Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephon McIntosh.
Hi Stephon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Raised in the church all my life. Growing up all I knew was church and how the old saints taught us how to act, what to wear, what to eat, and so much more. I got married at 24 I and my wife and had 2 beautiful kids named Zyon and Zeon and all taught them was church. I traveled with a lot of Bishops, pastors, and big-time prophets and all they did was church. I saved but was confused, I loved but didn’t understand how to love myself more than others, I served but felt broken and empty, I sacrifice but felt spiritually raped. Why? Because no one ever taught me how to live in my truth.
One late Friday night I and my wife had a come to Jesus moment and we decided to live in our truth. I open my heart and tears began to flow because I for the first time didn’t care about church people, how church people look at me, what they said about me, and how they treated me. I wanted to live in my truth so I wouldn’t die in my lie. I walk into a light and found my true identity as a gay black man.
A gay black man? What? I did know anything about this lifestyle but I was free. My friends and family disowned me but I was free. I wasn’t allowed at the family reunion but I was free.
If you don’t live in your truth you will die in your lie.
I moved to Atlanta GA. I join an inclusive affirming church called Vision Church of Atlanta. Bishop OC Allen changed my life. He thought me how to be a strong black gay man and live in my truth.
Serving in the ministry at Vision church taught me how to love myself and love others unconditionally without conditions. I learned life all over again. I was still saved but became unchurched. Church and church people can be stressful because all you think about is hurt, pain, judgment, unloving, meanness, and so much more. But loving God for yourself speaks volumes of life and how to live.
After serving at Vision Church God gave me a vision and relocated me to Dallas Tx and now, I am the lead pastor of the Relentless Church of Dallas.
I’m now teaching others “If you don’t live in your truth you will die in your lie”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The beginning was painful. I didn’t have the love from my family. I was lonely and depressed but I wanted to live in my truth. My own mother told me she wanted to blow my brains out because I was gay, but I had to do this for me.
My own father told people I had AIDS because I wouldn’t help him by giving him a kidney.
This all comes with me being Gay. Hell yes! I’m doing this for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a property manager and it gives me great joy to help people find a new home.
What’s next?
My plans are to continue to love God and love his people. The Relentless Church of Dallas is committed to a vision that transforms people to transform their world! We believe that the transformation of the community and the world begins with the transformation of our families and children. The Relentless Church of Dallas is a place where dreams are made possible and where people are motivated to turn those dreams into a reality. We call that Crazy Faith.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Mcintoshspeaks
- Facebook: Stephon McIntosh
- Youtube: McIntoshspeaks
