Hello! My name is Maya Goforth and I am the founder of Room at the Table. As someone who experiences same sex attraction and loves Jesus my heart aches for anyone who hasn’t experienced his love, but especially those of the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve seen firsthand how members of this community have been given the cold shoulder by many so called Christians. I myself have been in several Christian spaces where people did not know my sexual orientation and so felt they could speak freely and all be in cruelly towards the queer community. As much as it pains me to witness these things amongst my fellow believers it just gives Room at the Table all the more reason to exist. Whether you are a professing Christian, just curious about Jesus or anything in between you are welcome here. 

   My hope with this ministry is to help answer two major questions in this conversation about Christianity and sexuality. The first question being; where can LGBTQAI folks go where they can learn about Jesus and the Bible without fear of chastisement? The answer is simple: right HERE. By providing both in person bible studies around the Charlotte area as well as virtual small groups, praying together, eating together, and one on one mentoring sessions designed to serve this community I hope to do my part to help create space for people to learn and grow in Christ. 

The second question being how can the church better serve this community? As a Christian myself who holds to a traditional view of marriage I understand this balance can be tricky. What isn’t difficult however is treating others with dignity and respect. All human beings regardless of beliefs, sexual preference, or gender expression ARE created in the image of God. This reason alone should be enough for us to ask ourselves “how can I be a neighbor to those around me?”. When I look back at my walk with Jesus over many years and how He approached me the first thing that comes to my mind is His patience. While I was yet still a sinner Christ died for me. I started my journey with God over 10 years ago and have only in the last few years laid certain aspects of my life down at Jesus’s feet. I have lived a celibate lifestyle for over three years now and just over a year I have been sober from drugs and alcohol. All that being said God was with me then…. Way back then, before all of that. For years I struggled to lay down my life bit by bit and my guesses are I will continue to strive towards Gods perfection for the rest of my life but God knew me THEN. He watered and pruned me over a decade to get me where I am today and I want to extend that patience and mercy to others. I think that's where we start, with patience and friendship. Whose who have been forgiven much love much and boy have I been forgiven much. God could have left me years ago but he didn’t. If that at all resonates with you I hope you can see the importance of a seed planted and kept over time. Jesus was my friend far before He was truly my lord. My prayer is that the church will start with patience and friendship just like Jesus did at the start of many of our journeys. If anyone reading this has a church or Christian community that could benefit from a healthy and biblical conversion about addressing and serving the needs of the LGBTQAI community please don’t hesitate to contact us. I personally would love an opportunity to help in anyway that I can to facilitate that conversation. 

   Only by the love of the Father, the help of the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can we as humans live in peace and communion with a holy and righteous God. It’s what we we're put on this earth to do. Our very purpose and identity is rooted in Him and I plan to do all I can to show those people on the fringes who He is. My hope and prayer is that you all join me in that mission. God bless you all.