*** The Duggar family released a statement regarding their TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting: Today, TLC announced that they will not be filming new episodes of 19 Kids and Counting. Years ago, when we were asked to film our first one hour documentary about the logistics of raising 14 children, we felt that it… Continue reading The Duggar Family Releases Statement Regarding Their Show, 19 Kids and Counting
Category: ABUSE & VIOLENCE IN THE CHURCH
Piper’s New Glasses and Seeing Clearly after Wearing Distorted Lenses of Spiritual Abuse
*** Seeing Clearly Again after Spiritual Abuse *** Have you seen this video which has been spreading around? It is the cutest thing ever and shows a precious baby, Piper, who does not want her mama to put on her new glasses. But after she gets her new glasses on, Piper's face lights up as she hears… Continue reading Piper’s New Glasses and Seeing Clearly after Wearing Distorted Lenses of Spiritual Abuse
A Closer Look at Ethical Issues Involving First Christian Church of Florissant and the Counseling They are Offering to Sex Abuse Victims
*** Pastor Steve Wingfield and First Christian Church of Florissant offer counseling to Brandon Milburn's sex abuse victims, but are there ethical issues involved? *** There is a large group of people, some current and some former members of First Christian Church of Florissant (FCCF), who have been very disappointed in how Pastor Steve Wingfield and church… Continue reading A Closer Look at Ethical Issues Involving First Christian Church of Florissant and the Counseling They are Offering to Sex Abuse Victims
There is a Pedophile in My Family: The Tools I Gave My Children to Protect Them from Harm
*** Tools to Help Protect Children from Pedophiles and Sex Abuse *** After reading, A Betrayal at Home, an article on incest and child sex abuse, I became angry - angry about trusted individuals who should have been loving and protecting precious children, but instead silenced and victimized children by abusing them sexually, sometimes destroying their lives emotionally… Continue reading There is a Pedophile in My Family: The Tools I Gave My Children to Protect Them from Harm
NonFamily Sex Abuse Victim Expected to File Civil Lawsuit against Josh Duggar
*** Josh Duggar's (nonfamily) sex abuse victim intends to file lawsuit against him. *** Recent news reports claim that Josh Duggar, son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who was reported to have sexually abused five children as a young teen, will be facing a civil lawsuit filed by the non-related victim. It should be noted… Continue reading NonFamily Sex Abuse Victim Expected to File Civil Lawsuit against Josh Duggar
Former Youth Pastor Responds to Open Letter from Church Leaders Who Mishandled and Failed to Report Child Sex Abuse
*** Open Letter from Pastor Steve Wingfield and Elders of First Christian Church of Florissant and Response from Former Youth Pastor *** Earlier this month, I shared a portion of a disturbing story about First Christian Church of Florissant (FCCF) and their pastor, Steve Wingfield. I found this case especially intriguing because of the similarities with my own… Continue reading Former Youth Pastor Responds to Open Letter from Church Leaders Who Mishandled and Failed to Report Child Sex Abuse
Emerson Eggerichs Says Wives Respect Husbands Unconditionally
*** Should women respect their husbands unconditionally? Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love and Respect, says so. *** *** I follow the Love and Respect guy, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs in my Facebook news feed. (I'm issuing a trigger warning for one of our own who went to his church.) He now has an… Continue reading Emerson Eggerichs Says Wives Respect Husbands Unconditionally
Pastor David McGee Publicly Names and Excommunicates Four Church Members via His Facebook Page
*** Pastor David McGee of The Bridge Church publicly excommunicated or disfellowshipped four members via his Facebook page. *** *** On Thursday, Pastor David McGee of The Bridge Fellowship in Kernersville, North Carolina, posted a comment on his Facebook account publicly naming and "disfollowshipping" four church members. I repeat - this was done PUBLICLY on… Continue reading Pastor David McGee Publicly Names and Excommunicates Four Church Members via His Facebook Page
Do you feel guilty because of pressure and high expectations from church leaders? You are not alone!
*** High-pressure church leaders, mandatory church attendance and guilt *** "Longtime Lurker" broke her silence a while back and shared her personal high-controlling church experience. I copied her comment for this post because I think her experience is representative of what others have gone through, and I can relate with a lot of what she… Continue reading Do you feel guilty because of pressure and high expectations from church leaders? You are not alone!
