Love is an Orientation
“Mom, I have something to tell you…I’m gay”.
“Dad…I think I am in the wrong body, I think that I am really a boy”.
One of the most difficult and life changing statements a parent can hear is that of their child coming out to them. Like a bomb being dropped, this revelation has the potential to tear families apart. Parents often feel scared, angry, confused, anxious, hopeless, and very alone. Their hopes and dreams for their children are shaken and replaced with fears of discrimination, AIDS, and stigma. What do you do? To whom do you turn? For parents of the Christian faith, the questions may be even more complicated.
Unconditional Ministries, The Marin Foundation, and FreedHearts are excited to present the 2014 Midwest Parents Conference, “By Parents, For Parents”, on June 13th and 14th in Chicago. Join us to hear from, worship with, and experience community with other Christian parents who are learning to reconcile their faith and their child’s sexuality or gender identity. The weekend includes speakers, praise and worship, group sharing times, and a Q& A panel discussion. Featured speakers are Gordie & Jennifer Krogh of Unconditional Ministries, Rob & Susan Cottrell of FreedHearts Ministries, and Laura Statesir from The Marin Foundation.
Friday, June 13th from 6 pm to 9 pm
Saturday, June 14th from 8 am to 4 pm
First Evangelical Free Church (Rooms 120-124)
5255 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
Early registration is $60 per person. After May 16th registration is $70 per person. Lunch on Saturday is included in the cost of the conference.
You can register online through Eventbrite Conference Registration. You can also register by calling 920.645.4284 or emailing Jenn and Gordie Krogh at [email protected] or [email protected].
For more information contact Laura Statesir at [email protected] or call 773.572.5983.
HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you are driving to Chicago we recommend staying in hotels near the airports [O’Hare or Midway] because these tend to be the least expensive. If you are flying to Chicago and will not have a vehicle, we recommend using hotels that are within a 30 or 45 minute train or bus ride from the church. Public transportation in Chicago is very easy to use. Hotels that are easily accessible by public transportation:
Heart O Chicago Motel: http://www.heartochicago.com (10 min bus ride/20 min walk) (by far the cheapest rates)
Inn at Lincoln Park: http://www.innlp.com/wp/ (25 minute bus ride) ($144 a night if you stay Thursday to Sunday)
Super 8 (on Sheridan): http://www.super8.com/hotels/illinois/chicago/super-8-chicago-il/hotel-overview (30 minute bus ride) ($180 per night)
Howard Johnson Inn – Downtown Chicago: http://www.hojo.com/hotels/illinois/chicago/howard-johnson-inn-chicago-downtown/hotel-overview (45 minute bus ride) ($160 a night if you pay now)
Red Roof Inn – Downtown Chicago: http://www.redroof-chicago-downtown.com (35 minute bus ride) ($204 a night)
Club Quarters (Wacker at Michigan) http://clubquarters.com/chicago/wacker-at-michigan (45 minute train ride) ($160 a night)
The River Hotel: http://www.chicagoriverhotel.com (45 minute train ride ) ($179 a night)
*The listed prices are for one room for two adults as of April 16th. You can also try using search engines such as Priceline. Just remember, before you book a hotel make sure to use Google Maps to see how far your hotel is from the church (5255 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640). Click on the “Transit” option (that looks like a train) to see how to get around using public transportation.
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