Mission & Vision
About Us
Greg and Lynn McDonald are parents, best friends, authors of Embracing the Journey, and co-founders of the ministry by the same name as an outgrowth of their family's personal journey associated with having a gay child. They are bridge-builders, reconcilers, and peace-makers passionate about helping parents lean into their journey where true healing can occur. As followers of Jesus, Greg and Lynn have first-hand experience managing the complicated feelings associated with learning their son was gay. In the twenty-plus years since that revelation, they have immersed themselves in the LGBTQ+ community. Armed with years of practical experience, Greg and Lynn have personally coached and counseled several hundred Christian parents throughout the United States and over 20 foreign countries with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children. In addition to their one-on-one biblical counseling, they teach and facilitate many small groups, help churches develop safe parent care groups, and participate in national conferences. What makes the McDonald's such a powerful resource is their ability to share their journey in an unvarnished, honest, reassuring, and relatable way, along with the learnings gleaned from helping thousands of Christian Parents.
Our Mission
To build bridges between LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and the church, not in spite of the bible but because of the bible, drawing parents and children into a deeper relationship with each other and vertically with God.
Our Vision
To have an increasing impact on healing Christian families with LGBTQ+ loved ones and a catalyst for "the Church" to create safe parent care groups that are honoring to Jesus.
What We Embrace
Greg and Lynn McDonald are parents, best friends, authors of Embracing the Journey, and co-founders of the ministry by the same name as an outgrowth of their family's personal journey associated with having a gay child. They are bridge-builders, reconcilers, and peace-makers passionate about helping parents lean into their journey where true healing can occur. As followers of Jesus, Greg and Lynn have first-hand experience managing the complicated feelings associated with learning their son was gay. In the twenty-plus years since that revelation, they have immersed themselves in the LGBTQ+ community. Armed with years of practical experience, Greg and Lynn have personally coached and counseled several hundred Christian parents throughout the United States and over 20 foreign countries with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children. In addition to their one-on-one biblical counseling, they teach and facilitate many small groups, help churches develop safe parent care groups, and participate in national conferences. What makes the McDonald's such a powerful resource is their ability to share their journey in an unvarnished, honest, reassuring, and relatable way, along with the learnings gleaned from helping thousands of Christian Parents.
Our Mission
To build bridges between LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and the church, not in spite of the bible but because of the bible, drawing parents and children into a deeper relationship with each other and vertically with God.
Our Vision
To have an increasing impact on healing Christian families with LGBTQ+ loved ones and a catalyst for "the Church" to create safe parent care groups that are honoring to Jesus.
What We Embrace
What ETJ Embraces
Love Bridges Tension Community Hope |
What ETJ Does Not Embrace
Fear Walls Avoidance Isolation Despair |