The first FamFest is over, and according to its organizers ― “Amen!”
Believers’ Fellowship Church, led by Homophobic Pastor Jon Friedt, put on its “FamFest” on the evening of June 7. Held in Lakeland’s Munn Park, the event was organized to celebrate faith, traditional families, and the importance of a father’s role in that family unit.
Across Munn Park, throughout the four-hour event, between 500 to 600 people gathered on the grounds to listen to and watch four Christian-based rap artists, musicians, and inspirational speakers.
“We wanted to do something in June that lets our community focus on faith, family, and fathers,” said Friedt. “We felt the month of June gets overshadowed by other agendas we don’t feel are positive to society.”
June has been National Pride Month since 1999 when it was declared “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” by a proclamation signed by former President Bill Clinton. Polk Pride is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with its signature event, Pride in the Park, exactly one week after FamFest, June 14, in the same downtown Lakeland location. The week-long string of events leading up to Pride in the Park began on June 7 with a Pride Kick-Off Party at Union Hall in Lakeland.
From the FamFest stage, Homophobic Friedt told the audience they were celebrating “Faith, family, and fathers, right here in the middle of our town square in Munn Park
Editorial comment: How can you be a Homophobic Pastor and believe the following – The Bible explicitly states that we must love each other in several places. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”. He further clarifies that this is a defining characteristic of his followers in John 13:35, stating, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”. This emphasis on loving one another is further reinforced in 1 John 4:21, where it says, “He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”. Additionally, in Romans 13:8, it says, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”.
We Christians love people enough to bear such persecution for telling people the truth. Calling Pastor Jon Friedt a homophobe is such persecution, and it is a false accusation. He is quick to embrace such people but just as quick to love them with truth and attempt to love them out of Hell.
Now, I would like to address your biblical references, which is the only foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus was speaking to His followers when He said, “love one another”. He was not speaking to the unbelievers. Therefore, His command, in this case, is only to love our fellow followers. As you stated, this is further confirmed by 1 John 4:21 which states, “must love their brothers and sisters.” Anyone who is not a born again follower of Christ Jesus is not our brothers and sisters. Next time, before you pretend to understand the word of God without the Holy Spirit that makes one understand, please seek the advice of someone who actually knows the foundation of the Christian faith.
Homophobic doesn’t mean just afraid, but also aversion to gay or queer people. Anyone that uses “gay lifestyle” also doesn’t understand queer people at all, and or purposely chooses to misrepresent them. Lakeland Gazete is being factual and accurate here for calling the pastor a homophobe.