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”
Tag Archives: religious abuse
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”
Statement on Duluth Vineyard’s response to sexual abuse
By Vashti Initiative Staff While we are saddened to learn of another case of abuse in a religious setting, we applaud Duluth Vineyard for their swift and appropriate response. It is always difficult to hear allegations from within your own community, but the protection of victims and prevention of further harm should be of utmostContinueContinue reading “Statement on Duluth Vineyard’s response to sexual abuse”
Statement on the “Let Us Prey” documentary covering abuse in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement
By Vashti Initiative Staff The Vashti Initiative wants to announce that we are offering support for anyone who is processing their experiences in light of Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, a new two-part documentary from Investigation Discovery that aired Nov. 25 and 26, and is now available on various streaming platforms. “Let UsContinueContinue reading “Statement on the “Let Us Prey” documentary covering abuse in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement”
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”
What Purity Culture Didn’t Teach Me
Photo: Image by Heiko Stein from Pixabay By Eric Skwarczynski I know what you’re thinking… “Oh great, another guy offering his unsolicited takes on purity culture. Just what the world needs.” You’re probably not off-base for feeling like that. The staggering amount of opinions swirling around the internet right now in the wake of theContinueContinue reading “What Purity Culture Didn’t Teach Me”
Too Many Tulips
Photo: Image by Pexels from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Ida’s blog. It was originally published on June 30, 2023. By Ida Growing up, I was introduced to Calvinism. A theological belief system within Christianity, Calvinism was founded by John Calvin, a Protestant Reformer. Calvin’s teachings can be summed up in theContinueContinue reading “Too Many Tulips”
They Told Me I Would Never Be Happy. They Lied.
Photo: Image by phfilipposarci from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Laura Launderville’s blog. It was originally published on July 31, 2023. By Laura Launderville I recently attended a workshop that the nonprofit that I volunteer with hosted. It was a writing workshop and I had never done one before. So I didn’tContinueContinue reading “They Told Me I Would Never Be Happy. They Lied.”
It’s Not Fair: Living with Chronic Illness
Photo: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Laura Launderville’s blog. It was originally published on June 25, 2023. By Laura Launderville One of the things I feel that has helped me with my own battle with facial pain is helping others. I volunteer with a nonprofit that supports patientsContinueContinue reading “It’s Not Fair: Living with Chronic Illness”
How churches use DARVO to condemn LGBTQ people to hell without explicitly saying it
Photo: Image by Christel from Pixabay Content note: homophobia, religious and spiritual abuse By Elora Dodd As homophobia falls out of vogue in the wider culture, Christians may find themselves scrambling to preserve their sense of self as the “Light of the World,” while still condemning the more-than-ever-accepted “homosexuals.” While I was still embroiled inContinueContinue reading “How churches use DARVO to condemn LGBTQ people to hell without explicitly saying it”
The Vashti Initiative 