)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord
Whom to know is eternal life
Whose service is perfect freedom
Defend us your servant, whom you called Beloved
From all assaults of our enemies
That we, surely trusting in your defence
May not fear the power of any adversaries
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Keep Silence)

Tender God, gentle protector in time of trouble.
Pierce the gloom of despair and give us, with all your people, our friends, allies, families, at home and abroad, The song of freedom and the shout of praise
In Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Keep Silence)

God, remember not only the men and women of goodwill but all those of ill will. Do not only remember all the suffering they have subjected us to. Remember the fruits of our solidarities and campaigns, our comradeship, loyalty, humility, courage, generosity and the greatness of heart that all will be inspired. Amen

(Keep Silence)

Lighting of candles to remember David Kato and those tragically killed, maimed or injured because they are LGBTI.

Followed by the Prayer that Jesus thought us, “Our Father who art in heaven”.