EMBRACING TRUTH AND FAITH

Greetings,

Raised in a Southern Baptist church within a conservative family, I encountered teachings that shaped my understanding of faith and identity. At a young age, I grappled with feelings I couldn’t fully comprehend—drawn to men in a way that felt both confusing and forbidden by the standards I knew.

Homosexuality was presented as a path to damnation, a notion that isolated and burdened me with guilt. Despite attending church faithfully, I struggled silently, torn between my desire to honor God and the realization that my feelings didn't align with what I was taught.

Throughout high school and into young adulthood, I hid my true self behind a facade, living a life that wasn’t authentic to who I was. This inner conflict eventually led me down a destructive path of reckless living and despair. It all came crashing down when I received an HIV diagnosis in 2007—an event that pushed me to the brink of suicide.

In my darkest moment, something miraculous happened. In my despair, I cried out to God, demanding a sign of His existence and love. In that moment, amidst my tears and anguish, I felt His presence and heard His voice reassuring me: "I never left you. I love you. Believe and you will receive." This encounter with God’s grace transformed my life.

Since then, I have found a supportive community at Potter's House International Fellowship and encountered others who, like me, are gay and deeply devoted to God. Through prayer and perseverance, I have come to understand that God’s love is unwavering and His plans are for our prosperity, not our harm.

Today, I stand before you as a living testament to God’s transformative power. Despite my struggles with mental health, recreational drug use, and past mistakes, I am now a spiritual life coach, disciple advocate, and motivational speaker. I am committed to helping others break free from generational curses and discover the abundant blessings God has in store for them.

Let us not debate theology but instead focus on the unchanging love of God. His love knows no bounds and His grace extends to all who seek Him. I invite you to explore with me what it means to break generational curses, to experience true freedom in Christ, and to embrace a new vision for your life.

Let’s connect and discuss how we can bring this message of hope and transformation to your congregation. Together, let’s journey towards deeper faith and understanding.

Blessings, love and light,

Richard Martin

Scripture References

- Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

- Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

- Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Love and Light,

Richard Martin