'The Cure' Documentary

Hi everyone,

I'm very excited because the trailer for the long-awaited documentary 'The Cure' was released today. The film features Anthony Venn-Brown (former AOG pastor, f2b co-founder), Paul Martin (Psychologist and former leader of Exodus in Victoria), Ron Brookman (self titled 'ex-gay' and leader of Living Waters), Hannah Pia Baral (Former living waters leader, current f2b Sydney leader), Peter Murphy (ex-gay survivor) and myself.

This is the first time that the Australian 'ex-gay' story has been told.

Look out for it at upcoming film festivals around Australia and later internationally.



Hope you all enjoy the trailer as much as I do.

Love,
Ben

New interview on ABC Radio National

Hi everyone,

I apologise for not posting in a while but I have been really busy with freedom2b and with writing my thesis. I aim to post a whole heap of new things starting November 2011. In the mean time please take a listen to a recent interview I did on ABC Radio National for their Breakfast program.



Also...if you haven't checked out freedom2b yet then why not?? www.freedom2b.org

Hillsong, Homosexuality & The Church

Hey guys & girls,

Please see below one of the more recent videos I was interviewed in. Some amazing news at the end...definitely worth watching for.



Lots of love,
Ben

The Freedom To Be Me

I recently wrote an article which has featured on Page 10 of 'SX News' which is Sydney's top gay magazine. After only two days, it was the #1 most viewed article on the SX website.

The article has generated discussion and I could have never imagined the impact that one piece of writing could have.

To view the article online, go to:
http://sxnews.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/christian-gay-and-happy-yes-it-is-possible-008003.html

Much love,
Ben

Working together - The Church & LGBT Community

Almost every day I talk to a gay person that just doesn't understand why I would bother keeping my faith and why I would bother investing my time in building bridges between the church and the gay community. I think this comes down to a huge level of ignorance and the fact that the majority of LGBT people and the majority of Christians don't really understand what's really happening on the 'other side'.

Whether you call Christianity a religion or a faith, you need to know that God doesn't discriminate against the LGBT community - PEOPLE DO!!

Every individual has to make their own choices and people from religious backgrounds and non-religious backgrounds discriminate against LGBT people all the time. The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard is a strong atheist and she has repeatedly stated that she does not support same-sex marriage from a personal and political perspective. She is one example of many!

Also most of the direct discrimination I have encountered has been from non-religious people. Churches aren't anti-gay because they hate gay people and the LGBT community is not anti-religion because they hate God! Both sides are ignorant and IGNORANCE IS THE REAL PROBLEM! Both sides have never had dialogue and learnt from each other. It's always been this mini war about one-side against another in which no-one wins but everyone loses.

My great friend and mentor Anthony Venn-Brown often says "the enemy we fight is not individuals, political parties or denominations - the enemy is ignorance".

Whether you are a straight Christian woman or an gay male atheist, we need to encourage dialogue and build a bridge between the LGBT community and churches. We should not be militant, we should not be bitter! We must simply try to get people to talk...and that is the first step. We need to stand in the gap!

Conferences such as 'A Different Conversation', books such as Andrew Marin's 'Love is An Orientation' and organisations such as freedom 2 b[e], Soulforce and 100 Revs are making a real effort in bridging this gap!

Churches and Religious organisations will never go away and neither will the LGBT community. So we either keep fighting or we start talking peacefully about things and work together to really help people? Think about it? One creates peace, another creates war!

What would Jesus do?

Celebrating Freedom 2 b[e] Youth

As some of you may know, I am the Sydney Youth Co-ordinator from Freedom 2 b[e] which is a place to assist LGBT people from Christian backgrounds on their journey to reconcile their faith and sexuality.

This month, I am celebrating some of the achievements and the successes of Freedom 2 b[e] Youth and although it has not always been easy, I have been so happy to have been part of this great organisation.

2008
Freedom 2 b[e] Youth was originally launched in July 2008 by Rebecca Apted & Lloyd Jones. The first event was drinks at the Burdekin, followed by socialising and some frisbee in Sydney's Hyde Park. About 10 in total turned up for this inaugural event and it was off to a good start. Two more events followed including a Bowling night and a Picnic night.

In late 2008, Freedom 2 b[e] Youth stopped because the (then current) leaders were dealing with some personal things and finding it challenging to balance the pressures of f2b youth and their personal lives.

2009
No events occurred in the first half of 2009, but the amount of young people coming to freedom 2 b[e] continued to grow rapidly and the need for a space for them was much needed. In late September 2009, Freedom 2 b[e] Youth was relaunched and revamped and Alex & I relaunched the organisation again.

