Everyone is a child of God, created in God’s image and deserving of a direct relationship with God. Inspired by the teaching of Jesus to “love your neighbor as yourself,” we free ourselves of the temptation to judge or to define sin or salvation for anyone but ourselves in the context of that powerful relationship to our Creator.

Affirming someone is an act of validation that seeks to empower and lift up without judgment. To affirm means to build trust, respect and understanding between two people and the community of faith, fostering a deep connection of agape.

Rev. Paul M. Turner