belonging Archives • Your Other Brothers

How the Church Has Actually Helped Me Fight Homosexual Temptations

by Marshall | Jul 5, 2019 | Lifestories | 7

Many men dealing with same-sex attraction have told stories of being coldly rejected, while men who struggle with heterosexual sins are given compassion and support. My church, however, has actually helped me follow Jesus Christ, allowing me to be happy while fighting homosexual temptations.

Sharing My Story at a Church for the First Time?

by Daniel Marquez | Jun 28, 2019 | Lifestories | 10

The Sunday service started, and I was excited to speak. I’d been praying for this moment for quite a while now — I was about to give my testimony in front of a whole church. The service started, and two songs into worship I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the pastor, and he was motioning me back to his office…

Taking Up Courage with Masculinity at the YOBBERS Retreat

by Thomas Mark Zuniga | Jun 25, 2019 | Lifestories | 16

Of our five values, I felt a lot of vibes for “courage” going into the YOBBERS retreat this year. I just had a feeling I’d be on the Courage Tribe, because boy have I needed courage this year. Boy, do I need courage still. Sure enough, I did wind up on Courage this year. Turns out I wasn’t the only one with courageous inclinations.

Revoice 2019: So Much to Learn and Love

by YOB | Jun 20, 2019 | Conversations | 7

Several of our authors recently attended Revoice 2019 in St. Louis. We gathered to discuss the second annual conference: our personal highs, challenges, and hopes for future Revoice conferences.

I Was Fifteen Minutes Away from the PULSE Shooting

by Eugene Heffron | Jun 12, 2019 | Lifestories | 9

In my pre-YOB days, I still felt a lot of self-loathing and internalized homophobia over my sexuality and had yet to come to terms with it. I spent that whole day unsure what to think or feel about PULSE. Dismayed by seeing so many people brutally murdered, of course, yet conflicted about how I felt about my convictions with my own sexuality.

Finding Humility Through Beauty at the YOBBERS Retreat

by Ryan Burger | Jun 4, 2019 | Lifestories | 5

Humility is not about being hard on yourself; it’s about fighting the urge to stand at the center of it all. As I stood there at this year’s YOBBERS retreat, an observer rather than a participant, God reminded me I wasn’t there to get as much as I could get, or even give as much as I could give. The YOBBERS retreat was bigger than me. I didn’t need to stand in the center of anything.

Please Don’t Let Our Second YOBBERS Retreat Suck

by YOB | May 28, 2019 | Conversations | 13

We recently held our second annual YOBBERS retreat: a weekend gathering for our financial supporters and community members on Patreon. Several of our authors attended, and we discussed our time together — both highs and lows — in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Are We Asking LGBT+ People the Right Questions?

by Ryan Burger | Apr 26, 2019 | Musings | 34

If we want to win hearts, we have to ask better questions. How do we win hearts? We win hearts with good news. I want people in my church community to ask themselves, “What is the good news for LGBT+ people in our marriage ethic?”

Wounded Sparrow Seeking Home: Intro to a Queer, Married Pastor

by Ben Rutkowski | Apr 23, 2019 | Lifestories | 33

I like men in more than just a friendly way. I am a man who is attracted emotionally and sexually to other men. I am also married to a woman, attracted only to her out of all the women on earth. Somehow, it works. I am queer. And for much of my life, that has terrified me.

Who Am I to Lead Others?

by Kevin Zimmerman | Apr 10, 2019 | Lifestories | 10

Did I want to be in leadership, or did that role need to be filled? I felt inadequate. To lead. To be an example. To show my non-Christian roommates Jesus and love. To be a good friend.