Discussing and thinking about spiritual abuse is heavy. This wonderful video got me out of the funk this morning. My youngest boys loved it. It's only 45 seconds of pure sweetness and well worth the time investment. Enjoy!
Spiritual Abuse: Friends Left Behind and Moving Forward
There were people who warned me that my former church was not a healthy place. They were concerned by what they heard when they listened to recorded sermons. They were alarmed when they visited the church. One friend had gone to a high school graduation ceremony for a few homeschool graduates. The pastor spoke and… Continue reading Spiritual Abuse: Friends Left Behind and Moving Forward
Warning Issued for Eagle Heights Community Church Members
**Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.(Ephesians 5:11 ESV)Â I recently posted two articles by Eric and Raymond Ernst. Â Here is Eric's story: Â Personal Story of Spiritual Abuse by Eric . Raymond told his heart-wrenching story of the break up of his precious marriage. Â In that story, he chose… Continue reading Warning Issued for Eagle Heights Community Church Members
Down to the River to Pray
JA dangling her feet from the boat dock near home. I went for a walk with two of my boys by the river near our home and this song came to mind. I don't know why I haven't done devotions by the river. The path to the river is only two short blocks away from… Continue reading Down to the River to Pray
Who Will Pay for the Defamation Lawsuit Against Former Members?
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.(Proverbs 25:28 ESV)My attorney sent me a copy of the court documents submitted for fees. I expected the fees to be a little higher, but they are still a big chunk of change.Here is the top portion of the document:Many people have… Continue reading Who Will Pay for the Defamation Lawsuit Against Former Members?
The Working Sheepdog in Training
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.(Psalm 23:1-3 ESV)One of the most rewarding benefits of having a blog is the interaction with readers behind… Continue reading The Working Sheepdog in Training
Pastors Who Plagiarize
“You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15 Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work,[1][2] but the notion remains problematic with nebulous boundaries.I woke up early this morning thinking about the comments yesterday regarding pastors who… Continue reading Pastors Who Plagiarize
I Like the Red Sox and I Like Your Hat
"If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but… Continue reading I Like the Red Sox and I Like Your Hat
How Did Pastor Edwin Young Treat Women?
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10Ok ladies and gentlemen, I found another video at SpiritualAbuse.org. It was very difficult to listen to the first videos I posted earlier. Here is another recording from Pastor Edwin Young abruptly resigned from Faith Tabernacle in Junction City, Kansas a short… Continue reading How Did Pastor Edwin Young Treat Women?
Lessons on How to Truly Love
A former church member sent me a note about this song and expressed how much it meant: "I was thinking how much this song really mirrors our story. It made me cry when I watched the video on YouTube. We are happy and blessed to be free from lofty people and lofty judgments. May we… Continue reading Lessons on How to Truly Love
Chuck O’Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church Issues Press Release
Sheep-Dog, a regular reader here, wanted to see the original press release from our former pastor. Â The link to the original "press release" is no longer working at The Wartburg Watch and the document was apparently removed from the BGBC website. Â A reader sent O'Neal an e-mail and this press release was included in O'Neal's… Continue reading Chuck O’Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church Issues Press Release
Personal Story of Spiritual Abuse by Eric
"Spiritual abuse is not God’s will for your life!"  "We thought we were the problem, for so long. We cowered in fear, shame and confusion, for so long. YOU ARE NOT ALONE." A public note to Eric from Julie Anne:  Eric, A lot of people won't like what they are reading from you.  They… Continue reading Personal Story of Spiritual Abuse by Eric
Buh-Bye Pastor Edwin Young
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 I think there was a reason why our Wednesday evening services were not taped. The truth would have been undeniably exposed. Instead, we are left to deal with people like FB who say our problem is that we have an issue of… Continue reading Buh-Bye Pastor Edwin Young
The Pressure to Serve in a Controlling Church
* Â Â * Â Â * A common trait of a controlling church is that you may be kept so busy, there is little time for anything outside of church. Â I'm going to use SQ's comment below to springboard two posts. Â This first post will discuss the pressure to serve. Â The second will… Continue reading The Pressure to Serve in a Controlling Church
Need Help with New Blog Name
You may have noticed that I changed the name of the blog to BGBC Survivors. Previously, I spelled out the name of my former church and added Survivors with it. You also may have noticed that I write "former church" and "former pastor" an awful lot. I am purposefully not naming names. I'm ready… Continue reading Need Help with New Blog Name
Bloggers Who Expose Spiritual Darkness and Wickedness
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 On the 24th, this blog will be six months old. Typically what you read is what I've had stewing in my head for perhaps days.… Continue reading Bloggers Who Expose Spiritual Darkness and Wickedness
New Milestone and News Article
 Wow - a milestone - over 200,000 blog hits.  That's awesome and sad at the same time.  It's always sad that there is a need for this kind of blog, but it's great that people are reading and hopefully learning, praying, and spreading the word about this real issue happening in so many churches.… Continue reading New Milestone and News Article
You Will Never Listen to This Song the Same Way Again – New Official Pastor Stalking Song
I lifted this idea from the Church Folk Revolution radio show, Every Breath You Take - STALKING PASTORS. I am now hereby making this song the official song on the blog for stalking pastors. Oh yea. It completely fits. I will never listen to the song the same way again.Oh can't you see . . .… Continue reading You Will Never Listen to This Song the Same Way Again – New Official Pastor Stalking Song
Too Crazy for Words
Ok, Monax's "interesting" comment today reminded me of this video I saw earlier this week that about sent me through the roof.This may be old news for some, but just in case. . . . Jack Schaap, former pastor of mega-church First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana was recently fired for "committing a sin". Some… Continue reading Too Crazy for Words
How Can Spiritual Abuse or a Controlling Pastor Destroy a Marriage?
I've been having discussions about how spiritual abuse affects marriages. The abuse can occur in a somewhat direct fashion (such as Paul's story) or indirectly. When I did a quick Google search on spiritual abuse and divorce, there was very little on the topic. Yet since publishing Paul's story, I've had more people send their… Continue reading How Can Spiritual Abuse or a Controlling Pastor Destroy a Marriage?
Spiritual Sounding Board 