Lessons on Confession and Community

Our good friends at Stonegate write about our dear friends Mike and Stephanie Goeke.

Many people in our church and city (Midland, Texas) knew some of Mike and Stephanie Goeke’s story. Most knew of their separation a few years prior, the impending divorce, and the miraculous restoration. But what many did not know was the story this upper-middle class, white collar, “straight out of the preppy handbook” couple had never shared with anyone—especially anyone inside the church. But one afternoon meeting in the pastor’s office was about to change all of that.

The Goekes sat in my office and, with voices full of fear, began to take me at my word. They had heard what we believed as a church and what we said; now, they were going to test it and see if we meant it.

Mike and Stephanie sat across from me, and Mike calmly told me the well-known story of how he had left his wife. But this day the story went deeper. Mike began to share with me more of his life story, a story and struggle known by very few. Mike began to detail for me his almost lifelong struggle with homosexuality—the part of the story no one knew anything about.

Read Lessons on Confession and Community

Technorati Tags: Christianity, Church, Stonegate Fellowship, Mike Goeke, Ex-gay, Family, Homosexuality

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