
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va.—Covenant Baptist Church will host a “Think Tank/Roundtable” discussion about how to minister to the LGBT Community from 6 to 8 pm on Aug. 29 at the church.
The guest speaker will be Debora Barr, who serves as director of “All Things New Ministry,” at First Baptist Church of Glenarden. The ministry is based on II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”
Barr, a former lesbian, is the author of “All Things New – a Discipleship Ministry for Healing,” and “All Things New: a former lesbian’s lifelong search for love.”
Joel Rainey, pastor of Covenant Church, said the event will help people understand how to have a culture and atmosphere of welcome for all people who come to worship and to learn, and with the discernment of the Holy Spirit, learn how to minister to and love those with same sex attractions, and help lead them into a personal, life-changing relationship with Jesus.
Barr is a member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, but she came to faith two decades ago at Covenant Baptist Church. She will share how a women’s Bible study group loved her and her partner and sweetly ministered to them, and how the pastor, and the church leadership upheld their convictions while loving them unconditionally, as well as giving them space and grace for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives and transform them.
The event is free, but those planning to attend should register by emailing kmiller@covenant-mail.com.