six11ministries

If writing for college classes has taught me anything, it’s how to get your ideas in print. While I am not expert on ministry, counseling, nor am I a doctor, what I write on this site and what is written below is born out of personal experiences. What is my authority? My testimony. How I minister and teach is based on my testimony.

I deeply believe in relational-evangelism. Why? Because this is how I came to the LORD: the ideas of heaven and hell didn’t bring me before the throne of grace, the hope and person of JESUS did. This is how I do ministry and how I teach others to do ministry.

My story is also how I base my ministry to homosexuals. I have learned, from my personal experiences, how to minister to gay teens and how not to minister to gay teens. Below are my personal convictions on how to effectively minister to teens who proclaim to be either gay or lesbian.

I am aware that each person and situation is different. Some youth struggling with homosexuality are at a place of desperation and are ready for a ‘leap of faith’; and some are not. While these are steps of action, as youth pastors, we need to understand that this journey of healing is a process. We must not give our students false hope, and we ourselves should not rely on false hope. Rather we must believe that GOD is faithful, HIS Word is inerrant , and HIS power is limitless. As we walk in the truth of JESUS’ sanctification, our students who are struggling will follow beside us.

Therefore, it is my personal belief and conviction that the following essentials need to be communicated to students struggling with homosexual thoughts and actions.

First, they need to know that they are valued. They need to understand that despite the wounds of rejection given to them by other people, there is a GOD who unconditionally loves them for who they are.

Second, students need to know that there’s hope. Many students struggling with sexual identity issues honestly believe that they are beyond hope and beyond a life worth living for.

This is the third essential; students need to know that their life has purpose. With the amount of scars, wounds, abuse, and other negative things piling up against them, many students convince themselves that ‘no life’ is better than ‘this life’.

Fourth, teen homosexuals need to be addressed and defined by their name, not by their actions. Nothing creates more damage to one’s soul than being constantly referred to as an adjective (faggot) rather than as a person (Shawn).

The fifth essential is one that is deeply important for students struggling with homosexual desires to fully trust: who they were does not define who they will always be. Once JESUS has freed them from their ‘gay life’, HE has freed them from all labels, hurts, wounds, actions, and so forth. They just need to accept it. GOD doesn’t see them anymore as homosexuals, rather HE sees them as HIS children, who were once lost but now found.

Finally, and this essential goes with the previous one, students who have struggled with homosexual tendencies need to know that this journey they have now ventured onto will not be a journey of green pastures with happy-go-lucky animals hopping around. This journey is going to be tough. GOD has freed them, now they must continue to walk in that freedom regardless if the road leads into valleys or on top of mountains.

Essentials in Ministering to Homosexual Teens:

1. They need to know they are valued.
2. They need to know that there’s hope.
3. They need to know that their life has purpose.
4. They need to be addressed by their name, not their actions.
5. They need to know that who they were does not define who they are.
6. They need to know that this journey is a process.

(c) Shawn Harrison. 2008.