Am I Gay?
Coming Out of Cultural Christianity & LGBTQ+ Identity Into Authentic Faith in Jesus
AUTHOR: GARRY INGRAHAM
Discover the journey Garry Ingraham took in leaving behind fake cultural Christianity and the emptiness of LGBTQ+ identity for a life of “belonging, purpose, and meaning through the greatest and most enduring love of God.”
Summary
“In the American church, my fear is that many people have been inoculated to the gospel,” my pastor said. “They think they have the real thing, but they’re confusing a form of religion for authentic Christian faith” (Rev. John Hawco).
This is a perfect description of the kind of faith I had growing up in my Christian family and church. I also lived with a secret — many shameful secrets. Sexual abuse and early sexualization by peers led to porn addiction and chronic masturbation. To make matters worse, as a boy and young man growing up in a culture of Christian fundamentalism, my emotional and sexual attractions were toward other guys. I lived in the dominant shadow of a religious, rules-based Christianity, while desire for gay relationships and curiosity about LGBTQ+ culture grew intensely.
This is a story of a God who relentlessly pursues. This is a story that reveals what the church does not often do well regarding sexual sin or identity struggles. More importantly, it’s a story of how the church can be far better — equipped to live in love and truth through strength and compassion; inviting broken people into genuine and growing relationships with Jesus and His authentic community. The church can become a vibrant, well-prepared “teaching hospital” for all the issues and brokenness embraced today by hurting people craving belonging and purpose, love and meaning.
I once was broken and lost. I invite you to learn my story — how I found belonging, purpose, and meaning through the greatest and most enduring love of God.
About the Author
Garry and Melissa Ingraham founded Love & Truth Network (LTN) in 2013 — a national ministry that equips pastors and Christian leaders to develop environments of both safety and transformation, restoring relational and sexual wholeness as well as biblical identity. Prior to launching LTN, Garry served as Pastor of Soul-Care Ministries on a pastoral team at a large church in Upstate New York for twelve years. Garry and Melissa came out of identity confusion, met in 2004, married in 2007, have two incredible boys, and live in Phoenix, Arizona, where Melissa runs her Christian counseling practice and homeschools their children while Garry serves as Executive Director of LTN. Life is full. God is far beyond good.