Latest news with #Bryce
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bryce James Hints LeBron James' Retirement May Be Coming Soon
Bryce James Hints LeBron James' Retirement May Be Coming Soon originally appeared on Fadeaway World. LeBron James, the face of the NBA for two decades, is once again at the center of speculation, but this time, the biggest clue about his future may have come from his own son. Bryce James, the youngest of LeBron's two basketball-playing sons, offered a candid and rather revealing comment during an Instagram Live session that strongly suggests the King's reign could end after the 2025–26 NBA season. Bryce, an incoming freshman at the University of Arizona, was asked whether he believed his father would still be in the NBA long enough to share the court with him, similar to the way LeBron and Bronny James have been linked. His response was both casual and telling: 'I ain't gonna lie, that's OD. Waiting until that's too much. They said my dad still gonna be in the league when I get drafted... That's too much. No. No. He's gonna be 42, bro.' It was the kind of offhand comment that sparks a firestorm, especially given the layered context surrounding LeBron's future. James recently opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers, seemingly committing to one more season in Los Angeles. Yet, his agent Rich Paul later complicated the narrative by telling ESPN that James and the Lakers aren't necessarily on the same page. Trade rumors started bubbling again. Retirement whispers resurfaced. And now Bryce's comment seems to support the theory that 2025–26 could be LeBron's last dance. At 40 years old, LeBron remains remarkably effective. Last season, he averaged over 25 points and nearly 8 assists per game, still orchestrating offense like a maestro. But the physical toll of 22 NBA seasons, playoff marathons, four Olympic runs, and nonstop media attention has to weigh heavily, even on someone who treats his body like a temple. Adding fuel to the fire is the viral video in which LeBron casually mentioned that his wife, Savannah, wants him to retire. While that could have been lighthearted, in hindsight, it aligns with the idea that the family is leaning toward the end being near. Bryce's perspective adds unique credibility because he's close enough to LeBron to know his intentions, yet detached enough to speak honestly. If his assumption is that his father won't be playing in the NBA by 2026, it speaks volumes. The idea that LeBron wouldn't stick around to play with both sons, something once believed to be a bucket-list goal, suggests that reality may be setting in. Bronny is already with the Lakers. Bryce, a three-star recruit, still has a few years to go. And LeBron, turning 42 by then, may simply not want to or be able to stretch his career that far. No formal announcement has been made. LeBron, ever the master of controlling his narrative, may want one last season to dictate the farewell on his own terms. But if Bryce is right, we may already be witnessing the final chapter of a career unlike any the sport has ever story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brighten Your Brother's Day With These Warm Birthday Wishes
If you're lucky enough to have a brother as your built-in best friend, you know exactly what it's like to experience the rollercoaster of sibling relationships. They may know exactly how to push your buttons, but the bond you share is undeniable. The Drummond kids are the perfect example! While Paige tends to be more like her brothers Bryce and Jamar, Alex has said she and her brother Todd are practically twins in spirit. And when the time comes to celebrate one another, they make sure to show it—even if it's something as simple as a sweet Instagram shout-out. So, if you're gearing up to celebrate a sibling's birthday, you've come to the right place. Here, you'll find all the best birthday wishes for brothers to make him feel truly special on his big day! This list pairs sentimental birthday messages with heartwarming family quotes. There are also silly birthday wishes for all those brothers who are kings of dad jokes. Plus, these ideas are perfect for that bonus sibling, whether through marriage or simply time spent with your family. Just don't forget to grab them a present too—there are so many great ideas for everyone, like brother-in-law gifts, some nifty gifts for men, and even gifts for teenage boys. Which one of those groups is harder to shop for? The world may never know. 😂 Short and Sweet Birthday Wishes for Your Brother If being the best brother were a competition, you'd win every time. Happy birthday! Happy birthday to the one who never fails to crack me up! Wishing my first best friend the best day ever. Another year older, but still sharper than ever. Happy birthday! Hope your special day is as wonderful as you make life! Cheers to another trip around the sun! Let's get this party started! Happy birthday, bro! To the rarest gem I know—Happy Birthday! Happy birthday to the one who's been protecting my peace since day one. Happy born day, brother! This year is going to be one for the books. Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Can't wait to watch you crush it this year! Happy cake day to my built-in best friend! Here's to an amazing brother and an even more amazing birthday! I hope you get the best gifts this year. You deserve it! I laugh harder, smile bigger, and live better because of you. Happy birthday! Wishing the happiest birthday to the one I love to bicker with most! Happy birthday to the one who made growing up way more fun. To my favorite partner in crime (and chaos)—here's to another wild year! Today's about celebrating you, the best guy I know. Happy birthday and happy cake day, bro! Don't forget to share a slice with me! Here's to another year of being awesome. Love you, bro! Have a great birthday! Wishing you the happiest birthday filled with love, laughter, and a ton of cake! Happy birthday! You always find a way to make every moment fun and memorable. From pranks to inside jokes, you make life better. Happy birthday, brother! To my hero and ride or die—happy birthday! Let's celebrate you, big time! You're not just my brother, you're my lifelong teammate. Happy birthday! Happy birthday, brother. You're a gift to everyone around you. Feeling grateful I get to call you my brother! Happy birthday. To my one-of-a-kind, super cool mentor. Happy birthday, bro! Heartwarming Birthday Wishes for Your Brother Wishing you all the light and love you deserve on your big day. Thanks for being the best mentor a kid could ask for. You don't get to choose your siblings, but boy did I luck out. Happy birthday to my best friend, my partner in crime. It has been so special to watch you grow into the man, partner, and father you are today. You are an inspiration to us all! Have the best birthday. When I asked for a brother I didn't know how lucky I'd end up being. Thanks for all the good memories, and here's to many more! We may not have always gotten along, but I'm so glad we stuck it out. I couldn't ask for a better brother. I am so proud to call you my brother. You have shaped my life in more ways than one, and I can't wait to see how far you go. Happy birthday! To my little brother on his birthday, age doesn't mean a thing—you're one of my biggest inspirations. You're my rock, my cheerleader, the guy I can always call to complain to. Have the best day. Thank you to the man who's always in my corner and always knows just what to say. We're all so lucky to have you. Having you as a brother is better than a thousand friendships. Have the best birthday! Having you means I never have to face my problems alone. Nothing beats a sibling relationship like that. Happy birthday to my favorite! I know from your friends that you don't reserve your loyalty, kindness, and open heart for just family. You truly make an impact on every person you meet. Cheers to my incredible brother! I hope your birthday and entire year are amazing. To my dear brother, I'm so excited to see the adventures ahead for you this year. Happy birthday! To my number one partner-in-crime, happy birthday! You're simply the best. Sending you love, laughs, and happiness on your birthday and every day. Enjoy! Thanks for being my role model and a great brother. Love you—happy birthday! Growing up with you made life amazing. Happy birthday, big bro/little bro! I hope all your birthday wishes come true! You deserve it! Happy birthday! Sibling bonds make everything better—even the crazy moments. Here's to growing up and growing old together! You've always been my bestie! No matter what life throws at us, you've always believed in me. Love you, bro! To the best guy and best brother I know: Happy birthday, you deserve the best! My brave, strong, and talented brother—how lucky can one sibling get? Happy birthday! To the best brother a sibling could ask for, thanks for inspiring me every day. Happy birthday! . Through good times and bad times, you never cease to believe in me. I'm so grateful to call you my brother! Have the best day. There are few people in this world who know me as deeply as you do. Happy birthday to the best guy I know. Funny Birthday Wishes for Your Brother Someone's getting old! Happy birthday, bro. You'll always be my annoying little/big brother, but that's why I love you. Happy birthday! We should really be celebrating mom and dad for having to put up with you for another year! Just kidding. Happy birthday! Happiest of birthdays to you! Couldn't imagine teasing anyone else on their special day. Happy b-day to the only person I didn't mind getting in trouble with growing up. Happy birthday to my favorite sibling! (Shh, don't tell!) Happy birthday to my favorite brother! (Yes, I know you're my only brother.) How do I wish my brother a happy birthday? I promise to leave him alone for 24 hours! It's funny when people talk about sibling rivalry—I can't relate! Have the best day! Happy birthday! I hope we're still annoying each other in the old folks home. You may be older, but I'm still taller! Happy birthday shortie. Today we celebrate another birthday with more candles on your cake and fewer hairs on your