Melissa Fisher - The Way of Hope: A Fresh Perspective on Sexual Identity, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Church

Life is often filled with unexpected journeys.

When I felt called to start a church in Austin, God started me on one such journey. I sensed him asking me to create a place where all peopleincluding the gay communitycan seek me and find me. I said, Okay, but you have to show me how cause I dont have a clue.

As I obediently followed his invitation to create a church where broken, hurt, dechurched, and unchurched people could explore and find faith, God began to grow my heart, compassion, and understanding for those searching for answers to their faith questions, including people in the LGBT community. Ive had the opportunity to get to know many amazing men and women of various sexual identities and backgrounds and to be a part of their journey, learn about their lives, and hear their complex stories. Most of all, Ive had the privilege of getting to watch as they found a love that surpassed all others. That love walked each of them down unique paths of understanding, growth, and freedom.

Eight years ago, I got to know Melissa as she bravely pushed through the fears of judgment and rejection that many people face when pursuing faith and began attending Gateway. Since then, Ive had the privilege of watching her grow and pursue spiritual maturity. She is now able to help others walk this path leading to greater life, love, and freedom. Melissa is one of the godliest women I know, and her life demonstrates the life and freedom Jesus purchased for all human beings.

In this book, Melissa takes you into her journeya journey common to all people, gay or straight, searching for faith and navigating the confusing waters of the church and culture. On the one hand, there are churches that too easily shame and guilt people into external conformity, which creates religious Pharisees who look one way on the outside but who are rotting spiritually on the inside. On the other hand, there are churches that bend Scriptures teachings and make accommodations for those in all seasons and situations of life, which end up offering nothing different from the world and culture around them. This leaves people, including those scattered across the sexual identity map, trapped in hurt and pain; they long for the life God offers yet feel hopeless to find it. Neither way is what Jesus came to offer.

Melissa invites all, gay or straight, confused or secure in their identity, to consider another way the way of hope . Its not a cookie-cutter, five-step way to go from being gay to straight. Its not a coercive way to make people change or to produce behavior modification. Its a personal wayuniquely crafted by the God who created each one of usthat offers life and freedom, joy and peace. Its a way that cant be controlled or put in a nice, neat box to be marketed in a church program. Its a way offered by a personal God to all... if you are willing.

If youre in the same-sex lifestyle and have found this book, my prayer is that youll read it with curiosity and openness. Give yourself permission to let go of trying to figure out your sexual attraction or relationships; instead, be open to just looking intently at Jesus to see if he is as crazy in love with you as he is with Melissa. If so, seek him with all your heart, breathe, and do not fear. Jesus wants to give you something far better than you can imagine. Be brave, take the first step, and read this book.

If you are a family member or friend of someone in the gay lifestyle or a church leader or pastor, my prayer as you read is that you will listen, learn, and be open to considering a new way of relating to those with different sexual orientations, identities, and beliefs. I pray you will be inspired to get to know someones story, usually of great pain, and be willing to walk alongside them and demonstrate how much they are worth to God. I pray this book leads you to move forward, able to show the love, compassion, and hope of Jesus because, thankfully, his love has the power to change us all.

John Burke
pastor of Gateway Church Austin,
author of No Perfect People Allowed
and Imagine Heaven