Death and Resurrection

We want to follow Jesus into the abundant life of resurrection, but we are less than enthusiastic about following him into the garden of Gethsemane.”

Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day

These words jumped off the page at me during my morning prayer time. The truth within them required reflection. Have I ever followed Jesus into the garden? What has God asked me to turn over to death? And what has God resurrected in its stead? Tough questions to consider, and yet I found myself drawn to these two truths: there can be no new life without resurrection, and there can be no resurrection without a death.

The idea of dying to self was certainly something I learned growing up. Pastors spoke of “taking up your cross” (Luke 9:23), which they said meant laying down my own desires and find out what God desired for me. Bible studies reminded me that unless “a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). Over and over again, the Scripture and my teachers showed me the necessity of dying to myself.

Still, it wasn’t until my 40s that I really wrestled with God over the death of myself. Not my literal death, of course, but the death of the false identity I had built for myself up to then. Why did it take so long? Really, if I’m honest, it was because the false identity worked for me. Being the smartest person in the room, who always had all the right answers, was who I wanted to be, and I acted the part well.

A few years after I turned 40, however, my false identity came crashing down. The truth that I was not, in fact, the smartest person in every room, and that I did not, in fact, have all the answers became clearer and clearer. This realization, along with some buried medical trauma, left me sapped. I had come to the end of my own strength and knowledge. It even got to the point that I could not get out of bed each day without the help of God.

Thankfully, God’s great mercy revealed where I was in error. I was able to relinquish the false identity, constructed of my own thoughts, feelings, interests, and passions. I knew it was time to put this identity to death and surrender it to God. Additionally, I needed to grieve this false identity. Grieve its death, and also grieve the fact that I had believed lies. Grieve the limits of my humanity. And grieve the hurt I had caused others through my own arrogance.

On the other side of my grief, God resurrected the true identity He has created in me. God gently reconnected me to the world of women as I listened to His words about me. Through time spent being with God and being with God’s people, I was able to hear God’s voice more clearly. I could hear the truth of my identity and begin to walk in that truth.

My true identity, however, could not come to life until I had fully laid down my false one and allowed it to die. And I couldn’t lay it down unless I was willing to follow Jesus into the garden of Gethsemane: the garden of grief and death.

This past month, I realized God is inviting me into another round of death and resurrection. Taking on the top leadership role here at Outpost was not a decision I really considered until last summer. But after much prayer and discussion with others, I believe God called me into this responsibility. It would be easy for me to do this job through my own strength and wisdom. After all, God has equipped me in many ways specifically for this type of role and its responsibilities. My resume reads as a handbook of how to prepare for this job.

In these first six months, however, physical health challenges have resurfaced. Changes in our schedule at home requires my time and attention throughout the day. These circumstances impact my natural abilities. And, upon reflection, I believe this is a good thing. It is time for my reliance on my own gifts and abilities to die. God is inviting me into the new risen life, a resurrection marked by my reliance on God’s skill and wisdom in all things.

Admittedly, this will be hard to do. After all, I’ve spent over 50 years doing things under various amounts of my own strength and knowledge. Still, I trust that what God will raise up in me will be even greater than anything I can do on my own. Why do I believe this? Because I’ve seen Him do it before.

Maybe today you know what God is asking you to surrender. Maybe you don’t. Either way, I invite you to join me. Let us set aside our pride and fear, and give God our dreams and plans. Let us surrender them to death, that God may bury them on our behalf. Then, let us abide in Jesus, listen for the Holy Spirit, and trust God with the outcome. After all, God is the one who created us and knows and loves us best.

The path to new life is hard. Death requires mourning, and mourning often lasts longer than we want. And yet, what God will raise up out of the ashes will be beyond all that we could hope or imagine. Let us join Jesus in the garden, ready to say together, “Not my will, but yours be done, Lord.” Amen.

Signed, Wendy

Why Does Outpost Speak to Churches?

I love when Outpost gets to speak to churches and ministries. It’s a great opportunity to connect with believers and to help them navigate difficult questions and topics. In the past three months, we’ve been invited to speak at two churches. One event was a full Distinctions seminar, and one was a youth leaders training.

Why do we do this, though? What does talking with churches have to do with Outpost? I believe that speaking to churches fulfills our mission statement beautifully.

Encounter God: We at Outpost want people to experience God’s grace and kindness as we talk about difficult topics. God knows when to comfort and when to confront. Before every speaking engagement, I always pray that He will do what is best for each person who is listening. It is not our job to convince anybody about anything, but simply to present the truth and love that God speaks. Through this, each person can encounter God and hear what He wants to say.

