| Valjean Royal�s Opening Statement |
| The following is my Opening Statement. As a participant in the �Trans-Religious Dialogue.� Greetings to all of the other participants. My name is Valjean Royal, aka Pinkie. I am an African American MTF transsexual striving towards a victorious Christian life. As a prisoner in captivity inside of one of America�s many prisons, I welcome this opportunity to dialogue with Christians that are also transsexuals in captivity.
Due to my strong belief in the mighty power of prayer I offer the following prayer towards this new journey� Dear God, As we begin this journey of the Trans-Religious Dialogue, reaching out in Your name, bless our bearing of fruit of the spirit so that we may be filled with the knowledge of God�s will in our wisdom and spiritual understanding. All our words, our minds and hearts to open and reveal what is �truth� to us individually and as a group � without a fearful spirit, shame or reluctance. Lord God, some of us have come to this chapter in life after being lied on, cheated, talked about, mistreated, beaten and stoned by those using your heavenly name as justification for their persecution of us. Some of us have felt hatred for you and closed our hearts because of the rejection we received from those we loved most, because they believed you hated us. We that need your love so fiercely, O Lord, began to witness your crucifixion in the slow deaths of our own souls and spirits. And then, behold! Into the darkness of our spiritual deaths somehow came a light. And as we got to know this light personally it became our redeemer. The more we embraced the light the more life seemed to embrace us, and our eyes saw only beauty in all in which God had created. Our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we now give thanks and praise, for he was the light, bringing knowledge, wisdom, freedom and a new world order! As we rose from the hells of darkness we saw with new light, the same old religious leaders claiming positions as heads of religious just as they were, �heads� (wardens) of religious institutions, locking sown the minds, hearts, souls and spirits of millions of people in their gospel, and not God�s love for all things living! Born again, we found in the light that gave us new life that God is Love and Love is God� So we accept you, Lord God, and your son Jesus Christ, whom you gave so that there could be light found in our darkest moments as our Lord and Savior. I who have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 3:16). Lord God, let us be blessed with the strength and wisdom to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, pray for them that despitefully use us, and persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Dear Lord, may myself and all of those that participate in this new vision for this Trans-Religious Dialogue be blessed by this journey. Let us not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent! (Acts 18:9) AMEN� In this writing I would like to share with you seven (7) things that I found during my journey into spiritual transformation and growth� 1. When I was tired and felt I could not go on, the Lord said, �All you who labor and are heavy laden, come to me and I will give you rest.� (Matthew 11:28) 2. When I was hungry for life the Lord said, �I (Jesus) am the bread of life.� (John 6:48) 3. When I questioned my ability to go on living the Lord said, �I chose you and appointed you that should go and bear fruit.� (John 15:16) 4. When I believed I was a curse, the Lord said, �The Lord is�not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.� (2 Peter 3:9) 5. When there did not seem to be anyone in the world that cared to understand me the Lord said, �But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.� (John 16:24) 6. When I begin to listen to what my heart and soul had been telling me the Lord said, �Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.� (I Timothy 6:11) �For the Lord takes pleasure in his people. He will beautify the humble with salvation.� (Psalm 149:4) 7. As I finally got it and accepted Jesus Christ as my Redeemer, Lord and Savior, I said unto him, �Your words were found and I ate them, and your word was�the joy and rejoicing of my heart.� (Jeremiah 15:16) In closing, may this dialogue and opening statement be an added addition to a successful outreach ministry dream that comes true into a long and prosperous life! Your Sister In C/C, Valjean �Pinkie� Royal [C/C denotes �Christ & �carcerated] Valjean Royal #3943, PO Box 30, 104L-01, Pendleton, IN 46064 |
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