Many of you already know me as the Adult Discipleship Pastor at First Baptist Rogers. My wife, Ashley, and I have been married for 32 years, and we have two grown children whom we love dearly. Over the years, God has allowed us to serve in a variety of ministry settings — as missionaries in South Korea before having children, and later as church planters in Texas; Toronto, Canada; and Colorado.

What many of you may not know is that on July 4, 2020, while our family was vacationing in Colorado, our oldest child shared with us that she identified as bisexual. Nothing could have prepared us for that conversation. In that moment, it felt as though time stood still. We were caught completely off guard — overwhelmed with shock, sadness, confusion, and heartbreak.

What followed was an incredibly difficult and emotional season for all of us. We experienced waves of sorrow, frustration, guilt, and heartbreak, often lying awake at night revisiting conversations, decisions, and moments from years past. We asked God difficult questions and searched for answers that did not come quickly. Meanwhile, our daughter was navigating her own pain and confusion, and at times she questioned our love and care for her.

Along with the pain came a heavy burden of fear and uncertainty about how others — especially our church family — would view the struggles and brokenness our family was experiencing. I quietly wondered what this would mean for my future in ministry and whether I would be able to continue serving.

Nearly six years have passed since this journey began, and while there are still moments of grief, we can also see God’s faithfulness in the middle of it all. One of the turning points for us was joining a local support group where we discovered that other families were facing similar struggles. Through the encouragement of that community and the steady support of our church family, we began finding healing, perspective, and hope again.

No, our daughter has not yet returned to Christ, but by God’s grace we have seen genuine progress in our relationship with her — all while remaining anchored in our biblical convictions. Through this journey, the Lord has also done a deep work in our own hearts, bringing growth, healing, and transformation in ways we never expected.

Through it all, we believe the Lord has helped us honor Him while continuing to love our daughter and her family deeply and sincerely. We are confident that God loves them even more than we do, and we trust that He is still pursuing their hearts. Because of that, we continue to fast and pray that one day they will experience His forgiveness, peace, joy, and lasting hope — and ultimately find their true identity and purpose in Jesus Christ.

Out of our own journey, Ashley and I launched a support group in January 2023 called Renewed Hope for parents, family members, and friends of those who identify as LGBTQ+. Our desire is simple: to help others begin finding strength and hope through Christ and community, just as God graciously did for us. If you are walking this road, we want you to know you do not have to walk it alone — and this is your invitation.

Renewed Hope is a private and confidential community where parents, family members, and friends can walk alongside others who truly understand the unique grief, questions, fears, and challenges this journey often brings. You do not have to be a member of our church to participate. Our heart is to encourage one another, pray for one another, and together discover lasting strength and hope through Christ.