Read a longer review of Bridging the Gap
by Shelley Campagnola, Executive Director, Ministry Resource, Inc.
"According to a
recent study, only 16% of Evangelicals who are aged 35 or older have a
close friend or relative who is gay. Meanwhile, younger evangelicals
are twice as likely to know gay people personally. Whatever your age
and theological opinion on homosexuality, you'll benefit greatly from
watching "Bridging the Gap." I and several of my friends appear in the
DVD, along with six gay Christians ... all in hopes of helping our
fellow Christians better share the love of Christ with gay men and
women ... who (whether we know it yet or not) are our relatives,
neighbors, friends, and coworkers. There's so much hot rhetoric and
cold treatment when it comes to this sensitive subject; this DVD will
bring needed light and warmth."
Brian McLaren, author, speaker, activist
"One
thing that set Jesus apart from his religious contemporaries is the
extent to which he befriended outcasts and sinners - not former
outcasts and sinners. His love came first; their reaction to his love
was a response to, and not a prerequisite for, his embrace.
Christians
today need to be challenged to follow the way of Christ in this
regard. I commend this DVD to you as part of that process."
Bruxy Cavey, pastor and author of "End of Religion"
"Trying
to bring together two groups of people who really don't want to like
each other isn't easy. Try to imagine building a bridge across a
turbulent river, in the midst of a raging battle - with both sides
shooting at you... Such radical reconciliation efforts come only at a
cost, but so does the Gospel itself.
New Direction Ministries,
many years ago, was one of those Christian organizations that gay,
lesbian and transgendered people loved to hate. In the intervening
years, it has become one of the few true bridge builders between
evangelical Christians and the gay community. This thought-provoking
video will show you why, and, hopefully, challenge some of your own
assumptions in the process."
Greg Paul is pastor
of the Sanctuary community in Toronto, and the author of "God in the
Alley" and "The Twenty Piece Shuffle". www.sanctuarytoronto.ca
"Some of my friends have been greatly helped by New Direction Ministries over the years. They do a great work.
It is easy to judge others instead of ourselves and to tolerate our own sins and problems more than those of others. We develop our own hierarchy of right and wrong. Bridging the Gap helps participants see themselves as they really are, to enter into unfamiliar worlds, and see beyond outward differences. Hopefully Christ-like understanding and compassion will lead participants into new friendships. May this result in life-changing transformations through the Gospel."
Alex Matheson, The Navigators of Canada, House Church Ministries
"The question 'How would Jesus want us to treat our gay neighbors?' seems simple enough - but the answer can be challenging. For many Christians, our response to homosexuality has been to ignore the issue or to respond to it out of anger or fear - but is this what Jesus would do? This new resource from New Direction challenges us to think about Jesus and how his life and teachings influence how we should treat our neighbors who have decided to live a homosexual lifestyle. For those who claim to be Christ-followers surely this is a great place to start as we wrestle with one of the seminal issues for the church in our day."
Dr. Bruce Fawcett, Associate Professor of Leadership
Acadia Divinity College / Acadia University
""Bridging the Gap" is really about helping us live the way of Jesus when we meet people different than ourselves - in this case, our gay friends. This resource is filled with honesty, the voice of experience, and left me with a renewed hope for Christian community can become."
M.F.
"Bridging the Gap is an excellent resource that challenges church people, especially of the evangelical 'brand' to get past their presuppositions about gay people. It challenges our conservative theology that some practicing a homosexual lifestyle could in fact be 'saved' It pushes back my conservative default that causes me to dictate who is 'saved' and who isn't.
Although you might not agree with some of the theology from the presenters, one of the points the DVD addresses and strongly makes, is that our acceptance of these people needs to go beyond our approval.
We recommend this resource to church and parachurch leaders, and anyone else seeking to love people. Taking this content in bite size portions will yield fruitful and compassionate insights that will only serve to bless those we know in the gay community.
Let's get beyond our prejudices and begin to dialogue, connect, and seek to understand the pain we've caused to those who may be struggling with their sexual identity and sexual orientation."
Luciano Del Monte, Navigator staff and associate pastor, Lakeside church
Matthew Naismith, youth director at Lakeside church
"Bridging the Gap generates discomfort for people like me. It's well done, provocative and forces me to wrestle with questions I'd prefer to avoid. It's not liberal or conservative. It pushes me smack into the middle ground where faith and hard questions meet!"
Gord Martin, Vision Ministries Canada
"I'm no expert on "the issue" of homosexuality but I am aware of the fierce and polarizing debate raging in many circles, including the church. In my heart however, I have wanted to find a more compassionate position, a more Jesus-like way of responding to people. The Bridging the Gap DVD and materials are exactly what I have been looking for; thoughtful, engaging and equipping. This excellent production leverages an interview and dialogue format with thought provoking questions after each segment. The stories of real people with real pain who are moving forward and making real decisions, re-humanizes this issue and helps us move away from stereotypes. If you are ready to to be an authentic friend to your gay or lesbian co-worker or family member, then you must see this excellent resource from New Direction Ministries."
Neil Ostrander, International Teams Canada
"Bridging the Gap does more than it promises: it also fills a void. For too long, the evangelical church has met the issue of same-gender attraction with tired slogans, defensive postures, and a false sense of immunity. None of that has prepared us for the present moment. And none of it has equipped us for our real purpose - to share the love of God in Christ with all people, every tribe and tongue and nation. But this resource does just that. It is not only welcome. It is desperately needed."
Mark Buchanan, Author and Pastor
"Ever since I came out, I've been searching for a resource--by evangelicals for evangelicals--that depicts LGBT people in an honest, respectful, accurate light. I've longed for something I can wholeheartedly recommend to my (conservative Christian) family that (1) is created from their perspective and (2) can accurately educate them about LGBT people. I've read dozens of books, and I've watched a handful of videos. Time and time again I've been disappointed. I've found the liberal stuff--including the documentary I myself appear in--overglorifies gay people or unfairly demeans conservative convictions; the conservative stuff, on the other hand, usually seems to present twisted caricatures or reductions of the lives of gay people.
I've never found a resource that respects conservative Christian convictions while simultaneously presenting an accurate portrayal of gay people. Until now."
'Joe Moderate', Blogger from Illinois, USA
Read the full review on his blog.
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Visit the BTG blog for more information and an ongoing conversation about the project: www.btgproject.blogspot.com
Order your copy of BTG for $32.99
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