A Word from Dr. Nate Collins
You Are Building Communities
Where Sexual Minorities Can Thrive
It’s hard to believe that Revoice is already six years old! As I reflect on all we have built together these past six years, I stand in awe of God’s goodness and your vital contributions to this movement.
Revoice started as a dream born out of pain and hope. We knew that many LGBTQ+/SSA Christians felt unwanted and unseen in their faith communities and families and that experiences of rejection were both common and heartbreaking. We longed for a safe, Christ-centered space where sexual minorities who are committed to the historic Christian sexual ethic could connect with one another, grow in their faith, and thrive. And so, in hope, we made plans to convene our first gathering.
And that dream came true at our first conference in 2018! I will never forget what it was like for so many to gather together for the first time, but one memory that stands out is listening to almost all LGBTQ+/SSA voices singing the hymn “It Is Well.”Many of us are well-acquainted with sorrows that roll like sea billows, and yet with each thunderous refrain, we reminded ourselves that “it is well with my soul!”
But God had much bigger plans for Revoice than just an annual conference. I could never have imagined that six years later—thanks to you!—we would have built so much together! In addition to our annual conference, we’ve now built Christ-centered spaces for sexual minorities that take place year-round. Among these spaces are the following:
28+ local chapters that meet in cities all around the country. Every month, Revoice chapter gatherings are happening in cities like Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Ann Arbor, the San Francisco Bay area, and so many more! During these monthly gatherings, LGBTQ+/SSA people—and those who love them—gather for fellowship and support.
Multiple virtual affinity gatherings, such as mixed-orientation marriage couples, sexual minorities who are ministry leaders, and young adults. Our mixed-orientation marriage groups have been especially fruitful, multiplying to six groups this year!
Our first regional retreat took place in Los Angeles under the leadership of Janelle Look, our staff Care Minister for the Southern California area. During this retreat, over 40 Revoice friends gathered to reflect, reset, and be encouraged for the year ahead. There’s now talk of a Midwest regional retreat in 2025.
To support these spaces, I am thrilled that we have welcomed Rev. Steven Lympusonto our team as our Director of Community Engagement. Each of these beautiful expressions of year-round Revoice community deserves to be shepherded by leaders like Steven, whom God is raising up to disciple people in the way of Jesus.
As we look forward to 2025, I invite you to consider building with us in even greater ways! There is so much more that we can accomplish together with your partnership. This holiday season, we’re aiming to raise $50,000 or more to keep building in 2025. We’re excited to share that every dollar you give will be matched up to $10,000, doubling your impact.
In closing, I want to briefly share some of Sam’s story (not his real name). Sam attended our annual conference for the first time last year. Before then, he had started the journey of coming out to those around him who were important to him. He knew that faithfulness to Jesus meant that he needed to embrace celibacy. Attending our annual conference gave him a vision for a form of communal living in the context of his local church that could be a source of life for him. Challenges remain, and it hasn’t always been easy, but Sam is committed to walking out the obedience he feels called to pursue as he follows Jesus.
While Revoice may have initially been birthed from pain, God has redeemed and repurposed our challenges into something unimaginably precious and life-giving. And He's not done yet. Thank you again for all you’ve done and will continue to do to build something beautiful with us.
