Renewed & Transformed S2 Ep 10: Leaving Homosexuality, Religious Freedom & Joy in Persecution | Matthew Grech

In Season 1, Episode 10 of the Renewed and Transformed Podcast, host Kyla Gillespie sits down with worship leader, deacon, and Christian advocate Matthew Grech for a courageous and deeply moving conversation about leaving homosexuality, encountering Jesus, and standing firm in faith amid persecution.

Matthew shares his powerful testimony from early identity confusion, pornography addiction, and involvement in New Age spirituality, to a life-altering encounter with Jesus Christ that transformed his desires, identity, and purpose. Now living in Malta, Matthew opens up about the joy he has found in Christ even while facing criminal charges for sharing his story publicly under Malta’s ban on so-called “conversion practices.”

This episode explores the intersection of sexual identity, religious freedom, biblical discipleship, and perseverance, offering hope to believers navigating cultural pressure, personal struggles, or opposition for their faith.

Key Highlights:

Matthew’s Testimony: From same-sex attraction and New Age spirituality to repentance, baptism, and new life in Christ

Faith Under Fire: What it’s like to face legal persecution for sharing a Christian testimony

Religious Freedom at Risk: Understanding Malta’s conversion practices ban and its real-world consequences

Joy in Suffering: How intimacy with Jesus produces peace and joy even in trials

Biblical Identity & Holiness: Walking out purity, obedience, and godly masculinity as a disciple of Christ

The Power of the Church: Why Christian community, prayer, and global unity matter more than ever

Whether you’re wrestling with sexuality and faith, concerned about religious freedom, or seeking encouragement to stand boldly for Christ, this episode is a compelling reminder that Jesus truly makes all things new.

👉 Subscribe to the Renewed and Transformed Podcast for more honest, Christ-centered conversations on sexuality, identity, faith, and transformation.

Connect with Us:

Website: https://kylagillespie.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylagillespie.14

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renewedtransformed

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/kylagillespie7

YouTube: Kyla Gillespie X: @kylag14 Email: renewedtransformed@gmail.com

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/renewed-transformed-podcast/id1812532916

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#RenewedAndTransformed #MatthewGrech #ChristianTestimony #LeavingHomosexuality #ReligiousFreedom #FaithUnderFire #ChristianPersecution #BiblicalIdentity #JoyInSuffering #ChristianPodcast #SexualityAndFaith #FreedomInChrist #StandForTruth

In Season 1, Episode 9 of the Renewed and Transformed Podcast, host Kyla Gillespie sits down with pastor, author, former NFL player, and Transformation Church founder Derwin Gray for a deeply honest and hope-filled conversation about identity, sexuality, shame, trauma, and the life-changing power of the gospel.

Derwin shares his powerful journey from childhood trauma and professional football to encountering Jesus through an unlikely teammate—and how Christ completely reshaped his identity. Together, Kyla and Derwin explore how misplaced identity, athletic performance, sexual wounds, and cultural pressure leave many searching for affirmation, and how true wholeness is found only in Christ.

This episode tackles difficult but essential topics including sexual brokenness, same-sex attraction, gender identity, church hurt, and pastoral care, all through a lens of truth, grace, and deep compassion. Derwin offers wisdom for believers navigating today’s cultural climate while remaining rooted in biblical conviction and Christlike love.

• From Football to Faith: Derwin’s testimony of identity collapse and redemption through Jesus Christ

• What Identity Really Means: Why performance, sexuality, and wounds cannot sustain who we are

• Sexuality & the Church: How to walk with people experiencing same-sex attraction and gender confusion with truth and love

• Why Wounds Shouldn’t Define Us: Moving from victimhood to victory in Christ

• Wholeness in Christ: What spiritual maturity actually looks like in everyday life

• Why We Fear Sharing the Gospel: And how being “lit up with love” changes everything

• Pastoral Wisdom for a Post-Christian Culture: Holding biblical truth without sacrificing compassion

Whether you’re wrestling with identity, sexual shame, faith after trauma, or fear of sharing the gospel, this episode offers biblical clarity, pastoral sensitivity, and real hope grounded in the transforming grace of Jesus.

👉 Subscribe to the Renewed and Transformed Podcast for honest, gospel-centered conversations on sexuality, identity, and living freely in Christ.

Website: https://kylagillespie.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylagillespie.14 https://www.instagram.com/renewedtransformed Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renewedtransformed TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/kylagillespie7 YouTube: Kyla Gillespie X: @kylag14 Email: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TNwgx9uAgoCZd1gMjVMHA Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/renewed-transformed-podcast/id1812532916 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3439e48f-ce37-472c-8cc0-eb1d0b9475b0

#RenewedAndTransformed #DerwinGray #ChristianIdentity #SexualHealing #WholenessInChrist #GospelCentered #FaithAndIdentity #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalSexuality #ChurchAndCulture #GraceAndTruth #FreedomInChrist #TraumaAndHealing #Evangelism #LitUpWithLove

In Season 2, Episode 8 of the Renewed and Transformed Podcast, host Kyla Gillespie sits down with licensed therapist, author, and ministry leader Ellen Radcliff for a deeply honest and hope-filled conversation at the intersection of faith, sexuality, identity, and grace.

Ellen shares her powerful testimony of growing up in a Christian home, wrestling with same-sex attraction, navigating shame around femininity, and ultimately surrendering her entire life to Christ—not through behavior modification, but through falling deeply in love with God. Now married with children, Ellen offers wisdom shaped by Scripture, clinical insight, and lived experience.

This episode provides compassionate, Christ-centered guidance for Christians navigating same-sex attraction, parents raising children in today’s LGBTQ+ culture, and anyone longing to live faithfully without sacrificing love, dignity, or truth.

Key Highlights:

- Ellen’s Story: From same-sex relationships to wholehearted surrender to Christ—without pretending the struggle disappeared. - Same-Sex Attraction & Faith: Why attraction itself isn’t sin, and how Christians can live faithfully amid ongoing tension. - Healing Shame & Identity: How insecurity, stereotypes, and cultural expectations shape sexuality and self-worth. - Healthy Christian Friendships: Learning godly boundaries, connection, and intimacy without emotional enmeshment. - Parenting in a LGBTQ+ World: Practical, grace-filled guidance for walking with children wrestling with gender identity or sexuality. - Grace & Truth in the “Messy Middle”: How to hold biblical conviction while embodying Christlike love and compassion. - Community & Belonging: Why the church must become a place where people are known, loved, and discipled—not fixed.

Whether you’re a parent, pastor, therapist, or believer wrestling personally with questions of sexuality and identity, this episode offers clarity, empathy, and hope rooted in the unchanging truth of Scripture and the transformative love of Jesus. 👉 Subscribe to the Renewed and Transformed Podcast for more life-giving conversations on sexuality, identity, faith, and living freely in Christ.

Connect with Us! Website: https://kylagillespie.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylagillespie.14 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewedtransformed Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renewedtransformed TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/kylagillespie7 YouTube: Kyla Gillespie X: @kylag14 Email: renewedtransformed@gmail.com

Listen Now on Your Favorite Platform! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TNwgx9uAgoCZd1gMjVMHA Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/renewed-transformed-podcast/id1812532916 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3439e48f-ce37-472c-8cc0-eb1d0b9475b0

Hashtags: #RenewedAndTransformed #EllenRadcliff #SameSexAttraction #ChristianIdentity #FaithAndSexuality #LGBTQandFaith #GraceAndTruth #ChristianParenting #BiblicalIdentity #HealingShame #MessyMiddle #ChristianPodcast #FreedomInChrist #LoveAndTruth