I grew up in a family that sometimes attended the village church, although sometimes only at Christmas and Easter. At the age of 8, I started boarding at all-boys schools. I remember, aged 12, anxiously saying to myself, “There’s something wrong with me. I’m made to love boys, not girls.”

Abby and I have been sharing a house for about 14 years now. People often ask us about how living together works, and what advice we’d give to other same-sex attracted Christians looking to live communally. In this article, we explain what it means for us to be deeply involved in each other’s lives.

I’m not a fan of the word “homophobic” - it has too many violent and broad connotations, so I’m using it rather provocatively here. This article explores the fear, anger, prejudice and mistrust I have previously experienced because of my same-sex attractions from some individuals in a church context.

“Swipe Up” invites us to hear God’s better story, how He offers a superior satisfaction and has a justifiably prior claim upon us. Jason honestly, humbly and personally tells that story through his own journey so that we, to use Ed Shaw’s words, “gaze upon God’s reality and His better love stories”.

There was a time when I lived a gay lifestyle, but that all changed, very gradually, when it became clear that God wanted me to live differently, as a celibate man. Through His grace, God has sustained me in that commitment. Now, looking back, I can see just how the Lord was working in my life.

What does the welcome look like in your church? Does it consist of a firm handshake and a service sheet, or is it being given a hug by someone in a bright T-shirt? But genuine hospitality, of course, goes way beyond creating a good first impression once a week.