Equip the Church: I find great joy in helping the Church be the Church. I love hearing stories from those who attend our seminars and events. Even if there is still uncertainty, people express having more peace and confidence as they approach biblical identity and sexuality. We long to see the Body of Christ be the place where no one shies away from pain, brokenness, and confusion. Unfortunately, the Church has a terrible record in this area, often being perceived as “bigoted” and judgmental. Our desire is to help churches and individuals navigate LGBTQ+ issues. However, navigating those issues requires love, respect, a hunger for truth, and a hunger for transformation of identity in all people. Sharing our experiences and stories provides a roadmap for doing just that.

Establish Outposts of Restorative Community: We want to see spaces where people can come in whatever condition and seek Jesus together. All of us, regardless of our background, are broken. It does not matter if you “identify” as this or that, or even if you have (as far as you know) never struggled in the areas of identity and sexuality. Everyone needs the Gospel, and everyone needs to work it into their lives by the Holy Spirit. This is a crucial aspect of the Gospel: Jesus only came to heal the sick, and He cannot help you if you believe you are fine. The reality is, you and I aren’t fine unless God comes into your life. That’s why Outpost was so critical to my healing journey. I needed a place where I could share just how messed up I felt, where I could be received in love and be pointed to Jesus. All of us can, and need to, find places to pursue God together, especially in the areas of greatest struggle or hurt.

This is why we speak to churches and ministries. This is why I love when churches ask us to walk alongside them. And this is why I love when individuals take initiative to reach out and get us connected to their congregation. In the end, it is an opportunity for believers to apply the Gospel, for His glory and for the ultimate good of all people.

I invite you to pray and consider how our ministry can walk alongside your church. It would be our pleasure to help you and your local body of believers to minister to those who are struggling, or to talk with youth or youth leaders about understanding God’s design for true life. May you be blessed as you look to Jesus for life!

End-of-Year Notes

Holiday Office Hours

To allow our staff time to celebrate the Christmas & New Year holidays, we are observing very limited hours for the end of December. Sending an email or using our “Contact Us” form will be the best way to reach us if you need help during this time.

  • Thu, Dec 21 – Fri, Dec 22: By appointment only
  • Sat, Dec 23 – Fri, Dec 29: Closed to celebrate Christmas
  • Sat, Dec 30: Open 10am – 2pm for end-of-year giving
  • Sun, Dec 31 – Mon, Jan 1: Closed to observe the New Year holiday
  • Tue, Jan 2: Resume normal office hours

End-of-year Giving

Answers to frequently asked questions about end-of-year giving.

  • If you have an end-of-year gift that you’d like to drop off in person, we’ll be available from 10am – 2pm on Saturday, December 30 at the new office location. Send us a message to let us know you’d like to stop by so we don’t miss you.
  • Gifts sent by mail this year should be postmarked by Saturday, December 30, unless you live somewhere that can affix a postmark on a Sunday, December 31.
  • Online gifts will be credited to 2023 if they are submitted via the online donation portal by 11:59pm on Sunday, December 31.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Signed, Wendy

Of Robes and Kings

Shadow image of a nativity scene. Mary, Joseph and the manger in the middle front with animals flanking the stable. In the background, we see the outline of Bethlehem to the left and the wise men on their camels to the right.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory,

glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (ESV)

Dear Friends,

For the last month, I’ve been studying the book of Esther. On this read-through, something new was pointed out to me. Near the end of chapter 6, Mordecai is honored by the king. He experiences a transformation of his appearance, which leads to a transformation of his position. He is dressed in the king’s robes, placed on the king’s horse, and taken on a parade of the city. Anyone who saw him would not be seeing Mordecai alone, but would also see the king he served.

In the ancient world, people knew the king was coming because of the robes he wore and the insignia on his horse or carriage. The king’s face was not necessarily known in the same way as we know our world leaders today, the era of images and screens. Mordecai was transformed from his humble position to one of honor and prestige, due to his new robes.

Our King, Jesus, did the opposite of Mordecai, taking off the robes and trappings of honor and prestige, replacing them with the most humble robes of all: a baby, a servant, a sacrifice. How amazing is this transformation? How is it that God became a man and lived a life like ours? How did the all-powerful, all-knowing, always present God of the universe fit into that tiny, vulnerable, precious baby born one night in Bethlehem?