head! From competing as kids to laughing as adults, you make life more fun! Happy birthday! Happy birthday, big bro! So, when will I get to be an aunt or uncle? To my favorite sibling—thanks for always being by my side. Enjoy your day! Happy birthday, bro! Glad you're here to eat cake and take on life with me. Of all the brothers in the world, I seriously lucked out. Happy birthday, champ! Turning 21 is a big deal, bro. Get ready to live it up! You're my favorite sibling because you'll always be older than me. Thanks for that... and happy birthday! Happy birthday, bro. Since I rescued you from being an only child, my presence is your gift. Happy birthday to the most special guy I know! Love, the favorite child. Happy birthday to my former wombmate! Have the best day, brother. Oh, and don't forget to thank our parents—they managed to get you to this age! I loved getting to look up to you through childhood. Now you get to look up at me! Happy birthday, old man. Wishing my partner in crime the best birthday—always older, never wiser! Birthday Wishes for Your Brother-in-Law Happy birthday to my bonus brother! Feeling so grateful to have you in my life. Thank you for making my sibling so happy. Here's to another trip around the sun! Happy birthday to my favorite sibling! (Let's keep that our secret.) I can't imagine my family without you. Thanks for being the best brother-in-law! Have the best birthday! Thanks for always being the family tiebreaker. Happy birthday! You mean the world to my whole family and we're lucky to have you. You can't choose your sibling's husband, but I gotta say you were a great pick. Have the best birthday! We may not have grown up together, but it has been a joy seeing you grow over the years. Happy birthday! You were the best gift my sibling ever gave me. Cheers to a year full of laugh and love! My dear brother-in-law, I appreciate you more than you could ever know. What a joy it's been getting to know you through the years. Happy birthday to the greatest addition to my family! I'm so lucky to know you. You're the best brother a person could ask for because you choose this family every day. Have the happiest birthday. A bonus brother is the coolest gift! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! You and [sibling] make the best role models. #relationshipgoals I don't have the words to express how much you mean to this family. So for now, I'll just have to wish you a very happy birthday. How did we ever manage without you in this family? Happy birthday! I didn't know something was missing from our family until you came into it. Here's to you! I hope you have the best birthday. Quotes About Brothers and Siblings "Brother and sister, together as friends, ready to face whatever life sends. Joy and laughter or tears and strife, holding hands tightly as we dance through life." —Suzie Huitt "Young brothers will often be each other's best friends. They will laugh together, get into trouble together, and create memories that will last a lifetime." —David Leads "There is no love like the love for a brother. There is no love like the love from a brother." —Astrid Alauda "Today is the oldest you have been, and the youngest you will ever be. Make the most of it!" —Nicky Gumbel "Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." —Marc Brown "A sibling represents a person's past, present, and future." —John Corey Whaley "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." —Desmond Tutu "Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring—quite often the hard way." —Pamela Dugdale "Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk." —Susan Scarf Merrell "Sibling relationships outlast marriages, survive the death of parents, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship. They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty and distrust." —Erica E. Goode "From the time we're born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and our cautionary tales." —Jeffrey Kluger "Family is family, whether it's the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the one you gain along the way." —Unknown "Because brothers don't let each other wander in the dark alone." —Jolene Perry "He is my most beloved friend and my bitterest rival, my confidant and my betrayer, my sustainer and my dependent, and scariest of all, my equal."—Gregg Levoy "Brothers aren't simply close; brothers are knit together." —Robert Rivers "Once a brother, always a brother, no matter the distance, no matter the difference and no matter the issue." —Byron Pulsifer "Dear big brother, you may be part of my family, but I will always consider you a friend." —Catherine Pulsifer "Brothers don't necessarily have to say anything to each other—they can sit in a room and be together and just be completely comfortable with each other." —Leonardo DiCaprio "Baby brothers are small. Baby brothers are cute. But they can be a pain, and that is the truth." —Shelia Sweeny Higgingson "What strange creatures brothers are!" —Jane Austen "A brother is a friend given by nature." —Ernest Legouve "Half the time when brothers wrestle, it's