This Is Because of YOU

“I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:3-7.

This verse in Phillipians is one of my favorites. Paul wrote it for a particular community with specific people in mind. As we celebrate the 10 year life of City Church, I’d love to apply this type of appreciative prayer to a member of our community. 

Today, I thank my God for the young teenage boy who came out to his parents in 2015 and forever shaped the trajectory of City Church Long Beach. 

After church, one of the board members and I listened to this now grown man describe how his coming out story catapulted City Church into becoming an LGBTQIA+ affirming church. While eating tacos, we looked out on the beautiful celebration of people--kids running through the bounce houses, queer couples holding hands, different cultures represented, people gathering in JOY and belonging--and we said to him, “this is because of you.” We all reflected with gratitude for the courage of his teenage self for his bravery. He took a leap of faith, he pushed the community, and the community followed. 

Today, in every one of my prayers for City Church, I pray with joy for his partnership in the gospel from his teenage years until now. 

This teenage boy’s courage to be his true self has paved the way for many folks over the last 8 years to gather in a truer sense of love, liberation, wholeness, and belonging. The community is forever better because of his leadership. 

I am confident of this, that the good work God began in that teenage boy will continue to grow colorful roots and branches of liberation in our community and beyond. 

Amen. 

Amen. 

Amen. 

--

Dottie Oleson, M.Div.