Category: Mental Health and the Church

Biblical Counseling, C.J. Mahaney, Chuck O'Neal, Emotional Responses, John MacArthur, Legalism, Meetings with the Pastor, Mental Health and the Church, Sovereign Grace Ministries, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies, Suicide

Can High-Controlling Pastors Lead Their Members into Depression and Even Suicide?

Julie Anne

  Commenters share about high-controlling pastors who leave a path of mental health destruction, even suicide, because they cannot get appropriate help.     A while back, I found a comment at SGMSurvivor.com blog that cut like a knife. Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) is in the news a good bit because of the sex abuse lawsuits, but the subject… Continue reading Can High-Controlling Pastors Lead Their Members into Depression and Even Suicide?

Church Governance or Policy Issues, Leaving the Church, Meetings with the Pastor, Mental Health and the Church, Parenting

Pastoral Confidentiality: Does it Still Apply after Church Member Resigns?

Julie Anne

  *** What is the responsibility of pastors for those they deem have "gone astray?" Do pastoral confidentiality rules apply even when someone resigns their church membership? ***   *** The other day, I read an article, Stabbed in the Back by a Cult Leader and it left me feeling sad and angry. "Sheldon" is a… Continue reading Pastoral Confidentiality: Does it Still Apply after Church Member Resigns?

Biblical Counseling, Mental Health and the Church, Suicide

Biblical Counseling: Is it Always Safe? – And Pastoral Response to Abuse Survivor

Julie Anne

*     *     * “Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn,     for they will be comforted. Matt. 5:3-4 Today I stumbled across a disturbing article at One Lost Child blog.  Blogger Cathy raises concerns regarding the care  women will receive at… Continue reading Biblical Counseling: Is it Always Safe? – And Pastoral Response to Abuse Survivor

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Failure to Report Crimes, Mandatory Reporting, Mental Health and the Church, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Sovereign Grace Ministries, Sovereign Grace Ministries Lawsuit, Statute of Limitations

The Legal “Perfect Storm” for Enabling Sex Abuse

Julie Anne

*     *     * First things first  - I have seen several news reports wrongly report that Judge Burrell recently dismissed the Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM) lawsuit.  That is not true.  I contacted Attorney Susan Burke to make sure I was understanding it correctly and asked if she could send me a… Continue reading The Legal “Perfect Storm” for Enabling Sex Abuse

Mental Health and the Church, Spiritual Abuse, Suicide

Spiritual Abuse: Faith Healing and Parallels

Julie Anne

*     *     * By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 This next story is sad.  It reminded me of the many deaths attributed to "faith healing" at the Followers of Christ church near my former town in Oregon.  … Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Faith Healing and Parallels

Homeschool Legal Defense Association, Homeschool Movement, Homeschoolers Anonymous, Legalism, Mental Health and the Church, Patrick Henry College, Single and Christian, Suicide, SURVIVOR STORIES

We Need Safe Places, Or, Overturning Tables

Julie Anne

*     *     * Many of you know of my partnership with Homeschoolers Anonymous. In this blog, survivors have told their sometimes sad and disturbing stories of what it was like growing up as a homeschooled student. Here is how I connected with them. There is a subculture within the bigger umbrella… Continue reading We Need Safe Places, Or, Overturning Tables

Biblical Counseling, Grace Community Church, Mental Health and the Church, Suicide

Black and White Teachings from the Pulpit: Helpful or Not?

Julie Anne

*     *     *     "Mental illness" is a poor term, sounding like "It's just your mind." But a broken brain is as physical as a broken bone. Rick Warren tweeted 4/13/13 a week after his son committed suicide.   I still have a couple of more thoughts regarding the Nally suicide case… Continue reading Black and White Teachings from the Pulpit: Helpful or Not?

Biblical Counseling, Failure to Report Crimes, Grace Community Church, Mental Health and the Church, Sovereign Grace Ministries, Suicide

How do Churches Handle Difficult Mental Health Cases, Biblical Counseling, and the Law?

Julie Anne

*     *     * A friend sent me a tragic story this morning.   It is an older story from 1979 involving John MacArthur's church, Grace Community Church, and a young man, Kenneth Nally, who at the age of 24 shot himself and died.   He suffered from depression and sought counsel… Continue reading How do Churches Handle Difficult Mental Health Cases, Biblical Counseling, and the Law?

Crazy Things Church Leaders Say & Do, Media Interviews with Julie Anne, Mental Health and the Church, Personal Stories, Resident Artist Drawings, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies, SURVIVOR STORIES

Justice: Becoming Free

Julie Anne

"Flying Free" by 9-yr old Resident Artist Now, on to much lovelier topics.  I really want you to read this . . . I want to share a story with you about a person named Justice.  Justice is not this person's real name and you'll have to pardon the awkwardness of pronouns in this article… Continue reading Justice: Becoming Free

Mental Health and the Church, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual Abuse: Memories and Flashbacks

Julie Anne

*** *** I want to touch on a controversial subject.  What comes to mind when I mention the words:  counselors or mental health?   Many at BGBC don't want to touch that subject.  Mental health professionals were talked down as if they were evil and would brainwash you.   Even Biblical Christian counseling was not… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Memories and Flashbacks