2010
It has now been just over one year since Freedom 2 b[e] Youth was relaunched and we have seen amazing growth in numbers, as an organisation and as a community. Attendance at meetings can be anywhere from 20-40 people and it keeps on growing.

Young people lives have literally been saved and the stories from so many continue to inspire and encourage us to move forward and help more people. This year, the stories of Shan and Mick have been key examples to the much needed work of Freedom 2 b[e] Youth. These two young men have found hope, connection and support in the face of severe hardship and adversity. Many other young men and women have similar stories. There are too many to name, but recent stories including the journey's of Scott, Alex, John, Shaylee, Sam, Lyle, Daniel & Craig are wonderful examples of the hope and support people have found in Freedom 2 b[e] Youth.

As the Sydney Youth Coordinator, I am amazed at the great things that God is doing through the organisation and I am excited about the future and what we can accomplish together.

During the next two months of September & October 2010, we will celebrate Freedom 2 b[e] Youth and the amazing work that has been done so far. This a great milestone for 1 year of continuous, strong leadership, great meetings and events, some powerful stories of lives changed, community building, networking and growing as an organisation.

Special thanks to Freedom 2 b[e], the board members, Crave MCC, my co-coordinator Alex, the f2b webmaster Chris, all the helpers and those that have supported us in prayer and in financial support. We couldn't have done this without you!!

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure" Hebrews 6:10-11

Ben Gresham, 2010

3 insights from the life of a young gay Christian...

Hi everyone,

Sorry for being so slack lately in my blogs and updates.

I cannot believe it has now been over 2 years since I 'came out' at church and to all of my family. Since then so many incredible things have happened...life hasn't always been easy but God has given me strength to see each and every day through.

Some insights that I have gained from the last few months:

1. The strength in telling your story.
The bible says in Luke 8:39 "Go home and tell aloud the story of all He has done for you". Stories were a vital form of communication for Jesus. People connected with His stories and with the hope and truth that they provided.

I have found incredible strength in telling my story over the years. Every time I tell my story I feel more and more liberated and a new sense of freedom emerges. I am amazed at God's grace in taking me to this position I am in now. I have a platform to reach people with the hope found in Christ and the reality that sexual orientation and Christianity can be reconciled.

In late July this year I was offered an opportunity to take up a casual position with an organisation called Family Planning NSW. With this organisation I will speak to hundreds of high school students about homophobia. I will share my story, engage and communicate with the students and hopefully play a part in making high schools safer for gay and lesbian young people.

2. Boyfriends aren't flawless but God is!
In the last year I had a tough break-up with my partner of over 1 year, Rob. This was such a challenge for me to see this relationship end. Rob was my first boyfriend and the guy that I thought I would spend my life with. After many relationship difficulties, including his move down to Melbourne for work, we decided to end the relationship.

When the relationship ended, my depression only became worse and my relationship with God started to shake and I started to doubt myself again. I seemed to turn to psychologists, friends, family, alcohol but no matter what I did, nothing seemed to take away the sadness. It was in this moment that I realised that amongst all this craziness, I had forgotten to turn to the only one who is able to heal, restore and give me strength - Jesus.

When I turned away from myself and focused on God, I realised that I should not worry about the future. If God is who He says he is then I know that He holds my future in his hands. And as it says in Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, Plans to give you a hope and a future".

3. Never underestimate the combined power of a bunch of young people passionate about seeing God move in their community and bring hope to the hopeless.
In September 2009, I took over the position as Youth Coordinator for Freedom 2 b[e]. It was a tough challenge but it was an opportunity to provide hope, guidance and to put smiles back on the faces of LGBT youth, many who had been through incredibly tough times.

Since September 2009, we have seen Freedom 2 b[e] Youth grow to up to around 40 people attending each event here in Sydney, with many more joining our online forums, and making a positive difference in churches and the gay community.

I am constantly amazed at the goodness of our God and the passion he puts into the hearts of the Youth in Freedom 2 b[e]. I hope and pray that God continues to bless this important ministry so that all the pain and hard times that many gay Christians have gone through may be no longer.

Each and every suicide committed by a young gay person is one too many!! We can all play a part in showing people everywhere that they matter and that God loves them so much. Sometimes that's all it takes to turn a person's life around. God's word is not only for certain types of people....it is for EVERYONE!!

I have loved writing to you all and I am constantly humbled by the comments you leave me. You have given me strength , just like I hope I have done the same for many of you.

Much love,
Ben