** Two years of blogging, two years of growth, hope for those hurt by church abuse ** ** In Joel, God talks about restoring what the locusts had eaten. Today marks exactly two years since I began blogging. As I reflect on the 2-year anniversary date of my initial blog and begin my 3rd year of… Continue reading Restoring What the Locust Has Eaten: Two Years of Blogging Milestone Today and Gratefulness
Category: SURVIVOR STORIES
Financial Ramifications of Abuse: What’s a Church to Do?
* * * Survivors of abuse have to climb many mountains. The first mountain is acknowledging the fact that they are being abused. Then they have to decide what to do. They are left emotionally reeling and yet, have to survive, take care of their children, put food on the table,… Continue reading Financial Ramifications of Abuse: What’s a Church to Do?
Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
* * * The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6 I have never, ever connected so deeply with someone else's spiritual experience as I have recently with reader, Oasis. The tears . . . . oh, the tears. This deep, gut-wrenching, sobbing pain is… Continue reading Why Does Calvin’s God Feel Abusive to Me? I Didn’t Choose This!
Spiritual Sounding Board: Sound Off
* * * He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. Psalm 18:33 * * * * * * I just watched this and experienced mixed emotions throughout this short video. I don't want… Continue reading Spiritual Sounding Board: Sound Off
Adult Children Shunned by Homeschool Parents: Selah’s Story
* * * We recently discussed the challenges that some former homeschool students face when they leave their home. This story is quite different from the last story, but it, too, deals with painful and strained relationships with fundamental Christian parents who were influenced by the subculture of the Homeschool Movement.… Continue reading Adult Children Shunned by Homeschool Parents: Selah’s Story
What Do Victims of Natural Disasters Need? A Survivor Shares
* * * Jesus wept. John 11:35 Yesterday, I got ten times mores hits on my blog than usual - all because of someone's tweet - - someone who should know better - but who said something so shocking that people came to see the tweet for themselves (the tweet had… Continue reading What Do Victims of Natural Disasters Need? A Survivor Shares
Being Married to a Pedophile: A Wife Speaks Out and Offers Hope to Other Wives of Pedophiles
* * * Letter from the wife of a pedophile explaining why she stayed and how she finally got out. Encouragement for other wives of child molesters. * * * Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself,… Continue reading Being Married to a Pedophile: A Wife Speaks Out and Offers Hope to Other Wives of Pedophiles
Motherhood and Failure
* * * I read a really good article this morning and it is timely for Mother's Day tomorrow. Are Women Really Saved through Childbearing? During the anguished time when a woman from my church was trying to conceive, she asked for prayer from a Christian coworker. "She flat out… Continue reading Motherhood and Failure
Drew Marshall Show Interview
* * * I had been asked to post the link to the interview I did a couple Saturdays ago, on Canada's #1 Christian talk show, The Drew Marshall Show. Click on the SoundCloud clip (orange play button) at the bottom of the screen to hear the interview or listen direction from… Continue reading Drew Marshall Show Interview
Live Interview on Drew Marshall Show This Saturday and Update
* * * I am a little bit excited about an upcoming interview on the Drew Marshall Show tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 2PM ET. Evidently, the Drew Marshall Show is the most listened to Christian talk show in Canada. Is that right, eh? Feel free to tune in. It sounds… Continue reading Live Interview on Drew Marshall Show This Saturday and Update
Crushed in Spirit
* * * I am really struggling emotionally and spiritually - stuff related to the effects of abuse, including spiritual abuse in my personal life. It is messing with my head and wreaking havoc on me right now. All I can do is cry, and cry, and cry out to God.… Continue reading Crushed in Spirit
We Need Safe Places, Or, Overturning Tables
* * * 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
Spiritual Abuse: Jamie’s Story
* * * Jamie posted this comment on another post, but I was afraid that people might not see it and be able to respond. Do you have any words of comfort or advice to share with Jamie? You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Jamie’s Story
Faith Tabernacle Church: A Pastor Speaks out about Spiritual Abuse
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *… Continue reading Faith Tabernacle Church: A Pastor Speaks out about Spiritual Abuse
The Culture of Abuse in Churches Similar to Sovereign Grace Ministries
* * * * * * * * * * He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does… Continue reading The Culture of Abuse in Churches Similar to Sovereign Grace Ministries
Calvary Chapel Visalia Personal Story: Tina’s Story
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Calvary Chapel is a "franchise" of churches with over 1,500 churches founded by Pastor Chuck Smith. There is no hierarchy structure in place to hold pastors accountable if they behave like bullies or abuse their authority.… Continue reading Calvary Chapel Visalia Personal Story: Tina’s Story
Spiritual Abuse: A Personal Story
* * * “You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.” Corrie Ten Boom The following is a personal spiritual abuse story I am posting during January’s Spiritual Awareness Month. I’ve said it before, but after the media… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: A Personal Story
Julie Anne: Uncovering the Abuse I Enabled
My teenage daughter went to a winter retreat a few weeks ago and this picture was taken from the church van by the youth pastor’s wife. The snow is pretty evident in the picture, but directly ahead down the road is a valley, but you cannot see the valley because the clouds are covering it.… Continue reading Julie Anne: Uncovering the Abuse I Enabled
Spiritual Abuse Recovery: Caleigh’s Story, “Cross Obsession”
This is Spiritual Abuse Awareness month and I wanted to share a story by Caleigh, a friend and blogger at The Profligate Truth who attended a church from CJ Mahaney's family of churches, Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM). Her church was Covenant Life Church (CLC) in Maryland which recently voted to sever ties with SGM amidst a current… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse Recovery: Caleigh’s Story, “Cross Obsession”
Spiritual Abuse: Pastor Uses Shame and Humiliation to Elicit Tithes
Tithing has not been a topic that I've discussed and to be honest, I really haven't researched it much in the past, but here are some links I found very quickly (and I don't know anything about them): The Truth about Tithing Tithing: The Great False Doctrine The Tithing Debate It is a topic… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Pastor Uses Shame and Humiliation to Elicit Tithes
Spiritual Sounding Board 