The discussion of gay Christian versus straight Christian leaves out a very important realization: the life and blessings God has for us when we let him heal us. Having been a gay Christian before completely giving her life to Christ, Christie May Jesse understands the struggle. “At the core of same-sex attraction, lies a longing to know oneself, to belong,” she explains, but what they’re doing is refusing to give up a part of themselves to God. They’re choosing to hold onto their struggles because it’s more comfortable than facing the pain head-on and learning to let go.   In the 1980’s, Christie went to Stanford as a man-hating, open lesbian. Her rowing coach was an avowed Christian, and a conflict was pretty much inevitable. Christie decided that she would only provoke her coach a little and jokingly asked if she knew of any good bible study groups. Her coach cheerfully obliged. When she knocked on the door for the study group, she was met by another girl who asked her, “Are you a man hater like the rest of us?” That question set Christie on a year’s long quest to deal with her same-sex attraction, the deeper roots of it, the abuse she endured, and even the misogynist atmosphere she was raised in.   Christie May Jesse graduated from Stanford University, while attending on a rowing scholarship. While there she connected with an all female bible study group struggling with their same-sex attractions. That began her journey away from a lesbian identity and towards Christ. Today she has been married for 18 years and works with Desert Stream Ministries, working with those on the path to freedom from sexual and relational brokenness. She also teaches high school classes on biblical sexuality to both the students and their parents.   Visit Desert Stream: https://www.desertstream.org/ Listen to their podcast: https://www.desertstream.org/podcast Connect with them on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.comiskey1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewjcomiskey/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJVUJQREephvIkJWlTuwXBg   Follow Nancy Charles on Twitter: https://x.com/cancelwok3   Learn More About Leanne Payne: https://ministriesofpastoralcare.com/leannes-story/   Discover Elizabeth Woning’s organization: https://changedmovement.com/   Learn more about Rosaria Butterfield: https://rosariabutterfield.com/   Watch our previous episodes on ex-gay testimonies: Elizabeth Woning: https://youtu.be/LTaxP-0sq9Q Marco Casanova: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSh7nlhZ6XQ Nancy Charles - part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99S1_mv903I Nancy Charles - part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrWIe0ld2Nk   Hear more ex-gay stories: https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLSi2OoPf_APvpYetZ--PHACCS1oTkhJ9f/videos   Get the science on the ex-gay issues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsA8VGl3OHA&list=PLSi2OoPf_APsD4brFiB8nb73SoXc1Lkta   Learn more about counseling freedom for all: https://ruthinstitute.org/counseling-freedom-for-all/       Have a question or a comment? Leave it in the comments, and we'll get back to you!   Subscribe to our YouTube playlist:  @RuthInstitute  Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/theruthinstitute https://twitter.com/RuthInstitute https://www.facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ https://theruthinstitute.locals.com/newsfeed   Press: NC Register: https://www.ncregister.com/author/jennifer-roback-morse Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/profile/jennifer-roback-morse The Stream: https://stream.org/author/jennifer-roback-morse/ Crisis Magazine: https://crisismagazine.com/author/jennifer-roeback-morse   Father Sullins' Reports on Clergy Sexual Abuse: https://ruthinstitute.org/resource-centers/father-sullins-research/   Buy Dr. Morse's Books: The Sexual State: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/the-sexual-state-2/ Love and Economics: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/love-and-economics-it-takes-a-family-to-raise-a-village/ Smart Sex: https://ruthinstitute.org/product/smart-sex-f