just an excuse to hug each other." —James Patterson "Brothers that say they never fight are most definitely hiding something." —Lemony Snicket "When you deal with your brother, be pleasant, but get a witness." —Hesiod "There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother… Oh, how I hated that little boy. And how I love him too." —Anna Quindlen Birthday Blessings for a Brother Every day I thank the Lord for making us siblings. I love you! God blessed me when he made you my brother. Wishing you the best birthday! May God continue to shower you with endless blessings. Happy birthday! God sent our family an angel when you were born. Happy birthday to the most amazing brother. Keep being the kind and caring person that you are and watch your blessings continue to flow. Happy birthday! Friends come and go, but siblings are forever. I'm so blessed to have you as my brother! My prayer is that you get everything you want and more, today and always. You deserve the world! Happy birthday. Today we celebrate one of God's greatest creations: you! Happy birthday to the best bro. May your celebrations be filled with endless blessings! Having you as a built-in best friend is the biggest blessing. Happy birthday! You Might Also Like 15 Best Denim Jacket Outfit Ideas to Pull from Your Closet 10 Best Shampoos for Red Hair Like Ree Drummond's Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steve Sarkisian Reveals When He Knew Things Turned Around for Texas
Steve Sarkisian Reveals When He Knew Things Turned Around for Texas originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has consecutive trips to the College Football Playoff under his belt, but it did not start that way. His first season with Texas in 2021 ended with a 5-7 record, and the following year he went 8-5. In a recent episode of "Always College Football," he highlighted the moment when the momentum shifted for the program. Sarkisian said that for him, it was losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide 20-19 in 2022 on a go-ahead field goal. He went back to the locker room and realized the players were not happy with losing that close of a game to Alabama. "In year two, when we played Bama here, and that was a really good Bama team that went on to play for a national championship," Sarkisian said. "...We kick a field goal with about a minute and 30 seconds to go in the game. Bryce leads them down, and they kick the field goal to beat us at home. I think maybe the previous year or so, people would have been content with playing Alabama that close, and when I got in the locker room, I could get a sense and a feel that that wasn't good enough." In 2023, Texas and Alabama played again with a much different result. The Longhorns beat the Crimson Tide 34-24 in Tuscaloosa for a monumental win. The program has come a long way under Sarkisian, and he reminds his staff of that. He revealed that the feeling of the 5-7 season in 2021 was something he emphasized in the offseason. Not everyone is a believer in the Longhorns in 2025, including ESPN's Joe Fortenbaugh. He predicted Texas' first loss would be in the season opener versus the Ohio State Buckeyes. Texas and Ohio State face off on August 30 with a Noon ET kickoff on story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Chicago Tribune
14-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Bethel Church issues response to removing teen from leadership, outing him as gay
Bethel Church in Crown Point issued a statement over the weekend in response to media reports about the church administration's actions after learning that Bryce Fech, 14, is gay. After church administrators heard discussions that Bryce had a boyfriend, Bethel Church administrators removed him from a youth leadership role, said Nicole Fech, Bryce's mom. A year and a half later, when the family moved to a new parish, a church administrator called an unaffiliated Christian camp, Twin Lakes, to inform administrators there that Bryce is gay. Once Twin Lakes leaders knew Bryce was gay, he was told he couldn't go to camp, Nicole Fech said. In the statement, church administrators said recent news coverage, including a Post-Tribune article and podcast interviews of the Fech family, 'presented a critical view' of the church and its 'sincerely held religious beliefs on human sexuality.' 'At Bethel Church, we are committed to loving all people as God loves them, welcoming everyone seeking biblical truth to our church, regardless of background or life journey,' according to the statement. The church will continue to follow the Bible's teaching that marriage is 'a sacred covenant between one man and one woman,' according to the statement. 'We believe this reflects God's beautiful and purposeful plan for human relationships. While we hold to this biblical standard, we strive to embody Christ's compassion, inviting all to experience His transformative love in our church community,' according to the statement. The church acknowledged 'the complexities of these conversations in today's world,' according to the statement. 