Most amazing to me is that Jesus undertook this transformation to secure something on our behalf. Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection grant us a new appearance and position. Those who follow Jesus are a new creation, robed not in our rags of sin, but in the righteousness of Christ. Wherever we go, people see not just us, but also the King we serve.

This is the gospel we proclaim at TCJHOP-Outpost: Jesus has come to bring us from death to life. Our new robes are not like Mordecai’s, only present for a day. Rather, our new robes are the new identity we have in Jesus. And whatever our struggle, hurt, or pain, God is there with us, leading us further and further into that new life. How wondrous and amazing! And all due to the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

I hope you can take time this December to encounter again the great mystery of the season. And may you experience more of the new identity imparted to you. May this season bring you encouragement and strength from the God who exchanged His robes for ours, that we might become righteousness. Merry Christmas!

Signed, Wendy

The Tangible Hope of the Gospel

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”

Ephesians 1:17-20

I love getting to help teach our biblical sexuality and identity seminar, Distinctions. Whether we are speaking to pastors and ministers, church youth groups, parents, or congregations, it is fun to unpack what the Word of God has to say about our identity and how that leads us to love others well based on the truth of the Bible. However, in our ministry walking alongside those struggling with sexual and relational brokenness, there is an underlying question that we must address.

“Is there any hope for me?”

I firmly believe all we teach, and yet I have struggled with hope throughout my own healing journey. When I feel like I have taken a step forward, it seems that many times I quickly do something, or something happens, that makes me feel like I took three steps back. I believe God has something for me, yet I have felt abandoned or lost at times. And there have been times where the Bible has felt unhelpful and dry. Talk about a messy process! During my three years working at this ministry, I have heard similar stories from participants time after time. I also know that those in the LGBTQ+ community accuse Christians and ministries like ours of offering false hope and promises that will lead to horrific consequences. That raises another equally important question: what does it mean for us to have hope in God and His promises?

Recently, I have been listening to a lot of sermons by the late Tim Keller on biblical hope. Dr. Keller notes that while our English word “hope” connotes uncertainty (“I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.”), the Bible’s definition of “hope” is a joyous certainty in Jesus’ finished work that shapes our lives. Human beings, Keller argues, are inherently hope-based creatures, and our believed-in future shapes how we live our life now and how we see the world. In our own pain and darkness, in a world that increasingly seeks to snuff out the light of the Gospel, how can we live into the hope that the Bible talks about?

The Ephesians passage above gives us the answer: the Holy Spirit must open our hearts to receive and to know the hope to which Christians have been called (v. 18). This is not, however, merely correct doctrine: it is rooted in the experience of relationship with God as He truly is (v. 17). If I am not relationally connecting with God, tangibly receiving His love, and feeling His presence, the result is simple: the hope offered in the Bible stays abstract and doesn’t help me when I am deeply hurting. As I encounter God more and more, I begin to remember the hope of the Gospel when I am tempted to despair or I feel that God is absent. His light shines through my perceived darkness and pain. It is there I learn to abide in Christ and rejoice.

This hope in Christ is what we at Outpost, and all Christians, are called to. We are not called to try and shove our beliefs down peoples’ throats. Rather, we are called to shown how wonderful God is and how a personal relationship with Him far outweighs what culture or legalistic religion tries to offer. But if we are not experiencing and living out of the hope of the Gospel, we don’t have anything tangible to offer those who don’t yet know Jesus. After all, who leaves what they know for a vague promise? When we experience the love of Christ for ourselves, we more naturally overflow in our ability to love people where they are at, while still holding to the truth of God’s Word and His design for sexuality and identity.

If you are a follower of Jesus, I urge you to seek personal connection with Him more and more. Experience the hope God has called you to through the Gospel and seek the Holy Spirit’s help to be renewed! If you are not a follower of Jesus, I urge you to see if Jesus is who He said He was. Relationship with Him provides hope that goes beyond anything this world offers. For all of us, I pray we would know God more personally and live in the life-shaping hope He offers through Jesus. Amen.

A New Season of Change

Dear Friends,

Fall is my favorite season. It has been since I was a little girl. Crisp air, warm (not hot) sunshine, and the changing colors in the trees bring joy to my spirit. And no matter how old I get, fall is a time for new beginnings. Even though I’m well past my own years of schooling, the rhythms of my life treat fall as the starting point of a new year. This year is no different. Instead of starting a new year of school, however, I’m starting something new here at TCJHOP-Outpost: serving as President of the organization.

