belonging Archives • Your Other Brothers

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

by Ben Rutkowski | Apr 23, 2019 | Lifestories | 32

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.

CrossFit Reveals My Biggest Struggle is Masculinity

by Thomas Mark Zuniga | Mar 11, 2019 | Manly Monday, Video | 11

This month, I talk about joining CrossFit and how it’s been a vital outlet for my intense emotions as well as an equalizer of masculinity among other men. Unlike my gym workouts from high school days past.

I Hate Being a Sensitive Man Who Feels Things

by Thomas Mark Zuniga | Feb 21, 2019 | Lifestories | 12

I’m a sensitive man who feels things, feels things all the time, and no amount of oversleeping or overdrinking or pornography or promiscuity will turn me off.

YOBcast Episode 046: Church Inclusion

by YOB | Feb 15, 2019 | Podcast | 2

Many SSA/LGBT+ people struggle to find inclusion in the church — a safe place at least, and a nurturing place at best. This episode, we bring a very special guest onto the show. His name is Matt, who among other claims to fame (which we waste little time diving into), also pastors at Ryan’s church and oversees Ryan’s ministry to non-straight people, Intersect. We dive into their ministry relationship and overarching friendship, also discussing with Dean issues of sexuality, singleness, safety, and nurture of sexual minorities in the church.

Fitness for the Fearful Gay Man

by Eugene Heffron | Feb 8, 2019 | Lifestories | 14

Being a stereotypical gay/SSA guy, I had no interest in sports or athletics. I seemed not to care very much about how my body looked either. However, my medical problems gave me a new perspective on how I treated my body. I was tired of being an awkward, flabby, doughy guy. So, I joined a gym. I definitely felt intimidated.

Breaking Down the Idol of Brotherhood

by Thomas Mark Zuniga | Jan 22, 2019 | Lifestories | 29

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I’d made brotherhood my idol. Looking back, I see it so clearly now. So madly obvious. I made this pursuit of brotherhood and even ministry my idol. And I got the wind knocked out of me on the asinine climb.

Free from Caring for my Elderly Father

by Marshall | Dec 7, 2018 | Lifestories | 11

My dad believed he needed to leave me free to live my own life. I had certainly been willing to be his full-time caregiver, but now that I knew his wishes, apparently God had other plans for me.

How I’ll Heal in the Next Life

by Ryan Burger | Nov 29, 2018 | Musings | 30

God and I are going to have some time alone together at the beginning of the next life. For the wounds to heal, for the scars to fade, and for the tears to become mere memory. I used to think healing would happen in an instant, but I’m not sure that’s how healing works anymore.

What’s a Same-Sex Celibate Partnership?

by Eugene Heffron | Nov 14, 2018 | Musings, Popular | 96

A same-sex celibate partnership is an intimate coupling between two same-sex attracted or gay-identifying individuals. Bonded for life in a way similar to marriage but, of course, minus the sex. I have already seen a few celibate couplings form between guys. I’ve been mostly watching from a distance, but other times I’ve contacted those folks to ask questions. Sometimes I view them with a lot of envy.