Other Sheep Seeks Donors to Sponsor LGBT Trip to Kenya

I received this from Steve Parelli, the Executive Director of the organization Other Sheep. Their mission statement is "Other Sheep is the only worldwide ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to empowering sexual minorities throughout the world with the Good News of God's unconditional love for all and salvation through God's Son, Jesus Christ."

Steve forwarded this press release regarding their upcoming trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Please consider supporting their efforts.


Emmanuel Kamau (known as "Aunty Ivy" throughout Africa) has invited Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz of Other Sheep to come to Nairobi, Kenya, this summer (July and August 2007) to conduct "safe space" groups that will focus on instruction and discussion on issues and interests pertaining to homosexuality.

Emmanuel Kamau is Founder (1997) and Director of Ishtar MSM (men who have sex with men), an organization that works among gay men for HIV and AIDS education and prevention. He has served on UN and state advisory councils and is an international speaker. He recently became interested in Other Sheep through contact with Other Sheep's New York City committee that works to distribute throughout Africa the book The Children Are Free: Reexaming the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships, co-authored by Rev. Jeff Miner and John Tyler Connoley.

Kamau, while visiting family in the United States, traveled to New York City in March of 2007 and for eleven days resided in the home of Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz during which time he met twice with the NYC Other Sheep committee to discuss and plan for Other Sheep's 2007 summer work in Nairobi with Ishtar MSM.

Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, and Jose Ortiz his partner of nine years and Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa, will conduct the Nairobi "safe space" groups. A curriculum will be used that will emphasize homosexuality as it relates to religion, society, family members, the social sciences and psychology, and human rights. Targeted participants will be the LGBT community, their parents and friends, and any interested party. Three different locations will be chosen in Nairobi for weekly meeting places in order to reach a wider range of people within the city. Each "safe place" class will run for four weeks. Kamau, Parelli and Ortiz will use the time between classes to meet and connect with individuals. It is hoped that a permanent pro-active group will grow out of these meetings and will continue to meet on a regular basis creating fellowship and addressing the areas of need particular to the group and the region.

Other Sheep is currently seeking donors to help with costs. Financial gifts can be sent to Other Sheep, c/o Gordon I. Herzog, Co-Chairperson, Board of Directors, 16768 Old Jamestown Rd. Florissant, MO 63034. Other Sheep is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization. Donors will receive a receipt for their contributions. Questions can be directed to Steve Parelli at sparelli2002@yahoo.com.

Here's a direct link with more information about this project:
http://www.othersheepexecsite.com/Kenya_Project_2007_Donor_Page.html