Protesters gathered outside the Rock of Ages had a clear message.
“Love is the biggest thing ever and I don’t think there should be any boundaries put on that,” said Brad Robson.
Robson was one of dozens of people protesting a lunch and learn seminar by Wilma Van Beek. Her talk called "when gay comes home" centered around her own personal experience of overcoming homosexuality through prayer and celibacy.
It was a message many people in LGBT community didn’t appreciate.
“Your sexuality isn’t something you can change. You don’t have to tell people or act on your feelings, but it’s there and you should be proud of it,” said Karli Jessup, a protester who drove up with four others from the Pride Centre at the University of Regina.
While protesters had some harsh words to say about the speech, church officials said they were glad to see a dialogue started between the two often-clashing communities.
Van Beek’s speech lasted over an hour and she received a standing ovation from the crowd that filled the church gym.
"I cannot see that my testimony is harmful. i share exactly what Jesus Christ did in my own life. my seminar is all about love,” she said.
Protestors maintained that Van Beek is wrong and celibacy isn’t a solution to overcoming being gay. Still, the protest remained peaceful and some picketers even stayed to talk with Van Beek one on one – dialogue members of the Rock of Ages Church supports.
