Fearless to Follow

Q:  Were you the only one who believed that what had occurred necessitated Biblical correction and repentance?

A: No. Even after nearly a year into this ordeal, at least one church board member considered the lack of accountability a damaging attempt to conceal what had been done to our church body. I reached out to this board member regarding the fall out and recent exposure of years long cover-up culture that occurred at Bethel Church in Redding California, which had just come to light late January 2026. Bethel’s leaders acknowledged that their inaction had hurt people: “The truth is, we have hurt and scared people because we did not tell the truth enough, early enough, long enough, or loud enough, and this is a just criticism. Our hearts are grieved, and embarrassed. When we sin or mess up publicly as we have, it’s important to take responsibility publicly, to listen as people share their frustration, sadness, fears, and corrections. We have been hearing a lot of this, and expect to hear more in the season ahead, as sometimes it takes a while for the frustration to land, and for people to really trust you’ve heard them. We are not rushing past this.”

The board member I reached out to recognized that our church body had experienced a similar hurt and wounding, claiming a need for “repentance by leadership”, and care for the wounded. His conclusion was hopeful because he was drawing a parallel I hadn’t. I was attempting to spotlight the devastation of church cover-up culture, while sharing that I would no longer maintain silence on the abuse. What he had gleaned from his review of the matter was that the response by Bethel's leadership was exactly what was needed in our church. By our leaders. However, that hope was short lived. Weeks later it became evident that neither he nor any other leader was willing to participate in that repentance.  

Q: Why did you write this?

A: To offer a comprehensive answer to the question “why did you leave?” Most people that are asking this question already know about the specific event that served as catalyst for our departure. While the event is singular, the journey towards departure was not based on one event. If you’re looking for a "tell all", this ain’t it. Yes, there is a lot to tell, but not every fact needs to be broadcast, especially when it involves instances of spiritual abuse that have been reported or shared with me and I have also been asked by the victim to keep it confidential, or if the sharing of the factual event would put the victim at increased risk of retaliation.

Q: Are you trying to help people?

A: Yes and No. Yes, if in reading this written testimony of how we’re processing this moment it helps you in anyway, that’s good news. No, if in reading this written testimony of how we’re processing this moment it upsets you or makes you uncomfortable because of what is being said. If what is being said upsets you more than what has been done, that’s not something I can help you with. I am not here to convince you. Don’t seek to be convinced. Seek the truth, use the Bible as your guide.

Q: Is there more to come?

A: Yes. The aim will be to provide resources for people who are in the same situation we were in. When the doodoo hit the fan, we didn’t have the lexicon or context for what was being experienced. For me, it was all I had ever known. For others who were newer to our dysfunctional system, they knew something was off immediately. However, the bottom line is that we want people to know that you can be free from a spiritually abusive system that has a specific street address, without walking away from God or ditching your faith at the door. God is not the building. The Body of Christ is not limited to whatever four walls you may have come to believe it is. Do not believe the lie that “there aren’t any viable alternatives.” Please use your brain. I mean that with all love and sincerity. I get it. I literally believed if I left the four walls I was going to hell, and I know for a fact I’m not alone in that manner of thinking. That ain’t God, folks!  Our doctrine will not change. We’re simply no longer voluntarily participating in a spiritually abusive system located at a specific location.