It has been my joy to have been involved with New Life Church for over 1 1/2 years. I have been so blessed by all my spiritual experiences within the walls of this great church. I have made so many dear friends that the list is too long to mention here. In April of this year I joined New Life Church. Since then my life as a Christian man has really taken off. I asked Pastor Jennifer what could I do to really get to know this church and it's members and friends. Knowing me so well, she knew right away the job for me. I was offered the lay position, Minister of Caring and Encouragement. Recently, I accepted the job as Coordinator for the Tuesday Morning Breakfast. Both jobs have been the fulfillment of my life. God has truly blessed me with this work and letting me get to know all of you. I love being a part of this church. I really didn't know how it could get any better for me at New Life, but one day it did !

Pastor Jennifer called me into her office and asked me what I would think about our church marching in the upcoming Gay Pride Parade. I was standing up at the time and I had to immediately sit down. As a gay man, I was so overwhelmed with joy and happiness that I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I had to ask Jennifer to repeat what she had said. The idea that my wonderful church family and my gay family and friends could come together in celebration was way more that any Christian man could ask for. Of course, I immediately said " Yes, I will take charge of the entire event ".My mind just when wild with ideas ! I said " we have to have a church banner " and " My friend Steve has a really cool new blue convertible we can ride in ". For me it was a dream come true ! I got our car at the parade site so early that we were the first church group in the parade. We even beat out King Ave Church for the best position ! It was such a wonderful day for me and for our church. I know all who attended from New Life went away as a changed person. The love that all of us experienced will stay with us forever. We were so well received by everyone along the route. I want to thank the Administrative Council for allowing us to be a part of this celebration of love for everyone ! I wish to thank all of you on behalf of all the gay members and friends of New Life Church for giving us this gift of celebration and love.

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A “Young Disciple’s” Thoughts on Homelessness:

Hello, readers, my name is Destiny Ashley (age 11) and I go to New Life United Methodist Church. This is where I started learning about Street Speech [street newspaper].

I don’t live on the streets. But I do experience a lot and I do see a lot of homeless people everywhere especially in the city of Columbus. It is so crazy no matter if you’re in the Terris, Milo, or Short North – anywhere. It’s always around you. I know you see the homeless people, the dirty streets they have to live on. It’s not fun. I wouldn’t want it and neither would you. Or do you hear the dogs barking, the gun shots, the police sirens they have to hear right up against their cars? Or not only are they homeless they have no food, nothing. Yes they may have some little money to go to the Thrift Store after selling pop cans they get off the streets but that is it.

So think the next time you go to make fun of how someone has to live or where they have to live, or even what they look like, or what they have to wear because you wouldn’t want anyone to crack on you if you were to be homeless.

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From Doral Chenoweth, Member of New Life Church

Robin and I would like to thank everyone who volunteered for the summer reading program at New Life. Our children enjoyed every minute of it (or every hour of it, as Cassie read more than 60 hours).

The progress Kurtis, 5, made during the program was remarkable. At the start of the summer, he did not know how to read. But by the second week, Kurtis was a solid reader.

The excitement of gathering every week, the prizes, and the discovery of the joy of reading was an enjoyable part of our summer.

Our Summer Reading Program was offered to kids in elementary and middle school grade levels every Thursday afternoon. Plugged In, a tutoring program for kids of all ages, meets every Tuesday that school is in session.