Introducing: Haven Ministry

When I was younger, I thought I knew so much regarding my faith. I knew the Bible, had memorized and studied it, was married to a seminary student, taught Sunday School and worked at a Christian school. 


Until it all crumbled. For so many reasons, it crumbled. So much of what I had been taught about God and Scripture in my church tradition could not withstand the questions I had and the life I was going through. 

The one issue that broke everything was when our son told us he was gay. We had known it for years, but now we would have to deal with it. Our church welcomed gay people to sit in the congregation, but that was about it. Our church was not affirming or inclusive. We would have to do our own theological digging and eventually change churches and denominations. 

We approached all of this with caution and skepticism. And so many questions. We had already accepted our son. We knew that he did not choose to be gay. He had prayed and begged God to make him straight. We knew that being gay was not sinful. But what about same-sex relationships? But what about how to proceed? Could we allow him to date while he was still in high school? Will he just have to be celibate? What does the Bible really say about acts of homosexuality? 

That’s where we were when we first started--with so many questions and very little support. Over the next year of intense study and prayer, we would see God was much more, much bigger, much better than our imagination had room to entertain. His grace was better and His love stronger than we had known. God has taken the crumbles and rebuilt my faith. Really, He held the crumbles all along.

The church should be a first place of refuge, a place of love and sanctuary for all who are hurting. Instead, so often the church has been a dangerous or threatening place for people who are suffering. This must not be. We are all dealing with our own incomplete knowledge and understanding and our own sin. This is precisely why we have to be patient and forgiving with one another. And above all, we must love. 

That is what I want this Haven Ministry to be about---loving parents especially, but loving all who come. Loving means to accept and include--as is. It means to follow the admonitions Paul gave in his letter to the Colossians: to be patient, forgiving, bearing with one another, humble, kind, and gentle. It means to be like Christ and to act in His name. It means to use our gifts and skills to honor Him and help others. 

We want to help parents as they love their child. We want to learn alongside them. What does it look like to raise an LGBTQ child in a Christian home? Or in any home, for that matter? How do we dispel the myths and lies that culture has fed us for generations--that LGBTQ people choose this, that they are morally perverse, that they are rebelling, etc.? How do we support our child in a way they can succeed, be their best selves? How do we love? Do we have to compromise our faith to accept our son? (Spoiler: the answer is of course not.)

We want to provide what we didn’t have--a fellowship for parents and families of LGBTQ youth where the love of Christ is known and felt as it should be. 

If you are interested in being a part of this fellowship, virtually and/or in-person, please consider joining our brand new Facebook page or emailing me. We would love to have you. 

Haven: A safe place for parents and families of LGBTQ youth of Central Kentucky
-For parents & families of LGBTQ youth anywhere on the journey
-For parents whose child has just come out, and they don’t know where to go
-For Christians wanting to know more how to support LGBTQ people
-To get non-judgmental Christian support
-To ask real questions
-To find fellowship in a safe place

Email - [email protected]
Facebook private group - Haven Ministry