Are you passionate about creating safe, affirming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community? How about for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating the complexities of religious trauma, spiritual abuse, deconstruction, or the after-effects of adverse religious or spiritual experiences (ARSE)?The Rise Above Community (RAC), a program of Flaming For Jesus, is a beacon of hope and healing. We provide completely FREE online and in-person peer support groups where unique journeys are honored, and voices are heard. As an LGBTQ+-led, 501(c)(3) non-profit, we are dedicated to nurturing the spiritual and mental well-being of those impacted by religious harm and discrimination.Why Your Donation Matters to Rise Above Community:Our core peer support groups and resources are provided 100% free of charge to individuals who need them most. This accessibility is critical, as financial barriers should never prevent someone from finding the support they deserve. We rely entirely on the generosity of compassionate supporters like you to make this possible.Your donation directly fuels:Free Peer Support Programs: Ensuring every Traveler can access vital healing circles and one-on-one support, regardless of their financial situation.Community Outreach & Accessibility: Helping us reach isolated LGBTQ+ individuals in rural and underserved areas who lack local affirming resources.Resource Development: Enabling the creation of valuable, trauma-informed tools and materials for resilience, growth, and empowerment.Operational Sustainability: Covering essential costs for secure online platforms, safe in-person meeting spaces, and dedicated Travel Guide support.Every dollar you contribute goes directly to our mission, thanks to Zeffy's 0% fees for non-profits! This means your entire gift empowers healing.

Interrupting the Crisis: Your Gift is a Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Hope and HealingThe Rise Above Community (RAC) is a safe haven for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking healing, connection, and authenticity. We are dedicated to providing support with a voice that is warm, affirming, empathetic, and direct. Our mission is simple and powerful: We C.A.R.E.Every dollar you donate directly fuels our commitment to:Create safe spaces.Affirm identities.Respect experiences.Embrace authenticity.When you support RAC, you are not just funding a program—you are directly intervening in a cycle of trauma and rejection known as the minority stress pipeline. Your donation is a decisive action that counters lethal structural stigma and creates a clear path to stability and hope.

Did You Know?Individuals who have suffered from religious trauma are at an increased rate of suicidality, substance abuse, homelessness, anxiety, and depression.Religious trauma refers to the lasting negative impact on an individual's physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being caused by overwhelming or disruptive experiences related to religious beliefs, practices, or structures (Religious Trauma Institute).The LGBTQ+ community and religious institutions have been at odds for generations and the trauma of experiences like; pulpit shaming, conversion therapy, and disownment, whether from social circles like family and friends or religious communities, among other factors contributes to the already staggering mental health crisis LGBTQ+ individuals face.According to the American Psychiatric Association, members of the LGBTQ+ community are more than twice as likely as heterosexual people to experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. Transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition.LGBTQ+ individuals' mental health issues are often related to discrimination, stigma, harassment, and social isolation based on sexual orientation or gender identity, increasing the rate of anxiety, depression, suicidality, homelessness, and substance abuse.Make the Shift From Ally to Accomplice And Break the Chains Binding the LGBTQ+ Community to Religious Trauma.Be Our Accomplice in Breaking the Chains...Of Confusion: Many LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced confusion and uncertainty about whether they can be both LGBTQ+ and faithful. We aim to break this chain by proudly representing the intersection of our LGBTQ+ Identities and faith, sharing resources for affirming religious institutions and doctrines and advocating for inclusive affirming spaces within religious circles.Of Trauma: Religious trauma can have a lifetime impact on an individual's mental and emotional well-being. FFJ is committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community's navigation of their past traumas on the path to reconciliation of their faith.Of Isolation: Social isolation from any community, religious or not, has critical effects on an individual's self-esteem, cognitive functions, development, and overall mental health. Through our initiatives, we seek to connect LGBTQ+ individuals with supportive communities, mental health resources, and events and gatherings where individuals can learn and connect with others who share similar experiences regardless of their identity, beliefs, or faith. Of Misinformation: There are many misconceptions about LGBTQ+ identities within religious institutions and communities. We aim to break these misconceptions through educational training, workshops, resource provisions, and facilitating dialogues between religious leaders from affirming faiths and the LGBTQ+ community to promote understanding and acceptance.Of Mental Health Stigmas: The stigma surrounding affirming mental health and accessibility in the LGBTQ+ community can prevent individuals from seeking the support they need and deserve. By providing easily accessible resources such as online counseling services, support hotlines, and peer support we are dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and the LGBTQ+ community.By supporting this campaign, you will help Break the Chains that are binding the LGBTQ+ community to their trauma and the Chains that are keeping them from accessing, receiving, or knowing about the resources, support, community, and representation that they not only need but deserve.