Unforgettable Lord.

Unforgettable Lord.
By Rowland Jide Macaulay, 9th March 2012.

In ages past, my ancestors dwell in the sins of Cain
Once on a needless life but to abstain
Without God there is no gain
Worshipping and living in Christ is my main

Lord help that I may withhold all my pain
Peaceful time I seek on the mountain
My life of grace, mercies are never in vain
For there is no measure of my God’s terrain

Even in the loudest thunder and rain
Your blessings flow in endless undisturbed fountain
Your kindness, love and compassions I cannot explain
In the Lord’s house, no shortages of grain

QUOTE: The fundamental purpose of the Christian life is enabling people to develop lifestyles of spiritually empowered wholeness throughout their life journeys and helping create a world society where life in all its fullness is possible for all members of the human family. Follow us at www.houseofrainbow.org

House Of Rainbow Fellowship Declares P.U.S.H

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We have groups in Lagos, Ibadan & Minna in Nigeria, London & Manchester UK, Accra Ghana, Gitega Burundi and Maseru Lesotho.

I AM GAY NOT HOW I BECAME GAY

Dear Energetic and Beloved people, I have followed the stories of How I became gay on a a dedicated yahoogroup and I am most impressed with many of the stories, I want to make a correction, it is not HOW I BECAME GAY but I AM GAY.



For me I have always been gay and I never became gay, i became aware of my same sex attraction whilst living in Nigeria at the age of seven, boys flirt with each other unknowing all the time and it was at this stage that I was more aware of my emotional, physical, mental and sexual attraction to boys, I was 14 when I had my first sex with a guy, it was filled with curiousity, passion, embarassment and guilt as will with any heterosexual having sex for the first time.



By this age I have become a youth leader at church and have spent time reading the bible including discovering chapters that "condemned" homosexuality. Imagine the furore of my life? Now I have to be discrete, secretive and live a lie. Looking back in my life it never stopped my same sex attractions.



Fast forward thirty years, I am now fully confident that being gay is my natural being and i regretted ever trying to be straight, I regretted that I did not get the education and appropriate spiritual development to be a gay man, I can understand that and that is why I am determined that the short life I may live in this world I trust God for the development of inclusive Christian education to enable the freedom of the mind, body, soul and spirit.



For many people that know me, such as John Adewoye, a great friend and brother, and many who have read the account of my life journey, there are no surprises that we still face challenges because of who we are.



Recently, my father asked me to proved that homosexuality is genetics, I just looked at him and pointed to myself, "ME" you made me, you gave birth to a homosexual, boy he was anxious to know more, so I asked him to prove to me that God is real, not that I dont know but if we were to play "doubting Thomas", lets lay all the cards out.



My homosexuality is real, I am gay and I did not become gay, just like I am black and i did not become black. This is a great way to move forward in life and let the world know that they may hate us but God Adores Us.



House Of Rainbow Fellowship is an inclusive Christian community, that welcomes all people and does not discrmininate against LGBTI people (of faith or no faith). I am proud that the Holy Spirit has led me to start this group, (nearly five years) we are growing with passion and relevance and it is my hope that we would be able to advance the learning and inclusion of all people.



I love myself and it is my daily prayer and hope that millions of LGBTI people around the world, their friends and families will come to understand and love them.



Afteral we never ask them when did they become heterosexual?



More love more power



Jide Macaulay

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Nigeria's gay church is reborn amid a climate of fear

Nigeria's gay church is reborn amid a climate of fear

House of Rainbow church offers underground prayer and preaching to Christians ostracised by rampant homophobia
Shyamantha Asokan in Lagos
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 24 April 2011 19.57 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/24/gay-nigerians-church-services-secret

When Ade's aunt learned he was gay, the then 16-year-old Nigerian was made to go through an exorcism to expel "the demon of homosexuality".

"The priest came to the house with candles, holy water and anointing oils. I had to kneel down, holding candles in my hands," recalls Ade, now 25, as he sits in a cafe in Lagos. He does not wish to reveal his full name. "He kept shouting 'Come out! Come out! Come out!' in a fevered voice … I was allowed to go back to church after that but I had to pretend to be straight."

In a country where homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, it is no surprise that many of Ade's friends – those who, like him, are both gay and religious – stay away from church altogether for fear of being outed.

However, an alternative could soon be at hand. Ade is helping to resurrect a religious refuge for himself and his friends. He is part of the team restarting House of Rainbow, the country's only gay church, which was forced to close in 2008 after a witch-hunt stirred by exposés in local newspapers.

The Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay, the gay minister who founded the church, is leading the comeback even though he remains in self-imposed exile in London.

"Religion is a backbone to life in Nigeria, so we all want to go to church," he says. "But we don't want to lie to God about who we are."

Macaulay first set up House of Rainbow in 2006, when he openly held Sunday services in a Lagos hotel hall decked out with rainbow flags. A public backlash culminated in members being beaten as they left church. Macaulay fled to the UK after death threats.

This year, he has recruited a small team that includes Ade as his local leader in Lagos. In his voluntary role, Ade started holding prayer sessions and Bible study groups at his house at the end of last month. A full church might be set up again if it is considered safe.

