Embracing the Journey: A Christian Parents' Blueprint to Loving Your LGBTQ Child

A sympathetic, compassionate, and inspiring guide for parents, from the founders of one of the first Christian ministries for parents of LGBTQ children.

Greg and Lynn McDonald had never interacted with members of the LGBTQ community until they discovered that their son was gay—and without resources or support, they had no idea how to handle this discovery. At first they tried to “fix” him, to no avail. But even in the earliest days of their journey, the McDonalds clung to two absolutes: they would love God, and they would love their son.

This book follows the McDonald family’s journey over the next twenty years, from a place of grief to a place of gratitude and acceptance that led the McDonalds’ to start one of the first Christian ministries for parents of LGBTQ children. Based on their experience from counseling and coaching hundreds of struggling Christian parents, they offer tools for understanding your own emotional patterns and spiritual challenges. They also help you experience a deeper relationship with God while handling difficult or unexpected situations that are out of your control. You will discover tested principles, patterns, and spiritual lessons that can change the way we all see our families, and help Christians at large think though Christ-like ways to respond to the LGBTQ community.

Written in an unvarnished, honest, reassuring, and relatable voice, this is a practical guide for parents and a roadmap to learning to love God, the people He created, and the church, even when they seem to be at odds.

Greg and Lynn McDonald are cofounders of Embracing the Journey Inc. Greg has enjoyed a career that spans thirty-plus years as an industry leader in the private sector. He currently serves on the board of directors of Orphan Helpers and has served on numerous Fortune 500 and nonprofit advisory boards and committees. When their now-adult children were young, Lynn was a full-time homemaker. Additionally, she has served as a volunteer crisis pregnancy counselor and on Young Life committees in Michigan and Central America. Today Greg and Lynn pursue their passion of helping LGBTQ families become reconciled with each other and move one step closer to Jesus. They are the proud parents of Greg Jr. and Connie, dad- and mom-in-law to Matt, and happy grandparents of three grandchildren.

Beth Jusino is an award-winning writer, editor, and teacher with almost twenty years of experience in publishing. She’s ghostwritten and collaborated on multiple titles for both large and small publishers.