For the seventh year running St Michael’s, Surry Hills has brought the gospel to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and have received gratitude for their efforts in return.
Senior Minister, the Rev Francis Chalwell, along with 50 volunteers from St Michael’s and surrounding churches opened the church building to the parade with the theme ‘Jesus is the door of life’, based on John 10.
“We have a team of hospitality people who provided tea and coffee to anyone who comes into the church,” Mr Chalwell said of the ministry. “This year people were drenched and cold because of the rain so more came into the church. We used up 300 coffee cups, which is an indication of how many we had come through.”
“I think that is what Jesus would be doing ... He would[n’t] be in the parade, or even watching it, but he would be love in action by being there for the people.”
Another group conducted round the clock prayer for the duration of the parade. “The people who served the coffee or tea would also pray for the particular person they had just spoken to or shared the gospel with,” he says.
“At the breakfast the morning after the Mardi Gras, we had a transgender person. This person said, ‘Usually when I go to a church I get judged and kicked out, but I went to a church last night, the people were warm, friendly and not judgemental’.
The goal of Mr Chalwell and his team is simple. “We want people to have a sense of Christ’s love in action and see that there is another alternative lifestyle out there,” he said.