Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Mental Health and the Church, Narcissistic Pastors, Personal Stories, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SURVIVOR STORIES, Tullian Tchividjian, Women and the Church

Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 5

Tullian Tchividjian, Personal Survivor Story, Clergy Sex Abuse LINKS: My Story: Part #1.  Part #2.  Part #3.  Part #4.  Part #5. Editors' Note: This is Rachel’s story, and she is sharing what she recalls of her relationship with Tullian Tchividjian. She is sharing her facts, opinions, and what she believes to be true. Tullian is… Continue reading Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 5

Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Mental Health and the Church, Narcissistic Pastors, Personal Stories, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SURVIVOR STORIES, Tullian Tchividjian, Women and the Church

Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 1

Tullian Tchividjian, Personal Survivor Story, Clergy Sex Abuse LINKS: My Story:  Part #1.  Part #2.  Part #3.  Part #4.  Part #5. *     *     *     *     *     *     * An Introduction, from Julie Anne Smith and Brad Sargent Several of those who have alleged victimization by Tullian Tchividjian have contacted me (Julie Anne) over the past… Continue reading Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 1

Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Mental Health and the Church, Narcissistic Pastors, Personal Stories, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SURVIVOR STORIES, Tullian Tchividjian, Women and the Church

Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 2

Tullian Tchividjian, Personal Survivor Story, Clergy Sex Abuse LINKS: My Story:  Part #1.  Part #2.  Part #3.  Part #4.  Part #5. Editors' note: This is Part 2, a continuation of Rachel's story which began here. The remaining parts of the series will be posted soon. Edited to add 11/30/16: This is Rachel's story, and she… Continue reading Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 2

Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Mental Health and the Church, Narcissistic Pastors, Personal Stories, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SURVIVOR STORIES, Tullian Tchividjian, Women and the Church

Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 3

Tullian Tchividjian, Personal Survivor Story, Clergy Sex Abuse LINKS: My Story:  Part #1.  Part #2.  Part #3.  Part #4.  Part #5. Editors' Note: This is Rachel’s story, and she is sharing what she recalls of her relationship with Tullian Tchividjian. She is sharing her facts, opinions, and what she believes to be true. Tullian is… Continue reading Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 3

Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Mental Health and the Church, Narcissistic Pastors, Personal Stories, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SURVIVOR STORIES, Tullian Tchividjian, Women and the Church

Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 4

Tullian Tchividjian, Personal Survivor Story, Clergy Sex Abuse LINKS: My Story: Part #1.  Part #2.  Part #3.  Part #4.  Part #5. Editors' Note: This is Rachel’s story, and she is sharing what she recalls of her relationship with Tullian Tchividjian. She is sharing her facts, opinions, and what she believes to be true. Tullian is… Continue reading Survivor of Tullian Tchividjian’s Alleged Clergy Sexual Abuse Goes Public with Her Story – Part 4

Authoritative Preaching, Emotional Responses, Leaving the Church, Personal Stories, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies, Stories of Hope

A Father Shares the Fallout His Family is Facing after Being in a High-Controlling Church

Spiritual abuse, children, mental health, high-controlling church, NAR, New Apostolic Reformation *** Special note:  I am in Chicago until 11/5 and would love to get together with survivors or those interested in helping survivors. If you would like to meet up, please contact me and let's see if we can arrange a gathering.  spiritualsb@gmail.com  … Continue reading A Father Shares the Fallout His Family is Facing after Being in a High-Controlling Church

Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Learn to Discern, Narcissistic Pastors, Suicide, Troubling Tweets, Tullian Tchividjian

Ex-Pastor Tullian Tchividjian Speaks Out at Website for Ex-Pastors

Tullian Tchividjian article at ExPastors.com, clergy sex abuse, suicide, repentance, restoration *** Only one month after Tullian Tchividjian remarried, he has publicly released a new article at a site for former pastors, ExPastors.com. In the article, The Freedom in Losing it All, Tchividjian shares lessons he has learned about himself since his sexual scandal. https://twitter.com/expastors/status/780769275065856002   The following… Continue reading Ex-Pastor Tullian Tchividjian Speaks Out at Website for Ex-Pastors

Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Authoritative Preaching, Beaverton Grace Bible Church, Chuck O'Neal, Dictators, Doctrine as Idol, Doug Wilson, Grace Community Church, Harvest Bible Chapel, James MacDonald, John MacArthur, Julie Anne's Personal Stories, Leaving the Church, Legalism, Recovery Process, Shunning, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Bullies

Help! My Family Member or Close Friend is Trapped in a High-Controlling Church or Cult. How Can I Encourage Them to Leave?

