CTM Newsletter - December 2025
Is There Not a Cause
On November 14, the Michigan State Board of Education approved new Sex Education standards by a vote of 6-2 to ensure that sexual orientation and gender identity be taught in sex education classes.
The Associated Press reported the following:
“. . . under sex education standards, by the end of grade 8, students should be able to “define gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and explain that they are distinct components of every individual’s identity.”
Over 100 members of the public desired to speak to the issue prompting the committee to limit comments to one minute instead of the usual three. Even with time limits, the public comment still lasted close to three hours. Of 1338 surveys received during the periods for public comment 924 opposed the measure. In spite of strong opposition the measure still passed by a large margin.
Fortunately the ruling allows for parents to opt out of the sex education program and gives some control to it’s implementation at the local school level. And while the ability to exempt your child from this kind of indoctrination is valuable it is appears to be a concession that the proponents of the plan hope will palliate those who object. The vote is a revelation of the marginal status of those holding Biblical values. The opt out measure appears to be a “bone” tossed to those on the wrong side of ideological progress as state directives march our young people on to the acceptance the latest expression of the sexual revolution.
Considering that this is very recent news in Michigan, (where Coming Together Ministries has it’s headquarters), I ask you, “Is there not a cause?”
When I examine my almost four decades of pastoral care, I am hard pressed to find a ministry that is more relevant, apropos, or needed than CTM. It’s leaders and participants wear a constant badge of social disapproval, and yet they are the heroes of our modern age.
As many of the churches have sat on the sidelines wringing their hands while the forces of evil muster their resources, Coming Together Ministries has been has been graciously and fearlessly presenting the indwelling Christ and Biblical truth as the path to freedom and joy.
When David arrived in the Valley of Elah to bring his brothers some food, he was astounded that for 40 days no one had taken up Goliath’s challenge. He exuded the confidence that comes with trusting God and going on His errands, and this was definitely one of them. When insulted and scorned by his big brother he responded, “Is there not a cause?”
Someone needed to step up the battlefront, declare the victorious power of the living God, and take the giant up on his challenge.
God has raised up CTM for exactly this cause. It appears to me that the ministry is poised for it’s most bold and successful moves ever – and it appears that they are very much needed! The unity and harmony that is building into this amazing team is developing a strongly knit and united army that is ready for action.
Their recent trip to Peruvian Union University was a much appreciated and powerful experience on the campus. The invitation was is a major breakthrough regarding our institutions of higher learning. Please be praying that our North American Division colleges can bring truth and grace to their campuses by inviting our team to minister to their students as well.
The cultural juggernaut that seeks to confuse and addict our youth to their own sexual confusion and wrong expression is still full power ahead, as the recent enactments in Michigan reveal. It is up to us, commissioned by God, and unafraid, to move fearlessly forward and contest the moves of the enemy.
I am inviting you, the readers, prayer warriors, and supporters of Coming Together Ministries to bring your most powerful financial support in the month of December so that 2026 can be a year of continuing victory and expansion for this dynamic team.
It is my hope that the ministry will find itself on all of our college campuses presenting a message of connection to Christ and freedom from sin. I also hope that the mantle of service will fall on a number of young people over the next 12 months and that the ministry will be in the position to offer them internships, travel opportunities and discipleship encounters that will prepare an army that is rightly trained. It’s up to us.
The headquarters building across from the entrance of Andrews University has proven to be an extreme blessing. Relationships are building and the best years for CTM are right upon us.
Please pray for the ministry team, the board and the events of 2026. Now is the time. Please help us be ready for the opportunities that are coming by finishing financially strong in 2025. Thank you for your support and partnership. It’s about to get exciting! Forward to the cause!
God Bless,
Testimony – a woman who married a secretly gay man
There are moments in life when faith is tested beyond what we ever imagined we could bear. My story is one of love, betrayal, loss, and ultimately, redemption. Through pain, anger, and confusion, I discovered that even when I felt abandoned, God was still with me—quietly holding me together, guiding me toward healing, and showing me that His promises never fail. What I once thought would destroy me became the very place where God rebuilt my faith and restored my peace.
“I grew up in a sheltered Christian home and attended church every week for as long as I can remember. I went to church school and later to a Christian academy. As a teenager, I read the Bible through several times, along with Messages to Young People and other Christian books. We didn’t have a TV, so reading became my favorite pastime.
I was secure and confident in making God part of all my decisions, including the choice of a lifetime partner. I felt I was in love from the first time I met Eric. We dated for about four months before he was drafted into the army. Letters flew back and forth every week—his were long and newsy, and I felt I got to know him very well.
Eric asked me to marry him at Christmas in 1966, and we were married in December 1967. I prayed that it would be the right decision. We even discussed how some people ended up in unhappy marriages and agreed that divorce would never be an option. Marriage, to us, was for keeps. Eric’s family were all devoted Christians who attended church and church schools, and his parents were very active in their congregation.
Twelve years later, when I discovered that Eric was bisexual, I was pregnant with our third child. I was devastated and confused. How could someone who was intimate with me still be “gay”? I thought our closeness was one of the best parts of our marriage. Having prayed so much before marrying, I felt that both Eric and God had failed me. I couldn’t imagine facing the future—raising children and caring for a new baby—alone. I felt ashamed, embarrassed, and condemned.
My father had recently died, and I couldn’t turn to my family for help. Out of habit, I turned to God in prayer, even in my anger. When Eric didn’t come home from work and I realized he was probably out with a gay friend or at a gay bar, I begged God to help me not take out my frustration on my children. I believed family problems shouldn’t be discussed with friends, and Eric forbade me from seeking counseling, so God was all I had.
