Communicator with Strategic Insight | Designer | Advocate for Equity & Truth
On a quiet evening filled with orange and purple Halloween lights, a movie night with my son turned into something deeper. Edward Scissorhands revealed how fascination can slip into fear and how real compassion, like true faith, only survives when it chooses empathy over control, love over spectacle, and silence over noise.
Always With Hope is a memoir by Lyudmila Oparina, detailing the life of a resilient Soviet woman who faced war, labor, and political upheaval. It emphasizes the power of compassion, responsibility, and hope in challenging times. The book serves as a poignant reminder of perseverance and the importance of sharing personal narratives.
Maintaining relationships with evangelical Christian family members as an LGBTQ+ person can be one of the most emotionally complex challenges we face. These are not just intellectual disagreements—they cut to the core of who we are and who our families believe us to be. As someone raised in a largely secular household, with a mother …
This report explores the emotional, spiritual, and practical journey of maintaining relationships with evangelical Christian family members as an LGBTQ+ person. Drawing from mental health research, pastoral case studies, and real-life reconciliation stories, it offers strategies for navigating complex conversations, setting healthy boundaries, and honoring both personal identity and family heritage. Through the lens of Pastor Vera Maksimova’s transnational ministry and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ Christians like Justin Lee and Matthew Vines, this work invites readers to consider how empathy, resilience, and faith can bridge even the most difficult divides.
Mikhail Oparin 