Same-Sex Attraction, Freedom in Vulnerability + an Unfinished Symphony (Conversation w/ Jeff and Jourdan of Open Spaces)
The Intentional Parents Podcast
Intentional
4.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 22 October 2025
⏱️ 80 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Note: This episode contains mature themes that may not be suitable for younger listeners. Please use discretion.
This week, we’re joined by our new friends Jeff and Jourdan Johnson, hosts of the Open Spaces Podcast. They share their remarkable story — a journey marked by honesty, redemption, and deep faith. Jeff opens up about his decades-long battle with same-sex attraction and how bringing his struggle into the light marked the beginning of real freedom. From childhood trauma to seasons of breaking up and coming back together, their story is one of radical acceptance, surrender, and the relentless kindness of God.
After years of wrestling with faith and learning to let go of control, Jeff and Jourdan eventually got married and are now raising three children together. Their relationship stands as a living testimony that vulnerability truly leads to freedom. Jeff describes it as a daily surrender — dying to himself, trusting God’s goodness, and finding hope in the truth that even in life’s “unfinished symphony,” God is still writing a story of redemption.
In a cultural moment filled with confusion and competing messages about sexuality, Jeff and Jourdan share how important it is for parents to speak about these topics early and without fear — to create space for honesty, and even share their own stories, so their kids know they’re not alone. Through Open Spaces, Jeff and Jourdan invite others to bring hidden struggles into the light, reminding us that God can use even our deepest brokenness and pain for His glory.
Open Spaces: Website, Instagram, YouTube + Contact (with Questions)
Scripture Mentioned: Romans 8:28
Book Mentioned: Wrestling with God by Ronald Rolheiser
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey friends, mark your calendars. The Intentional Motherhood Retreat is coming up October 23rd through 25th in Portland, Oregon. |
| 0:10.7 | It's a meaningful few days to slow down, connect, and refocus on what matters most in your motherhood journey. |
| 0:18.1 | Also some exciting news. Intention intentional fatherhood has officially launched on all |
| 0:22.2 | podcast platforms, including YouTube, so go subscribe, check out the first few episodes, and share it |
| 0:27.6 | with all the fathers in your life. For more details and registration info for the motherhood |
| 0:31.8 | retreat, you can go to intentional parents.org, or you can go check out our new website for fathers intentional fatherhood.org. |
| 0:43.5 | You're listening to the intentional parents podcast brought to you by intentional. |
| 0:48.8 | Intentional is all about spiritual formation in the family. |
| 0:52.5 | We desire to bring biblical hope and practical hope. |
| 0:56.1 | Enjoy this week's conversation. |
| 1:03.3 | Today on the show, we have Jeff and Jordan Johnson. They're worship leaders at Passion |
| 1:07.8 | City Church in Atlanta, and they host the Open Spaces podcast. Together, they bring |
| 1:12.3 | years of ministry, creativity, and honesty to everything that they do, whether leading worship, |
| 1:17.3 | or having real conversations about faith, marriage, and identity. Their story carries both beauty |
| 1:23.6 | and battle, and they've walked through the questions that many of you do, calling, healing, |
| 1:28.8 | what does it mean to follow Jesus with nothing to hide as they really lead by example and go first? |
| 1:34.6 | Now, out of their journey and story, which you're going to hear today came the Open Spaces podcast, |
| 1:39.0 | and it's a ministry built around one idea that God really meets us right where we are if we make room for him. |
| 1:46.5 | These wonderful people, Jeff and Jordan, became fast friends, and as you will hear, their story |
| 1:50.9 | is powerful and impactful. So please make sure to check out the show notes and follow all that |
| 1:56.3 | they're doing. Open Spaces is an incredible ministry. Also, I want to say thank you to everyone who's rated, subscribed, and left a comment. It is more helpful than you know. It helps get the word out. So if you haven't had a chance to do that, would you just even pause right now and do one of those three? Or all, that would be very helpful. But enjoy today's conversation with Jeff and Jordan Johnson. All right, welcome back to the intentional parents podcast. |
| 2:18.2 | Today is a special day. As you heard in the intro, new friends on the episode. If there was a round |
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