Questions and Answers

by Inge Anderson

 
How are you connected with GLOW?
How do you pronounce your name?
Your name sounds Scandinavian. Are you?
Did you have a husband or child that was gay, or is this something that you have struggled with?
Do you have a family?
Where do you go to church?
What do you do in "real life"?
 
 
How are you connected with GLOW?
GLOW is sort of my baby. ;-) I'm the original sponsor, web mistress and co-administrator of the discussion lists with Ralph Seland. [back]
 
How do you pronounce your name?
Take the d and the ling off "ding-a-ling," and you've got it right. ;-) [back]
 
Your name sounds Scandinavian. Are you?
I was born in Nether Saxony, the very northwestern province of Germany just before the ending of WWII. In the 1950's my family emigrated to Canada.
I had read Heidi as a girl, and after my father left in the spring after my tenth birthday, I dreamed of snow-capped mountains and rushing mountain streams like those in the Heidi story. When we --my mother, my younger sister and brother -- met my father in British Columbia in early October, it was like a dream come true. Everything seemed so big in Canada. On the way to the sawmill community where my father had found work, we stopped to look at the famous Adams River salmon run. Only no one told us that salmon didn't always crowd the river in close-packed shining red schools. I had never seen so many fish in all my life, and my eyes widened at the marvels of this new country. [back] [top]
 
Did you have a husband or child that was gay, or is this something that you have struggled with?
I know that the usual way people get into this kind of ministry is to have a close relative involved or to have been personally involved. However, my story is different. I first did a little research on homosexuality late in the 1980's when a favorite male student, whom I shall call Bob --the son of a college friend -- was shunned by his peers as a "fag." He was different all right -- he would fit the "homosexual" stereotype. As an English teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed having him in  my class because he was thoughtful and creative. I think the only time my students saw me truly angry was when someone made a disparaging "gay"  remark about Bob in another one of my classes.
I have been a member of SDAnet for several years, and during my time on the list the topic of homosexuality came up many times. I was involved in those discussions, and I've been a little hesitant to look back in the archives for fear of what I'd find, as I do believe I've changed my ideas a bit on some things.
Early in 1997, I started a private correspondence with one of the gay subscribers to that forum after he shared his heart-breaking story, and we developed a friendship. Within a couple of days of the SDAnet post, a young male teacher of my acquaintance "came out" to  me about his own background. I knew this young father to have a deep spiritual commitment, and I had a high respect for him. He has a mind that falls easily in sync with mine -- curious, a good sense of humor, interested in the why's and wherefore's of things. The revelation took me by complete surprise. He was very open in sharing with me and helped me to understand a lot of things..
Within two weeks,  a school mate from a Bible college I attended wrote to me about his past. We had been corresponding for some time, and he had observed my comments on SDAnet.  Shortly thereafter, I posted a note from "Norm" on the forum, and another man replied to that post and began a correspondence with Norm which I initially facilitated. That was the seed of the first discussion list which is now called "GLOWFriends."
Since then I've done much more research, met many gay people, and formulated my own opinions which may not correlate with anyone else's. The way things have happened over the last three years leaves me confident that God has been directing this ministry. I just have to make sure that I stay in touch with Him and don't let myself intrude too much. [back] [top]
 
Do you have a family?
I have been married to Andrew Anderson since 1963. He's a stubborn Dane, and I'm a stubborn German. We have quite opposite temperaments and minds that seldom travel the same path, even though we arrive at similar destinations philosophically. Our relationship has never been boring.
Our first son was born in 1968, followed by another in 1970, and a third in 1971. Seven years later our fourth son arrived unexpectedly, with another to follow in 18 months to keep him company. So we are the proud (and sometimes frustrated) parents of five strong-willed sons and three delightful grand-daughters.
My family has undoubtedly suffered from neglect these last three or so  years that I've been involved in the conception and birthing of GLOW, and they deserve a lot of credit for their long-suffering. More than that -- my husband has supported me in public and in private -- even though he sees the computer as "the other man" -- and our two youngest have given advice freely regarding the web page. Sometimes they have even helped. ;-) [back] [top]
 
Where do you go to church?
My husband and I attend the nearest Seventh-day Adventist church. We are usually heavily involved with church activities. Right now (2007) we're involved in spearheading a church plant in the city of Kamloops. [back] [top]
 
What do you do in "real life"?
I'm fortunate to have found an awesome business for making money at home, and I spend time outdoors whenever I can -- right in my own garden, on the mountain at my back door, or in the park lands surrounding our property.
I'd love to show you how you can have more energy and be healthier by simply switching stores for some of the products you use every day, and, if you like, make some money at the same time. If really want to make some money at home by helping others live a better life, get in touch with me, so we can partner up together. The best way is probably by filling out the form on one of my web sites. Let me know how you found the site, okay?)

 TOP  Home 

Resources for gay, lesbian and bisexual Christians, gay-straight married Christians       

 

 

Privacy Policy  Web Site Terms of Use       

Last modified 07 Nov 2007 05:51 PM