Over the past week we have been informed of a few interesting, yet unconfirmed, incidences that lead us to believe that Love In Action may be experiencing difficult times:
- As has been public knowledge LIA has had two live in facilities for their adult program The Source. Over the weekend we were informed that they have been forced to shut down one of their houses due to lack of enrollment. Again, this is unconfirmed, however, if true, would mean this has happened since the infamous summer of '05 in which the "Christ Centered Ministry" faced numerous protests, and world-wide media attention for their dealings with youth.
- At a screening of "What Does Love In Action Look Like: The Preface" this past weekend we were informed by a source close to Dr. Stephen Rice, LIA Borad Member, that he has been heard murmuring that the devil is in the midst at Love In Action, refering to internal conflicts within the organization.
- Sources close to us who've happened to be driving by LIA have noticed fewer and fewer visitors at their facilities in Memphis.
These "unconfirmed incidences" combined with LIA's Oct. 3 "Letter to LIA Supporters", which seems to be a sort of "cry for help" from the communities that have supported them, lead us to believe things have become more and more difficult for Love In Action.
An excert from their "Letter to LIA Supporters":
This past summer will definitely be remembered as the most turbulent on record for Love in Action. All of you have continued to stand with us as we faced picketers, investigations by the Department of Children’s Services and the Department of Health Alcohol and Drug Licensing (clearing us of any wrong doing) and the ensuing local and national media onslaught. Even before these events, you were faithful as we sought God’s direction for the purchase of our new property. Now, more than ever, as we seek to serve Christ in the midst of current events and defend our constitutional right to minister as a faith-based organization, we are very grateful for your continued prayers and financial support. Please continue to remember us and stand in partnership with us as we go through this time.
If you have any questions or comments I would enjoy hearing from you and would welcome the opportunity to clarify our current situation. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Rev. John Smid. We can be reached at (901) 751-2468 and I can be e-mailed at gerard@loveinaction.org.
It is troubling to continually hear the heart-breaking stories of those whose lives have been affected by Love In Action. It is troubling to know, for fact that they support parents wishes to coerce their minor children into LIA's Refuge program. It is troubling to know that LIA seems blinded so by their own "faithful journey" that they support a families oposition to a gay relative, child, or otherwise that they can watch family after family fall apart in their midst. It is troubling to know that they are so passionate about what they do that they cannot see it another way, that they are unable to see the pain and suffering they cause in their support of what essentially is a pushing away of the love that could instead bind and bring closer familes and loved ones.
We hope, whole-heartedly, that over this holliday season, in a possible time of extreme difficulty for LIA, that those involved may see that there is another way. We hope that they may see that love is what binds us, and that this beautiful thing that we all know, as human beings, as LOVE, is what we feel, as do they. It is unfortunate that this very thing we know as LOVE, is what has driven such a strong line between an ability to LOVE.
We extend LOVE to LOVE IN ACTION this holliday season, in hopes that they may open their hearts, and their minds to see passed the division that has created so much pain and strife for Gay, Lesbian, BiSexual and Transgendered human beings in this world. We extend our hearts, and our love in hopes that they may extend theirs.
Happy hollidays, from the Queer Action Coalition.