How to help a family member or friend leave a high-controlling church group or cult: spiritual abuse, trapped, thought reform, mind control, freedom   “Mind control is the process by which individual or collective freedom of choice and action is compromised by agents or agencies that modify or distort perception, motivation, affect, cognition and/or behavioral… Continue reading Help! My Family Member or Close Friend is Trapped in a High-Controlling Church or Cult. How Can I Encourage Them to Leave?

Domestic Violence, Mental Health and the Church, Safe Churches, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Women and the Church

Would your church be able to help someone in the midst of a crisis? How equipped are they?

***   Before we get into today's article, we've passed an important milestone here. Today, I noticed in my Facebook's "On This Day" feature, that it is the 4th year anniversary date of the judge's decision on the defamation lawsuit brought on by my former pastor, Chuck O'Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church (BGBC) vs.… Continue reading Would your church be able to help someone in the midst of a crisis? How equipped are they?

ABUSE RECOVERY PROCESS-PROBLEMS, Christian Love, Compassion in Action, Emotional Responses, Leaving the Church, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Bullies

The Gift of Standing in the Trenches with a Survivor

  https://youtu.be/UIt3dx4an9c   *** “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.” ― David Augsburger The other day, a spiritual abuse survivor and friend I met last year in Moscow, Idaho, posted the following quote by Dr. Diane Langberg on her Facebook wall. Please read it… Continue reading The Gift of Standing in the Trenches with a Survivor

Leaving the Church, Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SPIRITUAL ABUSE RECOVERY

If Being Hurt by the Church Causes You to Lose Faith in God . . .

  This meme was posted on Facebook. For those who have been harmed by church leaders/people, what does this message say to you?  I'd love to read your first impressions of this meme.   https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1030079060400810&set=a.657459694329417.1073741837.100001961781470&type=3    

Emotional Responses, Leaving the Church, Personal Stories, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority

Personal Story: Feeling Stuck after Spiritual Abuse

*** Mark is new to the blog and left a comment on another post yesterday and I have decided to make it into its own post so we can focus on these issues. Maybe some of you have experienced some of what he is going through and can share how you dealt with these issues.… Continue reading Personal Story: Feeling Stuck after Spiritual Abuse

Clergy Sex Abuse, Divorce, It's All About the Image, Leaving the Church, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Narcissistic Pastors, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Bullies, Tullian Tchividjian

Tullian Tchividjian and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Discussion: “He demanded that people be loyal to him.”

Pastor Tullian Tchividjian, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Willow Creek, Liberate Network, Clergy Sex Abuse, Spiritual Abuse, Repentance, Grace     Hey friends (and welcome to new readers), I am going to do something a little bit different. I suspect many are chomping at the bit to discuss the situation regarding Tullian Tchividjian, so I am… Continue reading Tullian Tchividjian and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Discussion: “He demanded that people be loyal to him.”

Doctrine as Idol, Leaving the Church, Spiritual Abuse

New commenter: having difficulty with religious “systems” and wants advice

*** A first-time commenter left a great comment that I'd like to open up for discussion: Hi everyone This is my first time posting on this site and I apologize in advance for its being off topic. I could use some help from some of you who have been through what I’m going through right… Continue reading New commenter: having difficulty with religious “systems” and wants advice

Christian Marriage, Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence and Churches, Mental Health and the Church, Narcissistic Pastors, Saeed Abedini, Women and the Church

Pastor Saeed Abedini Unwilling to Seek Abuse Counseling

Naghmeh Abedini, statement, Pastor Saeed Abedini, Domestic Violence, Counseling   A short while ago, Naghmeh released a public statement on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NaghmehAbedini/posts/10153907080785767 IMPORTANT UPDATE: Dearest friends and prayer warriors, Many of you have been concerned about and have asked about updates on Saeed and our situation. At this point Saeed has not been… Continue reading Pastor Saeed Abedini Unwilling to Seek Abuse Counseling

Biblical Counseling, Mental Health and the Church, Suicide, Troubling Tweets

Troubling Tweets: Biblical Counseling to Treat Schizophrenia, Bulimia, Depression, ADHD?