I kept Eric’s bisexuality a secret for at least ten years. Our house was small, and I didn’t have my own room or bed. There were still times we were intimate, though I thought of it as “angry sex”—anger on my part, not his. He was kind and seemed to believe that as long as he didn’t look at another woman, what he was doing was somehow acceptable. I was furious. I hated him as intensely as I loved him.
Because of his bisexuality, I doubted our marriage would last. When my youngest daughter was three, I went back to college to earn a degree. I buried myself in work and school, shutting down my emotions. After graduation, with a full-time job and the children in school, life seemed to smooth out—until Eric’s health began to fail.
I insisted he get tested for AIDS, and when the results came back positive, I was livid. I could have killed him. I feared our children would be orphans before they grew up. We both got tested again—his was still positive, but mine was negative. I was overwhelmed with gratitude to God.
Despite my anger, I studied everything I could about caring for AIDS patients and prepared myself to care for Eric at home. I worked part-time as a hospice nurse and full-time as a hospital nurse, burying my anger, despair, and fear. About six months before he died, I finally told my coworkers and employers that my husband was dying of AIDS. God had clearly placed compassionate people in my life—they supported me and gave me as much time off as I needed.
Around the same time, Eric admitted to friends and family that he was dying. He recommitted his life to God, and everyone was supportive. Though no one asked how he had contracted AIDS, I often felt like people were silently judging me—as if I were running naked down the road, trying to escape my shame. Yet I was grateful that no one asked questions, sparing me the pain of explaining.
That summer, we attended a family reunion in Florida. On the way home, Eric told our four children this would be our last family vacation together—that he would soon die. Two days later, he became gravely ill and was admitted to the ICU with only a 30% chance of survival.
Knowing that some AIDS patients lived for years, I was terrified—terrified that he would live and I would have to care for him through repeated crises, yet somehow still hoping he would survive. I felt utterly deserted by God. I had to keep working to pay enormous medical bills, while also being there for the children and for Eric. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I cried and screamed at God, telling Him this was more than I could bear.
During this time, our oldest daughter was coming home from college for the weekend because we thought Eric was near death. She was riding with a friend who had worked the night before, and on the way home, he fell asleep at the wheel. Their car rolled off the freeway—but miraculously, she was completely unharmed. The circumstances of the accident were so extraordinary that I knew, without a doubt, God had protected her. From that moment, I believed that God would continue to watch over us and sustain us through whatever lay ahead.
Two months later, Eric died. In that moment, I felt God’s presence and care. Since then, He has provided for us in countless ways, including work that allowed me to spend more time with my children. I know without question that God hears and answers prayer.
God is still leading in my life, and I know I have more to learn. I continue to pray that He will guide my children—especially my sons—as they work through their grief and anger over losing their father to AIDS.
I felt God had a plan for me—to help me realize that the shame, humiliation, and embarrassment were never mine to carry. With His help, I was finally able to let them go.
Today, I am happy and content with my life. One of my favorite scriptures now is:
“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.”
– Phyllis –
Founders Corner
A New Donor Has Opened
Over the past three months, something powerful has been happening in our ministry—something we’ve been praying and believing for since we opened our doors a year and a half ago. For the first time, we are witnessing a vibrant, Spirit-led connection with the wider community, specifically among the men who have quietly carried burdens for far too long.
Our recent men’s gathering marked a turning point. What began as a simple meeting quickly turned into a sacred space for real conversation, biblical encouragement, and healing. Men—fathers, husbands, and even those navigating life as single men—began to show up. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. They came with questions, struggles, and pain they’ve often carried in silence. And for the first time, many are finding that they don’t have to carry it alone.
As a ministry, we’ve long believed that real transformation happens in honest, one-on-one conversations. That belief is now becoming reality. Men are opening up about what we often refer to as “men’s issues”—lust, addiction, isolation, emotional wounds, and the internal battles that so often go unspoken in Christian circles. These are men who want freedom. Who want integrity. Who want to live biblically, but don’t always know how. And now, they are discovering that support is not only available—it’s within reach.
We are creating an atmosphere where biblical truth and brotherhood meet. Where no man is shamed for his struggles, but challenged to grow, heal, and walk in freedom. We’re witnessing hearts being restored and identities reclaimed as sons of God.
When we reach one man, we touch far more than his life alone—we influence his entire household. What God does in our building reaches beyond our doors, bringing hope to wives longing for spiritual leadership, stability to children who need strong and loving fathers, and renewed strength to families as men encounter Jesus in a transformative way.
I believe we’re stepping into a new season—one where men aren’t just encouraged but truly equipped. A season where sons grow into the leaders, husbands, fathers, and brothers God designed them to be. And it all begins in spaces like this, where honesty is welcomed with compassion and every struggle is met with the truth and power of Scripture.
This year has marked a powerful season of growth for our men’s ministry. We’re preparing for our first-ever, Christmas party, a milestone that shows how God is giving us real traction and deeper connection with the men in our community. Lives are being touched, relationships are being restored, and a foundation of hope is being built.
Our promo says it best: “Together we can reach one more.”
As we enter this season of generosity, Giving Tuesday is a perfect opportunity to partner with us financially. Your year-end gifts to our 501(c)(3) ministry are fully tax-deductible, with receipts sent out after the first of the year. Your support helps “keep the lights on,” ensuring our building remains a place where the love and power of Jesus can transform men—who then carry that transformation back to their homes, churches, and communities.
Support this campaign at: comingtogetherministries2025.funraise.org
Let’s continue to press in, to reach out, and to create places where men and families can find freedom, healing, and purpose in Jesus.
Together, we truly can reach one more!
With hope and gratitude in this Advent season,
