Photo: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay By Jonathan Grisham I woke up this morning in a panic. I had another dream reminiscent of the cult I left so many years ago. It’s been so long, why does this still bother me? I’m sure if you have left a cult- like church, this feeling resonates asContinueContinue reading “Surviving Religious Abuse Led Me to Advocacy”
Category Archives: Survivor Stories
What child labor taught me to believe about myself
Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Mary Nikkel’s Substack. It was originally published on June 12, 2025. By Mary Nikkel I was trudging through a slurry of chemicals, holding a metal rod with a razor blade attached to the end, when my 11-year-old legs gave out. I slipped, landing on hands and knees in theContinueContinue reading “What child labor taught me to believe about myself”
Ableism in the Church: Part Two
Photo: Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay By Rebekah Palmer Content note: mention of child sexual abuse I’m left in my bottom bunk in my dorm room in tears and panicked breathing, again. Curled up as small as I can make myself under the covers, I feel ashamed because I need more medical care and accessContinueContinue reading “Ableism in the Church: Part Two”
Growing up fundamentalist and queer
By Eleanor Skelton When part of your identity is considered to be a sin, it’s easy to ignore how deeply it shapes who you are. I’m bisexual and non-binary. This means that I experience attraction to people who identify as male or female or neither. It also means that I don’t particularly feel like aContinueContinue reading “Growing up fundamentalist and queer”
Stop, Drop, and Heal
Photo: Image by misterfarmer from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Karl Forehand’s blog. It was originally published on January 22, 2024. By Karl Forehand Seven or eight years ago, we began what most people call deconstruction. Laura was silent about it because I was a pastor, and she did not want to interfereContinueContinue reading “Stop, Drop, and Heal”
The Most Important Insight I Gained after Deconstructing
Photo: Image by Felix from Pixabay By Celestine Alderwood Upon leaving a lengthy, highly conservative relationship with my children in tow, I began rethinking my beliefs. This was only possible after we found safety and freedom. I remember feeling grateful to the higher power we were taught to believe in. Still, a flood of emotionsContinueContinue reading “The Most Important Insight I Gained after Deconstructing”
Blue Christmas: Breaking generational abuse patterns during the holidays
Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Amber Schultz’s blog. It was originally published on December 25, 2022. By Amber Schultz It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least that is what we are told. I remember very few Christmases. Ones I remember are not the best times.ContinueContinue reading “Blue Christmas: Breaking generational abuse patterns during the holidays”
Sorry Paul, My Body Belongs to No One
Photo: Image by Vlad Aivazovsky from Pixabay Content note: marital r*pe, coercion, assault By Amber Schultz “Ladies! Remember, when you get married — your body is now your husband’s to do with and honor as he will.” “I am so thankful that the pastor sheltered and protected his daughter’s mind and purity. When we married,ContinueContinue reading “Sorry Paul, My Body Belongs to No One”
You Can Move On
Photo: Image by Couleur from Pixabay. By Melissa Neeb In response to those who tell you that you should stay at your church even when church people hurt you because “You are there for God, not people,” or that “Every church is full of sinners,” you could respond by saying… Nothing. Noth-ing. You don’t oweContinueContinue reading “You Can Move On”
I found true peace walking away from the church
By Lydia Joy Launderville What is peace? If you asked me as a fundamentalist, I would have answered “a peace of that passeth all understanding,” which because it was far beyond understanding, I never truly did, well, actually, understand it. I never felt peace in abuse. I never had piece of mind either. I justContinueContinue reading “I found true peace walking away from the church”
The Vashti Initiative 