Friendship

Church Life

Where have all my church friends gone?

Iā€™d woken up with a nagging image of my formerĀ cell group member in my head. I wondered why. I hadnā€™t heard from her or seen her around for quite a long time, come to think of it; I decided to...

Relationships

Have we lost the art of proper conversation?

“Okay everyone, we have a new person with us today. Let’s introduce ourselves:Ā Name, age, what we’re currently doing, and one fun fact.” Eventually, it was the new...

Life & Death

What really matters when you’re gone?

I was 27 when my life changed forever. I lost one of my best friends. He was the most generous person I knew and a real source of strength and support to many of us. He was a Christian ā€“ “one...

Friendship

My “holiness” turned everyone off

I have been a ā€œChristianā€ since my water baptism in 2009Ā ā€“ quotation marks intended. The early years of my faith revolved around being holy, such as by not staying out late, not drinking, not...

Friendship

A letter to my gay best friend

Dear You, Iā€™m writing this with trepidation and excitement at the same time. I donā€™t know how youā€™ll feel upon reading it, and some of this has been brimming over for a while. I just didnā€™t...

Culture

Where are our manners?

The other day in the church lobby I sawĀ someone I knew in conversation with the parents of our mutual friend. IĀ was out of earshot, but the body language was plain to see: TheĀ young man’s...

Friendship

When my mentee came out to me

ā€œI have something to tell you. I’mĀ attracted to the same gender.ā€ Someone I was mentoringĀ in church had suddenly asked to meet me. She lookedĀ extremely jittery and it was clear something...

Real Life, Real People

Bullied into a corner ā€“Ā and there I met grace

I was a late bloomer; as recentlyĀ as six years ago I lacked assets, to say the least.Ā As you might imagine, I was teased and taunted with all kinds of nasty names.Ā Airport runway. It isnā€™t a big...

Worldview

I don’t shun you for your beliefs. Could I ask the same from you?

Christians?Ā Haters. Bigots. Hypocrites. Party-poopers. Wet blankets. I’ve heard it all before. I come from an arts school and creative background, so I have friends ā€” many friends, in fact...