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December 1988
PAGE 3 Q-Notes
Encounter International
Visits Charlotte
By Gene Skidmore
Special to Q-Notes
When Jesus sent His disciples into the
world to do His work, He told them to take
only what they had on their backs, and to rely
solely on the people they served for their
needs.
So it is with four young women from Long
Beach, California, who were called by God to
minister to gay and lesbian people in cities all
over the Unit^ States.
What began as a worship band for the
Metropolitan Community Church of Long
Beach has become a full time ministry called
Encounter International.
The group is made up of Sandy, singing
lead vocals, Janet on guitars, Veronica play
ing bass guitar, and Terri on Keyboards.
Their name, Sandy says, came from their
feeling that worship should be a total encoun
ter with God, not just a religious game of going
through the motions.
On Sunday, November 27, Encounter In
ternational performed at MCC Charlotte, play
ing two songs for the morning service and
giving their full ministry to the evening serv
ice.
They began with Sandi Patti’s "How Ma
jestic Is Your Name," and played some of their
own compositions as well.
The women have been playing together for
almost two years, and are in the midst of a 12-
month tour, aimed primarily at larger cities
where they say the subculture they want most
to reach is the gay and lesbian community.
This community has been misinformed for so
long by society and organized religion about
the gospel. Who better to reach the gay com
munity than other gay people that the gospel
does indeed apply to them, they say.
Encounter International challenged us to
be gay ministers. There are so many thousands
of people who are lost and searching for
answers, that there is room and need for all of
us to minister to someone.
Ronnie (Veronica) gave us a moving testi
mony about her life. She had been a cocaine
addict and eventually hit bottom. "I wish
someone had reached out and told me before
then," she said, "that God loved me just the
way I am." Ronnie overcame her dmg habit
and quit cold turkey with a lot of willpower
and prayer.
Encounter International has high hopes for
the future. By mid-1989, when they finish
their tour, they plan to start a training school
for workers in theirministry. Interested people
would then spend one to two months on the
road serving people where the needs are pres
ent.
The key areas the ministry will be aiming
at are: getting MCC's started in cities where
none exist, and, of course, assisting churches
in their outreach to the gay and lesbian com
munity.
Right now Encounter International is four
months into their tour. Following their visit to
MCC Charlotte, they plan to minister in Nash
ville, Dallas, Houston and New York. Our
thoughts and prayers are with these young
women who so courageously "fight the goodd
fight."
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