When I first came on board in the fall of 2015, serving as head of the organization was the furthest thing from my mind. Looking back over the last 8 years, though, I see how God has been leading me to this point. In large and small ways, God has been laying the groundwork and equipping me to step into this position now. It is a humbling and exciting proposition to take the reins of such an important ministry, and I cherish your prayers for this time of transition. Additionally, let me share a few thoughts about how I see Outpost entering this new season, through an observation I made recently.

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been fascinated by a tree outside the building that houses our offices. What caught my eye was one small branch of bright red leaves. This branch had changed color earlier than all the others. At first, I thought that only one branch had changed, but further investigation revealed a handful of other small branches that also had changed. The total number of red leaves on the tree was very small, maybe 1% of the tree, but they weren’t actually that hard to find. The red stood out starkly amidst all the green.

The red leaves on this tree caused me to reflect on Outpost and our people. For many who come through our doors, they know what it means to stand out from the crowd. Their personal struggles with sexuality, relationships, and identity have marked them as different; many feel like they don’t belong anywhere. Their desire to align their thoughts, feelings, intentions, and behaviors with the God-given gift of their embodiment marks them as even more different. Although these kinds of standing out can be tiring, there is a new and encouraging kind of standing out on the horizon. It is the fruit of a renewed life and the transformation that comes from encountering the living God and receiving the healing that He brings. This transformed standing out is what Outpost is all about.

As I reflected further on the leaves and the tree, I realized that the next few months look to be a time of change here at Outpost. We’re looking for new office space, we’re resetting some internal structures, and staff members are learning new tasks for their new roles. So while you may see us doing things in new ways, who we are has not changed. Outpost is and will continue to be a place where hurting people come to find hope and healing through encounter with God, relationship with Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we reset, adjust, and move into this new season, I invite you to continue to partner with us in our work. We continue to desire and need your prayers. We truly cannot do what we do without them. We also continue to seek and need your financial support. While we believe God will provide what we need to do what He asks, we recognize that the provision comes through all of you reading these words.

As Dan remarked last month, God is not done with Outpost. Our staff is excited to hear from God about new and creative ways to minister. Our volunteer leaders are energized to step up into expanded responsibilities. Our participants are ready to continue in their growth and healing. And our network of support is expanding. We look forward to partnering with each and every one of you as well in these endeavors. Won’t you join us?

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Do You Want to Change?

Reflections on 30 years at Outpost

“Do you want to change?” This was the question my pastor asked me in the spring of 1988. What I thought was a sexual question turned out to be a spiritual one. It was the question of repentance, as with the New Testament word for “change of heart.” In 30 of my 35 years of change since then, I’ve been privileged to serve at Outpost in various capacities. I started in 1993 as “Associate Director” and wrote these words for Outpost News in 1994: “We simply want to assist those who are already God’s children to work out their salvation in fear and trembling in regards to the areas of homosexuality and personal spiritual growth.” This hasn’t changed!

There are a number of transitions however, that I’d like us to remember. In September 1996 I wrote in my newsletter that the month “marked a new beginning for Outpost. There was a significant change in leadership within the organization with three out-going board members leaving the board. This also translated into … a promotion! I am now the Executive Director of Outpost, Inc. … Bringing an organization through transitions such as we are experiencing is a real crisis according to the famous Chinese definition: their word signifies both danger and opportunity. I also realize that … transitional leaders, like interim pastors, often move on after the storm clears.” (DAN’S WORLD, October 1996) Things are still in transition in 2023!

I took a look back at 2001, which was another transitional period for us. We moved our office to a bank vault and found out later that the very first Outpost office also contained a bank vault! We jokingly referred to it as “Your secret is safe with us!” Unfortunately, 2001 was also the opposite of a bankroll for us, as we struggled intensely with finances that year. We closed down the Joshua Fellowship program and lost a key volunteer leader in Living Waters, forcing the unexpected closure of that program for the year. Surely, “Outpost is dead,” was the threat of the enemy. We had shriveled up and nearly died. But like the parable of the sower in John 12, after the seed was buried, it burst forth in new life. We started a “Noontime Prayer Break,” where we invited folks to come in for prayer from noon to one each day.  And then 2002 and 2003 brought more resurrection life to Outpost. Prayer increased, Joshua Fellowship was re-tooled and Living Waters restarted. We were “back in the saddle” once again.

