On Saturday, October 17, Exchange Ministries will gather at First Baptist Church Orlando to celebrate stories of freedom from individuals who were once part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

This special evening will celebrate the goodness of God through fellowship, worship and testimony, while also bringing awareness and education to the increasing need to reach people inside and outside the church who struggle with an LGBT identity. The event will highlight the importance of providing churches, families, individuals and other partners with the tools necessary to help those experiencing brokenness and encourage each person in God’s perfect plan for their lives.

There will also be an opportunity to support Exchange Ministries’ continued work of equipping the Church to care for, encourage and walk alongside identity strugglers, overcomers, parents and loved ones with biblical truth, compassion and hope.

The evening will feature stories of transformation from three individuals who describe experiencing significant encounters with the Holy Spirit of God, including:

• Monica Samuell, a formerly lesbian-identified woman who experienced an encounter with the Holy Spirit in the middle of the Asbury Outpouring, a 16-day, student-led, continuous prayer and worship gathering at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, beginning February 8, 2023. The gathering drew more than 50,000 visitors and was widely described as a spiritual revival.

• Hope Chandler, a detransitioner who, as a teen, began experiencing distress about her body and gender identity. She turned to online communities that framed gender transition as the appropriate response to her feelings. After speaking with a doctor, Chandler was placed on testosterone and hormone blockers and received treatment from an array of specialists for gender dysphoria.

• Roger Agness, a formerly gay-identified man whose story reflects a deep struggle and what he describes as God’s transforming grace. Raised on a farm in Indiana, Agness grew up without hearing the words “I love you” from his father. He sought affirmation from other men, creating a painful conflict between his Christian faith and emerging same-sex attraction. Agness later joined an international Christian missionary organization, hoping to serve God wholeheartedly, yet his inner conflict persisted. He eventually stepped away from the mission field and spent years exploring his same-sex feelings.

The evening will also feature parents of an adult child who is currently in the LGBT community as they share how they have benefited from Exchange Ministries.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, in Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando, located at 3000 South John Young Parkway, Orlando, Florida. The event is open to the public.

Those interested in attending the annual Freedom Celebration can register at https://exchangeministries.org/freedom-celebration.

For more information, contact Kristy Rogan, administrator, at info@exchangeministries.org.