Liberty Christian Ministries Financial Appeal

 
Dear Liberty friends and supporters,
 
The Liberty committee is grateful to God for the progress we have seen in our ministry over the last year. Our appeal for more financial support at the end of 2010 yielded sufficient income for us to be able to employ a Pastoral Worker once more. Haydn Sennitt began working for us in June and has already made a significant contribution, ministering to individuals, speaking in churches and other Christian groups, and developing the website.
After six months of employing Haydn for three days per week and an office manager (now Katrina) for one day per week, we know that our annual expenses will be in the region of $80,000. We have exciting ideas about expanding the ministry, but cannot do so until we meet our present budget and obtain more support.Our present income from individuals and churches is only half of what we need. Our goal for 2012 must be to increase that income by about $40,000. Can you help us with this? Are you giving regularly to Liberty? Could you increase your donations? Could you ask some Christian friends to support Liberty? Does your church support our ministry? Could you approach your church leaders on our behalf and ask for a regular donation?For details of how to give, please contact the office or see information below regarding donations.

Thank you,

David Peterson - Committee Chairman.

Liberty Christian Ministries Incorporated has an account at the Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062 257, account number 1006 3361.

*** *** ***

Liberty Christian Ministries Incorporated offers support to men and women who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions (USSA) and to those who have friends/relatives/spouses who have embraced the ‘gay’ lifestyle or have same-sex attractions.  Liberty currently employs a part-time pastoral worker, Haydn Sennitt, who began working in June 2011.

Liberty Christian Ministries Inc. aims to:

  1. Offer support, hope and education to Christian men and women who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction. This can take the form of one-to-one meetings and running support groups;
  2. Provide support to families, spouses and friends of those who have embraced a gay identity or are struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction. Support groups in the western and northern suburbs of Sydney are available to help meet this need;
  3. Educate churches and individuals in an attempt to raise awareness about the Bible’s true perspective on sexuality and how it can be expressed in ways which honour Christ. We endeavour to equip churches to better care for the many people who struggle in this area and seek to live a life according to the standards set forth in Scripture. Liberty aims to do this by providing speakers for churches and conventions, upon request;
  4. Meet needs through its online presence by providing critical insights on the issue of unwanted same-sex attractions with features such as book reviews, testimonies, audio and visual literature, commentary on social issues, links to affiliated ministries, answers to FAQs (frequently asked questions), and other information.

Liberty Christian Ministries’ activities arise out of its aims, which include:

  1. Speaking to churches and church workers of all denominations to address issues concerning same sex attraction from a Biblical perspective and to promote pastoral care for Christians struggling with same sex attraction;
  2. Running seminars for counsellors, pastors and other interested people aimed at addressing issues relevant to those dealing with same sex attraction, their families and friends;
  3. Maintaining an office and handling calls from people looking for support, counsellors or educational resources. We do not offer counselling directly but seek to refer interested people to expert counsellors;
  4. Making regular updates to our website to cover relevant issues;
  5. Stocking current Christian books, DVDs CDs, and other literature dealing with same sex attraction and related issues which are available for sale. We are proud of our book “What Some of You Were”, which contains readable and compelling stories from people who have been helped by our ministry;
  6. We work in full accordance with the Faithfulness in Service Guidelines 2007 of the Sydney Anglican diocese (PDF version available).

What Liberty Does Not Do:

Liberty does not necessarily share the same philosophies, interpretations of Scripture, and methodologies as other ‘ex-gay’ ministries.  We want to make it clear that we:
  • do not support or advocate homophobia and anti-gay vilification, even though we disagree with the decision to live the gay lifestyle;
  • do not advocate sexual orientation change.  Our goal is to help people live holy lives in God’s sight, as laid out in Scripture (1 Peter 1:13-16);
  • do not guarantee that Liberty or the support that it provides is, in and of itself, sufficient for people to be healed of their unwanted same-sex attractions.  Ultimate healing and wholeness is found only in Jesus Christ when we meet Him face to face (1 John 3:2-3);
  • do not promise or practise therapy.  Liberty is a support ministry and we recommend people seek professional help where appropriate;
  • do not evangelise the gay community or engage in political lobbying;
  • do not believe that same-sex attractions can be ‘cured’ or ‘fixed’, particularly in an instantaneous fashion.  Like all temptations that Christians struggle with, these issues need to be submitted to God in prayer, and we need support from a loving Christian community and illumination through God’s Word.  There is no guarantee in Scripture that homosexual desire will simply ‘go away’, although this has been known to happen;
  • do not believe that homosexuality is a consequence of demon possession and we do not advocate exorcisms;
  • do not advocate and practise hug and touch therapy.  Such methodologies can be very destructive and entrap people again in the sin that they’re trying to get away from.  Rather, we aim to help people get to the spiritual, emotional, and psychological roots of these issues and find victory in relational wholeness.