The project could even spread beyond the borders of Africa's most populous country. Macaulay has recently recruited a local leader in Accra, the capital of nearby Ghana. He is considering applications from Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Religious groups are central to Nigeria's culture of homophobia. Pentecostalism, an evangelical school of Christianity thought to have started in America just over a century ago, has blossomed in southern Nigeria and across Africa in recent decades. The "megachurches" in and around Lagos can attract tens of thousands of worshippers to a single service.

Pentecostal pastors often see gay desire as the work of demons. "You might start casually but, once you get into it, you will be possessed by the spirit," says Emmanuel Owoyemi, a pastor in Lagos.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria's mostly Muslim north, 12 states have adopted sharia law over the last decade. Gay sex carries the death penalty under sharia, although no executions have yet taken place. A national anti-gay marriage bill, which pushes for jail sentences for anyone who even assists gay marriage, has been before Nigeria's parliament since 2009.

Being gay is regarded as an offence across much of Africa. Uganda's parliament continues to debate a proposed law that would introduce the death penalty in some cases. Malawi's president only pardoned a gay couple last year sentenced to 14 years in jail after an international outcry.

Apart from being on the wrong side of the law, many homosexual Nigerians say exclusion from church is one of the hardest parts of being gay.

"We are brought up to believe that you should belong to a religion. We feel that, if we don't go to church, God will not answer our prayers," says a young gay man in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. "When I recently told a friend I was having financial difficulties, he said, 'When did you last go to church?'"

In oil-rich Nigeria, where corruption robs many of even basic services, religious groups provide more than spiritual assistance. Muslim movements such as Izala have built schools in the north, while southern pentecostal groups such as the Redeemed Christian Church of God run universities. "[We] lose out on all these services," says the young man.

Some argue that African homophobia is slowly waning. Marc Epprecht, an expert on sexuality in Africa at Queen's University in Canada, says the continent's growing number of gay rights groups are challenging negative stereotypes.

He adds that despite the bad press it attracts, African homophobia is not markedly stronger than that of poor or patriarchal parts of the Middle East and South America.

Macaulay, however, is not taking any chances this time. Prayer sessions are being held in secret locations. No unknown newcomers are being admitted. He continues to preach via YouTube from London – he thinks it would be unwise to return home. "We have learnt our lesson," he says. "It is a hostile situation."

ZAch Wahls Speaks About Family

House Of Rainbow Fellowship mourns David Kato.

House Of Rainbow Fellowship mourns David Kato.

The death of David Kato has sent a wave of shock throughout the human rights communities, many African LGBT people and allies are in deep mourning. The blood of an innocent man cries from the grave, his death is a result of unimaginable hatred, how those expected to protect us now defend and justify hatred of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people to the point of death.

Micah 6:8 “...O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

David Kato was a human rights defender and he spoke fiercely against the injustices towards LGBT people in Africa and especially in Uganda, he was fearless in challenging the government and the Ugandan media for their imbalance report, discriminations and views of gay people. He spoke out and stood up for justice until his last breath.

David Kato will be remembered and not forgotten for his perseverance, tenacity, determination in the face of evil. He was truly an African man, proud not just to be gay but as a citizen of Africa.

David Kato refused to live in fear of his death, but he committed himself to the works of fairness and justice for all. We believe that David Kato’s killers will be judged by God, those who peddle hatred do so out of unjust fear.

Whilst African governments and religious leaders deny the existence of LGBT people, it is obvious that such hatred and homophobia cannot be denied.

It our hopes that as a people of Africa, we would in our togetherness condemn injustices, discriminations and deep rooted hatred towards all minorities and marginalised people.

Finally, we pray, may the soul of David Kato rest in peace, you remain in our hearts and memories.

God, remember not only the men and women of goodwill but all those of ill will. Do not only remember all the suffering they have subjected us to. Remember the fruits of our solidarities and campaigns, our comradeship, loyalty, humility, courage, generosity and the greatness of heart that all will be inspired. Amen


Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay
On Behalf of House Of Rainbow Fellowship
www.houseofrainbow.org
Tel: +442085583485, +447507510357

The Ineffable Love of God for LGBT People

HOUSE OF RAINBOW FELLOWSHIP
Presents Prayer and Praise evenings with an inclusive gospel of Jesus, celebrating the ineffable love of God for ALL people. Come Just as you are, to an inclusive space to pray and safe space to praise.

Theme: The Ineffable Love of God

LOCATIONS
LONDON UK: Friday 4th February 2011, 6.30-8pm (and then on the first Friday each month)
Foster Hall, Wellesley Road, Off Boundary Road London E17 8QX

MANCHESTER UK: Wednesday 9th FEBRUARY 2011, @6.30pm (then 23rd March)
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, Number 5, Richmond Street, Manchester M1 3HF

LAGOS NIGERIA: Call +2348052567170 for details

Contact details for House Of Rainbow Fellowship;
Nigeria: +2348052567170
UK: +442085583485 or +447507510357
Email: church@houseofrainbow.org
Webpage: www.houseofrainbow.org
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