racial divisions in Pentecost

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<<Sad to say, there are apostolic churches that won't minister to the
gay/lesbians because they feel like they might become contaminated with
a communicable disease instead of having the faith that God will keep
them from all harm.  And besides, there's a perception in the church
that gays/lesbians are so far reprobate (with seared consciousness) that
they are unsavable.  So why try? >>

Congratualations, Bro. Tyler, you just hit one of my pet peeves!  At my
college, 20-25 percent of the students identify themselves as lesbian.
In addition, many of our faculty members are homosexual.  When I first
arrived here, it was very difficult for me to understand how someone could
be homosexual and still call themselves Christian.  A large percentage
of the Christian students on campus (there aren't that many to begin with)
are lesbian, and our Protestant chaplain is lesbian as well.  After 
recovering from my initial shock, I realized that I had a lot to learn 
from these women.  I do not agree with their lifestyle, but their 
commitment to God has encouraged and challenged me.

Now, before anyone thinks that I am advocating homosexuality, allow me
to explain.  These women have taught me how important it is to love not
only the vilest sinner, but our fellow Christians as well.  Many of my
sisters in the Christian Fellowship have experienced painful discrimination
and ostracization by their churches, friends and family members.  What kind
of witness would I have been to them if I had immediately condemned their
lifestyle?  We can not win anyone to God unless we first LOVE them.  That
doesn't mean just loving them because God said we have to.  That means
being willing to serve them, to pray for them and with them.  

We need to quit stereotyping various communities.  Lesbians do not all   
have butch haircuts and wear pants.  Some look almost Pentecostal (I'm not
kidding.).  We are so afraid of contamination by the homosexual community
that we have neglected to reach out to them.  How can we call ourselves 
Apostolic and consciously neglect an entire group of people?

-Lisa