As Brighton is known as the gay capital of England we have a huge Gay Pride Parade event every year. Normally Joel and I stay inside because its a very busy and action packed day, and not normally a day you want to be out and about! But this year we wanted to reach out and love the people who enjoy Pride! So we did and we had so much fun! Two people came down from Holmsted to help out, Drew and Virginia! And a church that is directly on the parade path let us use their church entrance and stairway (the same church we use to do tea and coffee ministry every Thursday with Holmsted). We offered free tea and coffee and biscuits and a toilet for people to use as well!
When we got to the church there were people already standing on the stairs waiting for the parade to start. It was a very rainy and gloomy day so it was a blessing to offer people hot drinks and a dry place to stand for a little bit. The people already on the stairs helped us lure people in which was great. The one thing that made my heart sad was that there was a family of 4 there with 2 young girls who came to watch the parade. I don't see how they could find this a family event... we saw this type of thing a lot on Saturday families coming to watch the gay parade.
We were there to love and show these people God's true love for them. And I think we did a good job! It was amazing how many people were very surprised to the church doing something like this for them. many people commented on how they were blessed and happy that Christians were showing love and not hate to them. I was so blessed to see that and to hear that we had made an impact on their lives, and many times I was able to say this is because we love you and God loves you. A few people reacted badly and said really negative things, but overall people loved it.
I am really excited for next years pride, a few people asked if they would see us next year and told just hey were looking forward to seeing us here doing the same thing again next year. I really believe we did what God wants us to do.... love our neighbor.. not judge or preach at them, but just love them. Show them simple mercy and kindness. In a city that is so harsh and cold we feel its important to show mercy and kindness. And mercy looks different in a city setting then in a developing world, mercy here means giving someone a warm drink on a cold day or a place to sit down for a bit, or a free toilet to use or even just a biscuit on their way to a gay parade. That is how I believe Jesus loved people just living life and showing mercy... and I want to continue to do that over and over again in Brighton.
One of the funny things that happened to me while handing out biscuits was there was this man standing directly in front of me only wearing a white vest and a g-string... but I didn't see him at all... but almost all my pictures I took of the parade had him in it in all of his glory... Joel later asked me.. did you see that guy in front of you who wasn't wearing anything.. and I was like um, no.. and well I did see him in my pictures.
