Today we’re chatting with Ben! In this episode, we explore how Ben went from a youth role model as the son of a renowned conservative Christadelphian preacher to pushing the limits of even the most liberal Christadelphians before leaving. Raised in a conservative branch of Christadelphia, Ben was told that some of his family had “left the faith” but was surprised to discover that there were actually just attending other, less conservative, Christadelphian ecclesias nearby! Even at Ben’s baptism, which surprisingly morphed into a roast, Ben defied convention by asking a member of the “Shield” group to baptism him at a “Logos” hall as he began to resist the labels and expectations he had been raised with. Throughout the episode, Ben and I also discuss Christadelphian music. From singing our favorite songs from “Fruit of Our Lips” to discussing what instruments and songs were allowed to be played to learning about his incredibly popular music nights at SCYP, we dive into what was a pivotal moment in Christadelphian music as Ben and his contemporaries created new music that pushed the limits and was even met with walk-outs and bullying. As a singer-songwriter, Ben left a lasting legacy on Christadelphian music as his songs continue to be popular in the present day. However, most Christadelphians probably don’t know that one of their favorite songs was written by a gay man and a non-binary man who both left the faith! We also talk about puppet plays, the Portland frog, and his experience helping create a LGBTQ affirming evangelical church in New York City.   Listener discretion advised.  If you’re interested in coming on the podcast or have comments or questions, you can contact Zinnia at lifeafterleavingpodcast@gmail.com Resources and References:   Left handedness and sexual orientation   Fruit of our Lips CD (2002)   El Shaddai (Youtube)   As the Deer (unable to find CD Version)   A New Commandment (Youtube)    Shout Living Moving Being Wonder Every day Songs in a strange land Endless   Sydney Christadelphian Young People   Flamy Grant    Bible Belt Baby (Spotify)   Drag Queen Album Tops Christian Music Charts   Hymnary.org School of Rock   Christadelphian Art Trust   Yahweh's Youth from Living Moving Being (Youtube)   Purple Worship Book   Worship Books Audio   With All My Heart by Ben Grace, Worship Vol 1 Track 88   Rob Bell and the Mars Hill Church   Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell   Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller   David Crowder   Hurricane/ Superstorm Sandy   The Liturgists Podcast   Secular Humanism   What is Christian Nationalism   The Danger of Christian Nationalism   Christian Nationalism is neither Christian nor Patriotic   Experts Discuss Christian Nationalism    The Portland Frog :  ICE Protest Frogs Have a Long History  Frogs For Peace: How the Portland Frog Became a Symbol of Resistance and Hope     It’s a Wonderful Life Movie (1946)   It’s a Wonderful Life and World War II   Sean Feucht   Jane Goodall's Final Message to the World   Audrey Hepburn: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow”   Heathen Happy Hour Podcast   Story and Tune    Purity Culture Trauma   Purity Culture Support   “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver   Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor   Ben Grace Music   Ben Grace Music (IG)    As if Words Could Heal the Wounds   Ex Mormon Bookclub Podcast   Ben Grace: Naked and Unashamed Podcast Episode    As if Words Could Heal the Wounds Podcast