'We are committed to listening, loving and walking alongside everyone with humility and grace, yet all in submission to the authority of the Bible and Christianity's prevailing historic teaching position on sexuality as God's good purpose and will for humanity,' according to the statement. The statement does not mention Bryce or his family. Church administrators did not return requests Monday for additional comment. Nicole Fech said Monday that Bethel administrators 'really missed the mark on their response.' The church can have its own rules and regulations, Nicole Fech said, and she's not demanding that they change centuries-old doctrine. But Nicole Fech said she does believe there have to be some changes. 'The deeper issue in regard to this particular situation is that a grown adult invaded the privacy of a minor child and revealed his private journey, identity and sexuality without anyone's consent, under the guise of doctrine and Christianity,' Nicole Fech said. 'That's where they missed the mark.' Matt Fech, Bryce's father, said Bethel 'is choosing to ignore the real issue here.' Church administrators shared Bryce's sexuality with camp administrators 'without our permission, knowing the likely impact for Bryce's attendance at Twin Lakes.' 'They've failed to take responsibility for their actions and chose the cowardly way out,' Matt Fech said. 'What's more troubling is that Bethel intentionally made the decision to harm a 14-year-old boy. It's a disgusting act and not very Christ-like if you ask me.' On Feb. 14, 2024, Nicole Fech said she received text messages from Melissa Anderson, the director of kids' ministry at Bethel Church, that they needed to talk. After confirming that Bryce is gay, Anderson told Nicole Fech that Bryce can't serve anymore because it conflicts with the church's doctrine, Nicole Fech said. In June, about a year and a half after the Fech family stopped attending Bethel Church, Nicole Fech said that Anderson reached out to her because the church received a list of children registered in the church's name attending Twin Lakes. Bryce, who attended the camp in summer 2024 and registered as a Bethel Church parishioner, was on the list for this summer, Anderson said. Nicole Fech said that Anderson asked if the home church could be changed. After Nicole Fech informed Anderson that she was able to change Bryce's home church, Anderson told Nicole Fech that she should inform Twin Lakes that Bryce is gay, Nicole Fech said. If Nicole Fech didn't call, Anderson told her she would call, Nicole Fech said. Anderson did not respond to requests for comment Monday. On June 27, two days before Bryce was supposed to leave for camp, Nicole Fech said she got a phone call from Twin Lakes leaders informing her that Bryce couldn't come to camp. Bryce, who was interviewed July 4, the day he should've been returning from camp, said he wanted to share his story to remind those in similar situations that they are not alone and they are loved. 'I don't need a pity party for this. I want people to just know what happened and know if this has happened to them, they are not alone, and this happens a lot, which is very unfortunate,' Bryce previously said. 'Gay people are nothing more than a beacon of light and love.'
Chicago Tribune
09-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Bethel Church removes teen from leadership role, outs him as gay to unaffiliated camp, family says
Bryce Fech said he had spent the morning of June 27 rushing around Wal-Mart with his mom and sister to buy toiletries and care-package items for a week-long stay at Twin Lakes camp. Over an Olive Garden lunch, Bryce, 14, told his mom how much he was looking forward to returning to Twin Lakes, a Christian summer camp in Hillsboro, Indiana. His favorite memory of summer 2024 was going to Twin Lakes Camp, he said, and he was looking forward to this year's camp because he would finally be able to participate in events in the same age group as his 17-year-old sister. 'I had just such a good time at camp. I made such good friends. I got along with each and every single person in my cabin,' Bryce said. Later that afternoon, Bryce said he was getting ready to go swim in the backyard pool of his dad's Crown Point home and texting his friends to let them know he would be out of pocket while at camp. As he was about to jump into the pool, his mom Nicole Fech told him the heartbreaking news: He was turned away from attending Twin Lakes Camp this summer because Melissa Anderson, the director of kids ministry at Bethel Church in Crown Point, where the Fech family used to attend, called camp officials to inform them that Bryce is gay. 'The thing that irks me is, we haven't talked to her in a year and a half, and she's a grown woman who decided to take time out of her day and call the camp because this was such a big issue to her,' Bryce said. Bethel Church officials and Anderson did not respond to multiple attempts for comment. Jim Patten, the director of Twin Lakes camp, did not respond to multiple attempts for comment. Rev. Leah Peksenak, who leads Marquette Park United Methodist Church and Hobart First United Methodist Church and is the president of Northwest Indiana Pride Fest Inc., said it is 'unusual' for church leaders to reach out to an outside entity, after the person left the church, to share information about them. 