Michael Watson, Homeless LGBTQIA+ Youth Program Coordinator Reformation Lutheran Church

6:30 PM Program - Creating an LGBTQ Homeless Youth Ministry

Studies indicate that as many as 40 percent of the runaway and homeless youth in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ. What sets these young people apart from general homeless persons? How are they more vulnerable, while also more likely to be underserved? What about the LGBTQ homeless youth in our community?

Michael Watson, Homeless LGBTQIA+ Youth Program Coordinator at Columbia’s Reformation Lutheran Church, will answer these questions and provide an overview of the church’s Safe Space Dinners ministry. Michael will also share how his own journey of faith led to a calling to serve homeless LGBTQ young people.

Where: Zoom Meeting

When: Tuesday, April 27

6:00 PM Social Time

6:30 PM Presentation & Discussion

Click here to RSVP

About Michael Watson -
Michael grew up in Columbia and attended private Catholic schools (K-12). Molded and defined by his religious upbringing, Michael had a crisis of faith in his high school years due to the church's firm denunciation of homosexuality. Michael ended up walking away from religion entirely until later in his adult life when he found Reformation Lutheran Church. He now serves this LGBTQ-affirming church as an executive committee council member and the committee chairperson for Safe Space Dinners. Reformation is also where Michael met, and married, his husband Bryan.