Mental Health, Biblical Counseling, Geoffrey Kirkland, Addictions, Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar, Bulimia, ADHD   This evening, I tweeted the following: https://twitter.com/DefendTheSheep/status/702398385924546560 After seeing this tweet: https://twitter.com/GeoffKirkland/status/701831415583928323 Who is Geoffrey Kirkland? From Geoffrey Kirkland's bio: Geoff grew up in St. Louis and then moved to LA to go to the Master's College. God saved Geoff in 2001. Geoff… Continue reading Troubling Tweets: Biblical Counseling to Treat Schizophrenia, Bulimia, Depression, ADHD?

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Bill Gothard, Failure to Report Crimes, IBLP and ATI, Mandatory Reporting, Mental Health and the Church, Modesty and Purity Teachings, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Statute of Limitations

Bill Gothard Added to Lawsuit; Victims Alleging Sex Abuse and Rape

Bill Gothard, Institutes in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Lawsuit, Sex Abuse, Rape, Sexual Grooming     Many of you are probably aware of the recent amendments to the sexual abuse lawsuit against Institutes in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), the group being sued by women who are claiming that Bill Gothard sexually abused and groomed them.… Continue reading Bill Gothard Added to Lawsuit; Victims Alleging Sex Abuse and Rape

Christian Marriage, Divorce, Domestic Violence and Churches, Leaving the Church, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Spiritual Abuse, Women and the Church

Personal Story: Bruised with No Visible Marks

Domestic Violence without Bruising: Emotional, Spiritual, Verbal Abuse Emotionally battered wives can live in turmoil for years. Many times they are not believed. They are told it is not real abuse like physical abuse. Some pastors do not believe any kind of abuse is justification for divorce. Instead, wives are sometimes counseled to love better, submit… Continue reading Personal Story: Bruised with No Visible Marks

ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH, Bill Gothard, Failure to Report Crimes, IBLP and ATI, LAWSUITS, Mental Health and the Church, Modesty and Purity Teachings, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches, Spiritual Abuse, Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Bullies, Women and the Church

While the Board of Bill Gothard’s Former Ministry, IBLP, Claims Judge Dismissed Lawsuit, Attorney for Plaintiffs Says Four New Plaintiffs Have Come Forward

Bill Gothard, Sexual Grooming, Lawsuit, IBLP Board, 4 New Plaintiffs, Lawsuit Not Dismissed   It's been a while since we've had an update on the lawsuit brought on by former volunteers/workers at Bill Gothard's former ministry who were allegedly sexually groomed by Bill Gothard. In November, Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) published a statement regarding the lawsuit… Continue reading While the Board of Bill Gothard’s Former Ministry, IBLP, Claims Judge Dismissed Lawsuit, Attorney for Plaintiffs Says Four New Plaintiffs Have Come Forward

ABUSE RECOVERY PROCESS-PROBLEMS, Abuse Systems and Transformation Tools, Leaving the Church, Marriages Damaged-Destroyed by Sp. Ab., Recovery Process, Spiritual Abuse, SPIRITUAL ABUSE RECOVERY, Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Bullies

Four Primary Conditions that Result in People Leaving Abusive Churches and Cults

Spiritual Abuse: Leaving Abusive Cults and High-Controlling Churches   I have been very moved by many of your stories of abuse in the recent article, Spiritual Abuse: What Was the Last Straw That Caused You to Leave Your Abusive Church? Spiritual abuse is obviously not isolated. It's happening all over and crosses denominational lines. Several people have said… Continue reading Four Primary Conditions that Result in People Leaving Abusive Churches and Cults