In 2008, following a year of eye surgeries, my tenure as CEO changed with my vision loss. By 2011 I could no longer function effectively and stepped aside to make room for a new CEO, Nate Oyloe. With a new “operating system” our Board catapulted the ministry into a period of tremendous growth. By the end of 2015 a new kind of “death unto resurrection” occurred and Outpost merged into a new organization called Twin Cities Justice House of Prayer (TCJHOP). Prayer was a major focus, as we had our prayer room open over 40 hours a week. Outpost had grown to four regular support ministries: Joshua Fellowship, CalebSpirit, Elijah Company and Living Waters. And then a worshiping congregation brought it all together. We had 17 paid staff members and filled up a waning congregation’s church building with spiritual vitality throughout the work week.

The enemy had designs on us. Through a series of unrelated events, our staff was compromised in different ways. We seemed to lose our focus, even on the board level. And one by one staff members left. We are now down to four, a level we haven’t seen in nearly 20 years! It is a time for mourning, yes, but also for planting. When the seed falls into the earth and dies, new life springs forth in abundance.

We’ve seen this happen time and time again in our history in various ways. Sin had almost ruined us when our former executive director, Jeff Ford, decided to go back to gay life in the early 1980s. We started getting “famous” with our TV ad campaign in 1997, only to be pulled off-task. Then, we saw financial distress with the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11/2001, the medical loss of vision for me in 2008-2011, and distracted vision in the years 2016-2020. We have “fallen into the earth and died” many times in our past. The enemy hates us and our mission, so he works overtime to stop us. Yet God will prevail. I believe Outpost’s best years lie ahead!

In these times, I often revisit the vision and scriptures God used in my early life to help me focus and stay on task. One of them is Galatians 6:1, “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” This is what we do at Outpost Ministries. We are not here to get famous or make a profit. We’re not here to talk to the media who hate our message and will do anything to stop us. We are here to walk alongside folks who’ve decided that Jesus is worth all the suffering and struggle we go through in order to follow him.

In the 1970s, well prior to my involvement here at Outpost, Nancy Honeytree wrote a song called “Live for Jesus.” It was recorded by multiple Christian artists, including Evie. The point of the song is clear and simple: “Live for Jesus, that’s what matters. And when other houses crumble, mine is strong!” This is referring to Luke 6 where Jesus is teaching and calling people to follow him. He says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” In a word, we are here to call people to trust Jesus for healing and to obey him in all things. Discipleship. That’s who we are. That’s what we do. It’s in our DNA as an organization, dating back to our inception in the mid-1970s. And it’s what Outpost will continue to do after me, for many years to come.

Thank you for the many years of support and fellowship in this ministry. Please come for coffee and pie on September 16th to celebrate what God has done!

The Spirit of Caleb

But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land.

Numbers 14:24 (ESV, emphasis added)

Dear Friends,

These words from Numbers are the guiding verse for our older men’s group, CalebSpirit. This group is essentially a fellowship group, defined as two or more Fellows in one Ship, struggling against the tide to reach their destination. Of course, the Old Testament imagery of Caleb and the Exodus is the centerpiece of our approach to ministry. Released from slavery to sin, now en route to the Promised Land of freedom in Christ, these men are on a journey together.

Our itinerary includes focused discussion throughout the school year, generally about Christian discipleship and sometimes more specifically about the topics related to LGBTQ+. We often include weekend retreats in September and May, and even January, schedule permitting.

Along with the book study, we have other occasional events like dinners, movie nights or holiday/birthday parties. During the summer months we ramp up the outdoor activities like mini-golf, kayaking, biking, croquet and of course, food events like BBQs, restaurants and ICE CREAM!

Perhaps the sweetest part of our fellowship takes place “off schedule.” At our age, we seem to be attending more family funerals together, like Mom’s, Dad’s, spouse’s, and sadly, even some of our men’s children’s funerals. We walk with each other through the impacts of caring for aging parents, difficulties in children’s lives, and even separations and divorces.

Life is not easy on the Road to Zion. But, oh, when we get to the Promised Land, do we have something to look forward to! There will be no more sin and no more suffering when we Look in His Wonderful Face! So, we walk side by side, offering encouragement, strength and hope to each other along life’s way.

We all need that, don’t we? I’m so glad that I’ve had many communities like this in my life. I have much to be grateful for!

The example of Caleb is a powerful one. Think of it. He was about 40 years old and the head of his family when Israel set out on the Exodus. He bravely spied out the land with 11 other scouts. Only his and Joshua’s reports came back engendering hope and a future for the Children of Israel. Ten naysayers—faithless men—put a halt on the whole thing. Only he and Joshua held out for hope and kept the faith.

