Identify Ministries, based out of Gainesville, Florida, began in January 2014 after Derek was led through personal revelation to minister in sexual and relational issues.
Having a testimony from homosexual attraction himself, Derek knew first-hand the struggle to live in congruity with his faith and the God he served. From that point forward, Derek, Chantelle, and our volunteers have provided testimonies, individual prayer training and support, group training sessions, worship flagging demonstrations, and local and countrywide workshops.
As of October 1, 2017, this ministry transitioned from a part-time operation to a full-time operation. We have volunteers for various programs: clients, families, immediate needs, resource review, pastoral support, worship flagging, and prayer.
To provide Christian discipleship, training, and support to people impacted by sexual and relational issues.
Our goal is that those who struggle with sexual and relational brokenness and confusion will find the relief, peace, freedom, joy, and hope they long for through their personal relationship with Jesus and the people in their lives. We also aim to equip our local community with the confidence and skill required to fulfill its unique roles in the lives of those suffering and looking for their way forward in Jesus.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, faith in the Lord Jesus and regeneration of the Holy Spirit are essential.
We believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and eternal life.
We believe the Bible teaches that all homosexual conduct is wrong and against God’s standards. But by upholding His standard of holiness, we strongly affirm God’s love and redemptive power to recreate the individual who follows Him.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
Most clients come to Identify Ministries as born again Christians, feeling that there is something missing in the way they relate to themselves and others, unknowingly applying the Christian faith in ways it was not designed.
Unbelievers likewise, find themselves dealing with the same human gaps. We have discovered developmental needs, designed by God which have gone unmet and are masked by religion, politics, social identities or other factors. Identify Ministries integrates sound biblical principles and God’s developmental design for us to fully assimilate as the Church in His image.
People with sexual orientation and gender identities are not designed any different than any other human. Their acknowledgement of typical developmental gaps is a confirmation of God’s good intent for all people.
– Derek Paul, Executive Pastor