'What is really unusual is that this person would go above and beyond to contact the camp … to out this minor who isn't under their pastoral care,' Peksenak said. Bethel Church About 16 years ago, before Bryce was born, the Fech family started going to Bethel Church in Crown Point, Nicole Fech said. Shortly after joining the church, Nicole Fech said she started serving in the church's children's ministry, and even served while pregnant with Bryce. 'So he literally grew up in Bethel Church,' Nicole Fech said. When he was 3 years old, Bryce said he joined the church's youth group called Awana, in addition to attending service. Once he was older, Bryce said he became an Awana leader, and he really enjoyed teaching the children. 'It was a very welcoming environment. I never felt unwelcomed,' Bryce said. 'I felt really loved there, and I really enjoyed going.' The day before Easter in 2023, Bryce said he was watching a movie with his mom when he turned to her and told her he was gay. Nicole Fech said with a laugh that he just blurted it out. The two hugged and kissed, and nothing has changed, Bryce said. In November 2023, Bryce said he came out to his dad Matt Fech in the car after theatre practice. Matt Fech told his son he loved him and gave him a hug and a kiss. 'Nothing really changed with family dynamics at all. I'm very lucky,' Bryce said. On Feb. 14, 2024, Nicole Fech said she was scheduled to lead the church's Love Your Leader night, where she would lead about 300 kids in devotion and show love for their leaders. That afternoon, Nicole Fech said she received multiple text messages from Anderson that they had to talk as soon as possible. When she received the text messages, Nicole Fech said her motherly instinct was that Bryce and his sister Kenna Fech likely got into some adolescent trouble. She texted them asking if they knew what Anderson was reaching out about. Kenna texted back that she had no clue. Then, jokingly, Kenna texted back that it's likely a call about the fact that Bryce is gay. Nicole Fech said when she called Anderson to talk, Anderson opened the conversation with, 'This is going to be a hard conversation.' 'I immediately knew. Immediately,' Nicole Fech said. 'That's when I told her, 'It's not going to be a hard conversation for me. But we can have this conversation.'' Anderson said that children in the church were talking about how Bryce had a boyfriend, and she asked if that was true, Nicole Fech said. When Nicole Fech confirmed, Anderson asked if she could 'walk beside him and pray with him.' 'I told her, 'No, Melissa. That's not the way it works,'' Nicole Fech said. 'She basically told me that because it conflicts with our theology, and with our doctrine and our rules, he can't serve.' Nicole Fech said that Bryce was a leader at the time, so he was supposed to go to the church later that evening to participate in the Love Your Leader program. When she got home after work, Nicole Fech said she told Bryce about her conversation with Anderson, stressing that what Anderson said didn't reflect how the Lord felt about him. The whole family decided not to attend the Love Your Leader program that evening, Nicole Fech said. They haven't returned to Bethel Church since the phone call, she said. Bryce said it was hard to hear that he couldn't serve anymore because he was gay, and he felt hurt by it. But, Bryce said he was happy that his sister immediately said she wouldn't attend the leadership program if he couldn't go. 'I was hurt by the church, but I felt very loved at home and by all my friends,' Brye said. 'It was very bittersweet.' Twin Lakes In June, about a year and a half since the Fech family stopped attending Bethel Church, Nicole Fech said that Anderson reached out to her because the church received a list of children registered in the church's name attending Twin Lakes. Bryce, who attended the camp in summer 2024 and registered as a Bethel Church parishioner, was on the list for this summer, Anderson said. Nicole Fech said that Anderson asked if the home church could be changed. Because Bryce and his sister had been attending the camp for many years, previously under Bethel Church, when she registered them again for this summer, a lot of the information was pre-filled out, Nicole Fech said. Nicole Fech said she texted Anderson to let her know that she didn't realize that her children were still listed as Bethel Church parishioners, but that she had called the camp and given officials the children's new home church. But Nicole Fech said Anderson kept calling her. In a text message, Anderson said she wanted to talk about Bryce 'because I know from our last discussion that Bryce was involved in a same sex relationship and chose this lifestyle with your approval.' 