Church Leaders Who Revictimize Abuse Victims and Theology That Harms Both Victims and Perpetrators
*** Church leaders revictimize abuse victims when they fail to respond appropriately to abuse. Theology can be used to minimize the sin of perpetrators and sometimes blames abuse victims. *** *** I've been following the story of Pastor Steve Wingfield at First Christian Church of Florissant and was notified that the largest paper in St.… Continue reading Church Leaders Who Revictimize Abuse Victims and Theology That Harms Both Victims and Perpetrators
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are Still Scheduled to Speak at ATI & IBLP Conferences which Promote Bill Gothard’s Teaching Materials
*** Bill Gothard, ATI, IBLP, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, Homeschool Curricula *** The Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar family has been a long-time supporter and promoter of Bill Gothard's ATI homeschool program and foundational program at Institute in Basic Life Principles. Bill Gothard resigned from the Institute in Basic Life Principles in the Spring of 2014.… Continue reading Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are Still Scheduled to Speak at ATI & IBLP Conferences which Promote Bill Gothard’s Teaching Materials
Kevin Swanson talks (or doesn’t talk) about the Duggars on his radio show
*** Kevin Swanson, Generations With Vision Radio, Josh Duggar, Incest, Christian Home Educators of Colorado *** -by Kathi On May 28, 2015, Kevin Swanson entered the foray of folks talking about the revelation of Josh Duggar sexually molesting several little girls when he was a teen. His radio show, "The Duggars - Why the Media… Continue reading Kevin Swanson talks (or doesn’t talk) about the Duggars on his radio show
My Personal Mental Health Story: When Christians Say Potentially Harmful Words to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis
*** Mental Health, prayer, Bible, professional counseling, harmful advice *** A friend found this quote and was very disturbed by it. When I saw it, I was equally disturbed...no, make that horrified, because it brought me back to a very difficult time in my life when it was said to me by well-meaning Christians: *** ***… Continue reading My Personal Mental Health Story: When Christians Say Potentially Harmful Words to Someone in a Mental Health Crisis
Victim of Bill Gothard’s Teachings Speaks out about Josh Duggar Scandal, Mike Huckabee: Bill Gothard’s Dangerous Agenda and Influence in Political Arena and Society at Large
*** Bill Gothard, Mike Huckabee, Sex Abuse Coverup, Political and Social Influence, and an Agenda *** *** Some may remember Dash's (pseudonym) personal story I posted a while back. Dash was raised with parents who adhered to Bill Gothard's teachings and suffered severe emotional, physical, and spiritual abuse. I covered his story in two articles: Man… Continue reading Victim of Bill Gothard’s Teachings Speaks out about Josh Duggar Scandal, Mike Huckabee: Bill Gothard’s Dangerous Agenda and Influence in Political Arena and Society at Large
How I Would Have Responded as a Parent to the Josh Duggar Sexual Abuse Scenario
*** This past week has been a whirlwind with the Josh Duggar sex abuse allegations from 12 years that recently surfaced. Josh Duggar is the eldest child of Patriarchical family and model ATI (Bill Gothard's homeschool curricula) family. Josh Duggar and his family star in the popular reality show on TLC, 19 Kids and Counting. As this… Continue reading How I Would Have Responded as a Parent to the Josh Duggar Sexual Abuse Scenario
Ex-Wife of Pedophile Speaks out about The Village Church and Josh Duggar Sex Scandals
*** Ex-Wife of a pedophile shares from her heart about mishandling of sex abuse cases at The Village Church and Josh Duggar *** My friend, Brenda, is the ex-wife of a pedophile. With the recent events of Karen Hinkley, who is now in church discipline at The Village Church because she annulled her marriage without… Continue reading Ex-Wife of Pedophile Speaks out about The Village Church and Josh Duggar Sex Scandals
Insidious Behavior at The Village Church Regarding a Pedophile and His Former Wife
*** Horrific story of spiritual abuse, mishandling of sex abuse, church membership, Matt Chandler, The Village Church, Jordan Root, pedophile, child pornography *** I woke up late this morning and checked my Twitter feed to find that many of my Twitter friends were shocked and appalled at the treatment of Karen Hinkley (formerly Karen Root)… Continue reading Insidious Behavior at The Village Church Regarding a Pedophile and His Former Wife
Spiritual Abuse: What Motivates Abusers? Fear?
*** What motivates those who spiritually abuse? Is it fear? I recently read this quote by John Steinbeck and was thinking about it in the context of spiritual abuse and those who use their position of authority to control and abuse church members. *** *** What do you think? Is it fear that is motivating spiritual tyrants… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: What Motivates Abusers? Fear?
Mark Driscoll, Dan Kellogg and Gold Creek Community Church’s Rap
Gold Creek Community Church, Pastor Dan Kellogg, Mark Driscoll and church rap and twerk video *** Twerking *** Why would a pastor invite someone he didn't even know personally - someone with a bad public reputation as an abuser - to come and speak to his church? It's all becoming crystal clear about Gold Creek… Continue reading Mark Driscoll, Dan Kellogg and Gold Creek Community Church’s Rap
Pastor Mark Driscoll Preaches at Pastor Dan Kellogg’s Gold Creek Community Church
Mark Driscoll preaches while former Mars Hill Members protest outside of Pastor Dan Kellogg's Gold Creek Community Church *** Pastor Dan Kellogg of Gold Creek Community Church invited Pastor Mark Driscoll, former pastor of Mars Hill churches, to preach at his Seattle-area church yesterday. There was also a protest outside during the service by about… Continue reading Pastor Mark Driscoll Preaches at Pastor Dan Kellogg’s Gold Creek Community Church