The book is an autobiography of Chrissie Chevasutt, an inspirational woman, writer, and transgender advocate from Oxfordshire, England.
In 2021, I talked to Chrissie about her book and this is what she shared with me: "I encountered Jesus whilst lying in a gutter, dying in Old Delhi, India. It felt like a miraculous series of events that enabled me to escape death, and I fell into the conservative evangelical church after going through withdrawals from opium addiction, cold turkey, and a total mental, emotional, and physical breakdown.
My testimony meant I was endlessly paraded at the front of the church to tell my story.
People were always deeply moved, many would sit and quietly cry as I described how Jesus had broken, softened, and transformed my heart and life, from a drug dealer, a petty criminal, and a deeply embittered and violent young man. So often people would come up to me after services and tell me I must write my story, write a book about it.
I told my story at the front of the church, so many times, but every time I told my story I was lying. Not deliberately, I was in total denial about my transgender identity, gender dysphoria, and dysmorphia. For thirty years or more I tried to be the very best 'Christian' I could be, the best witness, husband, father, and friend, but it was all a mask, an act, a charade, to cover my guilt and shame. I dare not look too deep within myself, it was too painful. I lived for fifty years with permanent suicidal ideation that haunted, tormented, and oppressed me, but I did not know why."Chrissie Chevasutt is a remarkable advocate for transgender awareness within the Church. They facilitate the online community Transgender Church and have been actively involved in promoting understanding and acceptance of transgender and non-binary individuals. Chrissie, along with their wife Pam, has lived, worked, and witnessed in Oxford for over thirty years. Recently, they made history by becoming the first outreach worker for the trans, intersex, and non-binary communities at St Columba’s United Reformed Church in Oxford, a role that focuses on pastoral care, theological support, and education. Their passion for the Gospel and commitment to inclusivity make them a valuable asset in fostering understanding and compassion within the Church.
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Photo via The Heroines of My Life
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