'We have an obligation to let the camp know as this would go against their Biblical standards and policies. Is Bryce still living in this lifestyle? If so, I would like to request that you call the camp and let them know and talk to them about it,' Anderson wrote, in part. Nicole Fech texted back that the family no longer belongs to Bethel Church, so Anderson doesn't have anything to worry about. Anderson texted back that she would like Nicole Fech to call camp officials to inform them that Bryce is gay, or that she would call to 'let them know of (her) concerns.' 'I want you to know that I would be doing the same for any child that is attending camp where I am concerned that the camp should be aware of something. This gives the camp the ability to be best prepared for what is needed for the child and for the camp,' Anderson wrote. Nicole Fech texted back that there was no concern because 'Bryce loves the Lord and is going to have a wonderful time.' She reminded Anderson that Bryce has attended the camp for years. 'If you call, Melissa – how disgusting,' Nicole Fech wrote back. 'What is your goal here, Melissa? That you block Bryce from going to church camp? That you isolate him from being able to participate in learning more about the Lord and making new friends?' Matt Fech, an attorney, said he wrote a cease and desist letter to Bethel Church to stop them from contacting the camp on the family's behalf. On Friday, June 27, two days before Bryce and Kenna were supposed to leave for camp, Nicole Fech said she got a phone call and Twin Lakes flashed on her screen. She said she immediately knew what the call was about. Patten, the camp director, was on the other line and asked if she had a moment to talk. Nicole Fech immediately asked if he was calling to tell her that Anderson had called him and now Bryce can't come to camp anymore. Nicole Fech said she asked Patten what his concerns were about Bryce attending the camp. After 'beating around the bush,' Nicole Fech said Patten told her Bryce would be put 'in a situation of temptation' if he attended camp because he would be sharing a cabin with other boys. When she heard that, Nicole Fech said she became upset about the conservative, Christian stance that being a member of the LGBTQ community is all about sex. Ultimately, she said she hung up on Patten. 'I was not nice. I probably lost some of my Christianity on that phone call,' Nicole Fech said. But, Nicole Fech said her heart immediately dropped because, after spending the morning getting all the final items they needed for camp, she had to tell her son – for the second time – that he's being excluded for being gay. The aftermath What perplexes her, Nicole Fech said, is that Anderson went out of her way to call the camp a year and a half after the family left the church. To her, it feels like a violation of Bryce's civil rights, Nicole Fech said. 'I can't believe this is happening,' Nicole Fech said. 'The fact that she did this a year and a half later, when we have no affiliation with the church, is absolutely, jaw-droppingly, astoundingly inappropriate in all the ways.' Actions like this, Nicole Fech said, lead to people feeling church hurt and excluded from religion. But the message of all this, Nicole Fech said, was best summed up by a friend who said, 'Jesus doesn't practice selective grace, he embraces radical inclusion.' Matt Fech said what bothers him is that Bethel Church didn't raise an issue last year when Bryce went to camp. 'This is a conscious decision by them to take affirmative steps to make sure that Bryce doesn't get to go to camp,' Matt Fech said. 'One of the things that I have been so proud of Bryce is the maturity with which he has handled all of this. It's really been incredible. You always want your kids to handle adversity with grace and dignity, and how Bryce has handled this situation over the last year and a half has been incredible to watch.' Peksenak said it's 'commonplace' for conservative Christian church officials to remove LGBTQ members from leadership positions once they are made aware of how a person identifies. When it comes to disclosing information about a minor, Peksenak said church leaders are held 'to strict confidentiality' unless the minor expresses harm to themselves, harm to others or reports abuse. 'You are expected to hold that sacred,' Peksenak said. 'The bar is so high, you don't break confidentiality unless you have a good reason, and this isn't a good reason.' Unfortunately, church officials police themselves so it's unlikely any action will be taken by Bethel Church against Anderson, Peksenak said. The impact of such actions, Peksenak said, is that people in the LGBTQ community and their families 'don't want anything to do with the church anymore.' Bryce, who was interviewed July 4, the day he should've been returning from camp, said he wanted to share his story to remind those in similar situations that they are not alone and they are loved. 'I don't need a pity party for this. I want people to just know what happened and know if this has happened to them, they are not alone, and this happens a lot, which is very unfortunate,' Bryce said. 'Gay people are nothing more than a beacon of light and love.'
