What if they knew

[sheshe2]

“I was working my retail job in Paducah, and one of my co-workers-- the only other gay person I knew-- invited me to MCC. He knew what a hard time I was having, and the way the Metropolitan Community Church loved me absolutely changed my life. They introduced me to Marsha Stevens,” he says, referring to the lesbian songwriter who composed the Jesus Movement anthem “For Those Tears I Died.”

“Marsha invited me to Nashville to sing on her next CD. The church paid my way. That led to studio work. Before I knew it I was singing backgrounds for Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, George Jones too. It wasn’t long before I started believing what Vestal said was really true.”

Since then, he’s sung extensively in gay-affirming churches, his most recent tour in response to the rash of teen suicides because of bullying. Now, with four albums behind him, Justin has set his sights on new territory.

“Before I worked to make music to remind us God could still love us even though we're gay. We didn’t have to be disenfranchised. Now I think we’ve come so far the conversation had changed. On Different, I’m a lot bolder. I dare to ask if ‘church,’ however you define it, is really working for the LGBTQIA community like it should.”

http://justinryanonline.com/bio

"The 'church' however you define it." I was raised in the Episcopal church. Through my teens I was involved with my church. I remember one class. The topic was "You are not a Chair". The answer in the end of much discussion was that we were not inanimate objects. We were not made to be sat upon and silenced with the weight. We were free to be who we wanted to be. We were free to be who we are.

I drifted away from the church during college. They were unable to answer so many things that bothered me. In the end I believed in my heart. I believe in the goodness that surrounds us. It is there, sometimes you just have to try harder to see it clearly.

[William769]

1. Justin has worked with Marsha on several occasions.

I have never met Justin (except through his music), but I can relate.

I was raised Southern Baptist and when I was old enough I ran away from their way of teaching as fast as I could. Let's just say I was a lost sheep in the desert for a long time and I found MCC and Marsha about the same time and I was able to reconcile my homosexuality to Christianity and my life has been better for it ever since.

Thank you for posting this.

[sheshe2]

2. So sorry that you ever had the need to run.

You are a good man William.

I am glad that MCC and Marsha were there for you.

[JustinRyan]

3. Thanks for posting the video!

Thanks so much for posting! I know it can be hard you sometimes have to be careful not to throw Jesus out with the church. MCC and Marsha Stevens were there for me at my darkest times! If you send me an email through my website and tell me that you are from the blog I'll be happy to send you a digital copy of my new album! Keep on keeping on and know that I care about you and that we've all been there before!

Lots of love!

Justin Ryan

[sheshe2]

4. I have no idea how you found this post....

However, you are welcome Justin.

A beautiful song, so moving. It speaks volumes to so very many people.

I am glad that MCC and Marsha Stevens were there for you.

“And, in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make.”

~ Paul McCartney