online courses
Journeys of Faith
Stories of Love & Purpose From LGBTQ/SSA Christians
What to Expect
Eight sessions designed for LGBTQ and same-sex attracted people interested in Jesus.
1. Introduction
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
2. Session 1: No One is Excluded
- Watch : Session 1 (17:06)
- Discussion Guide for Session 1
- Supplemental: Eve Tushnet, "Learning to Say ‘God is Love’ When You’re Gay"
3. Session 2: The Upside Down Kingdom
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
4. Session 3: Counting the Cost
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
5. Session 4: Existing on Purpose
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
6. Session 5: Chosen Family
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
7. Session 6: Becoming Like Jesus
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
8. Session 7: Navigating Christian Community
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
9. Session 8: An Eternal Romance
Helping Parents Love is a curriculum-based support group, not a therapy group. Our peer facilitators are not licensed counselors or trained experts; they are seasoned parents with a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ or who experiences same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The purpose of our groups is not for any of us to share expert advice, but for each participant to share our own family’s experience.
Hosted by
Greg Coles, Ph.D.
Greg is the author of “Single, Gay, Christian” and “No Longer Strangers.” He’s also a Senior Research Fellow at The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, a worship leader at his local church in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, and an enthusiastic (though tragically intermittent) amateur baker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this series for? What is the purpose?
Journeys of Faith is an eight-session resource designed for LGBTQ and same-sex attracted people interested in Jesus. It’s designed to challenge and encourage you no matter where you are in your own faith journey, whether you’re a curious agnostic, a lifelong Christian, or anywhere in between.
Who created this series, and what do they believe?
This series was created by The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. You can learn more about us at centerforfaith.com. Our Statement of Faith and our Statement of Marriage and Sexual Ethics are available at https://www.centerforfaith.com/about/statement-of-faith. We hope you’ll feel welcome in this space no matter what you believe—or if you’re still not sure what you believe.
If I want to go through this series with a group of people, can I do that?
Yes! Each session includes discussion questions that you can use one-on-one with a friend or in a small group.
Why is this series free? Will it stay that way?
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, this series will be free for at least one year after its release. After that, we hope to keep it free indefinitely through ongoing donations.
What if I have technical questions or need support while going through this series?
If you have questions about technical support, please email us at [email protected].
Where does this organization stand on Christians using terms like "gay" and "LGBTQ"?
We believe that faithful Christians who are attracted to the same sex or experience gender dysphoria can reach different conclusions about which language is most helpful to describe their experience. More resources related to this conversation, including dialogues between people who adopt different approaches, are available in the supplemental resources of Session #7.
It’s Free! (For Real)