Love Thy Neighbor

— Love Thy Neighbor — "A thoughtful approach to loving an LGBTQ+ individual"

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

Friday 7pm

Saturday 9:30am, 1:30pm

Join us for worship Saturday evening at 7pm!

Thou shalt love thy neighbor! (Matt. 22:39; Gal. 5:14; Lev. 19:18; Jam. 2:8; Mar. 12:31)

What does loving your neighbor look like? And, what happens if your neighbor is a friend, a brother, a sister, or even a complete stranger? What do you do when you discover that your neighbor is living in a life of homosexuality or same-sex attraction? What happens when such a person walks into your church and begins to seek guidance, or acceptance? Come join us Friday, June 16th & Saturday, June 17th as we touch on different aspects of what it looks like to love our LGBTQ+ neighbors. We will be sharing from our own testimonies, as well as discussing how we believe the church can do better at loving such individuals.

Over the years, the Church has been either extremely silent or extremely loud on the topic of homosexuality. During this weekend intensive, we will dive into some personal stories and experiences as we tackle this subject.

This weekend is for Pastors, leaders, clergy, and anyone else who wants more insight. However, if you have questions, are struggling, or know someone who is struggling, we invite you to come join us as well! Let's go on this journey together. _____________________________

OZZIE & ANGELA MALDONADO

Ozzie is a Long Island native, and has lived out most of his life right here on the island. From a young age, he experienced severe bullying and had other negative encounters that greatly influenced his life. Ozzie grew up in the church and in the atmosphere of God's presence. However, despite his love for Christ, he battled with identity confusion and lived a homosexual lifestyle for almost 11 years. At the end of those years, he reconnected with his first love Jesus Christ and rededicated his life to Him. In the summer of 2017, Ozzie left the lifestyle behind, after having a supernatural encounter with Lord and deliverance. One year later, he met and married his wife of almost 4 years now, Angela Maldonado. Ozzie's journey has deeply taught him about the unrelenting love of Christ. He now aims to speak about his journey to help others encounter Christ's love within the church, and to talk to leaders about how to approach LGBTQ+ individuals.

Angela is happily married to Ozzie, and is a woman of Faith. She grew up in a Christian home with her 3 younger brothers, and has always had a love for the Lord. Angela has lived in multiple locations, and has served with different ministries spanning from Long Island to California. She knows what it means and feels like to be unconditionally loved by Jesus, and she deeply desires that others would know it too.

ANTHONY COLON & LAUREN OSHER

Anthony and Lauren have both been set free from bondage and brokenness through their walk with Jesus. Anthony pursued a life of homosexuality for over a decade while experiencing sexual brokenness false identity and deep roots of fear. Lauren had a Jewish upbringing and did not know the love of God, therefore she based her identity on same sex relationships, and new age practices. They are now both walking together in righteousness as they're headed toward matrimony later this year. They're using their God given gifts to minister and serve others around the world.

ELIER REYES

Elier Reyes grew up as part of a spirit-filled body of Christ in Puerto Rico. One of his biggest influences was his mother, a strong-willed woman of God who led him to Christ at an early age. He and his family moved to Rhode Island when he was an adolescent; this was where he would eventually launch his ministry.

Elier had special gifts as a young adult: spiritual gifts, musical abilities, and the gift of preaching. He used them to minister to the masses in the United States and, at times, abroad. While evangelizing, he would apply his musical talents to worshipping God and would pray for the sick and cast out demons. His love for others was remarkable, as he would weep for and smile at those whom he would seek for the Lord. Indeed, love is what fueled his ministry as a young adult and then his livelihood; after graduating high school, Elier began his career in the health field, providing aid and resources specifically to those with sexually transmitted diseases. Yet, despite having been raised within a devoutly Christian family, having had a power-filled ministry, and having worked for the Lord within the context of his livelihood, Elier gradually fell into the world. He began to use his musical talents for the world and began living a homosexual life. Years later, he was enveloped by darkness, to the point of being addicted to crystal methamphetamines. Ironically, when Elier reached the pinnacle of his financial success, he was the saddest that he had ever been in his life. At his lowest point, he had no desire to live. It was at this very point where the demonic forces that surrounded him suddenly manifested themselves in physical form, a tall, dark, oppressive figure, but Elier cried out to his Savior, reclaiming his inheritance as a son of God, and then felt the palpable embrace of Jesus. This instantly delivered him from the addiction of crystal methamphetamines, with no symptoms of withdrawal whatsoever. He was later delivered from homosexuality.

Elier knows that Jesus never abandoned him. God protected him from so many things that could have killed him. The love of God is real and powerful and Elier wants to share it with the world. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)." Elier has reclaimed the gifts that God had bestowed upon him as a child for the Lord. Now Elier lives fully for Jesus. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20)."