Now, imagine again. Caleb watched all his adult friends drop dead in the wilderness. He heard all their grumblings, murmurings and complaints, yet kept the faith. He had a different spirit about him. He was “one in a million.” And if there were 2 million people on this march, Joshua was the other “one in a million”! God uses extraordinary people like Caleb.

But what made Caleb extraordinary? Was it his education? No, he was a slave. Was it his lineage? Perhaps, as he was “one of them” in the line of Jacob. Was it his hard work? Maybe, as he did claim to be as strong at 85 as he was at 40! (See Joshua 14:10f. for the full story on how he eventually took the land for his inheritance.)

Actually, the one characteristic that set Caleb apart from his ten Israelite “brothers” was this: he fully followed YHWH. He kept the faith! He submitted. He yielded control. In essence, he was meek.

Meekness is, generally speaking, not seen as a social value or a positive masculine virtue. But God saw it and rewarded him for it. Meekness, as we are learning in our summer study of the Beatitudes, is “strength under control.” It is like a horse that has been broken and now, submitting fully to the jockey, can win races. As Colin Smith aptly observes in his book Momentum, wild horses don’t win races! Broken horses do.

Caleb was rewarded first with life itself. He did not fall in the wilderness, but was preserved. Secondly, he was rewarded with an inheritance that he would pass on as his legacy for generations. He was the chief of the tribe of Judah, and if you recall, Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, too. Talk about legacy!

So, it is in the same spirit that the men of CalebSpirit are building a future in and for the Kingdom! Perhaps their legacy will bless generations to come.

PS: If you’re interested in joining CalebSpirit, please contact me at the office phone 763-592-4700 x101. I’m happy to help get you started!

Called Out of Darkness 2023

On June 22, we held Outpost Ministries’ 19th annual worship service to celebrate our being “Called Out” of the dark drudgery that we had lived in as slaves to sin. As a celebration of freedom, it was appropriate that we have moved our service to June, just days after our national celebration of Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day (from slavery). What a beautiful evening of joyous celebration we had! We re-visited the church where we held our 30th anniversary in 2006, some 17 years ago, Cornerstone Church Crystal.

We were led by a worship team that really “got it” in terms of freedom and joy. We sang and praised the God of our salvation and deliverance. The testimonies this year were all from our staff members, including myself. After each testimony of God’s grace, we took a moment to pray for the various groups in Outpost that we each represented: CalebSpirit, Elijah Company, and Joshua Fellowship. Through it all we were reminded that God is up to something good at Outpost Ministries!

Finally, the fellowship time afterwards was warmly appreciated as cookies and coffee mingled with conversations among friends old and new. It’s these relationships that are now possible as we all walk in the light of God’s redeeming forgiveness and grace.

Thank you to all who joined us for this special evening. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon!

The Desperation for New Birth

“To all who did receive [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God …Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’”

John 1:12-13, 3:5-7 (NIV)

Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Restored Hope Network’s HOPE Conference. It was a terrific time of testimonies and teaching centered on the Gospel of Grace and its impact on our sexuality and gender. During the conference, one of the presenters said something that pulled me up short.

One of the main themes of the conference was the history of the transgender movement, its roots, and its ideologies. Within this discussion, one of the presenters stated how all of us are desperate for new birth. One of the draws of transgenderism is that the world tells those struggling with gender identity that they can be reborn! “Get enough surgeries, take enough hormones and puberty blockers, and then you will finally be happy and become who you truly are inside.” This message is proclaimed from all sides and is rampant among our culture, particularly with today’s youth and on social media.

This statement about our desire for new birth really struck a chord with me. While I personally have not struggled with gender confusion, I certainly have experienced much pain over the years with my unwanted same-sex romantic/erotic attractions and acting-out sexual behaviors. In seeing the disconnect between my feelings/false desires and God’s design/call on my life, I cry out, “God, make me new!” I believe followers of Jesus, regardless of the particularities of our struggles, can relate with the heartfelt tension of the already/not-yet of our lives. However, I am reminded of the hope Jesus has for us now, not merely in some distant future.

The Gospel writer John uses the imagery of birth throughout his account of Jesus’ life. Our birth is not something we willed, it is by grace and the will of another that we came to be. So it is with our new birth. We cannot remake ourselves as the world claims, but we can be made new through the gracious and costly intervention of God. However, not only is our new birth in Christ guaranteed for eternity, He has already brought it about. He IS our new life through the Holy Spirit! While we cannot give ourselves life, Jesus is the way to new life, both for now and forever. His promise and work is the new birth we all truly long for and need. May we receive His new life and rest in the assurance of being children of God!