After nearly three decades of faithful involvement in the same church community, this guest shares the painful journey of watching a place she once called home become a source of confusion, hurt, and spiritual exhaustion. Through years of leadership, service, and ministry, she experienced the deep tension of feeling valued for what she could give while wrestling with systems and cultures that caused harm. Leaving meant grieving the loss of community, identity, and trust, while also confronting the ways she had unknowingly participated in the same systems that hurt others. Through therapy, reflection, and rebuilding her faith from a healthier foundation, she discovered that her worth was never found in a role, title, or level of service. This episode offers hope to those navigating church hurt, reminding listeners that questioning harmful systems can be part of healing, and that there is life, faith, and restoration after spiritual damage.

After 11 years deeply involved in a multisite megachurch, this guest shares her journey from experiencing church as a place of belonging, purpose, and spiritual growth to navigating the pain of church damage. As she stepped into greater leadership, she began noticing a disconnect between what was discussed behind closed doors and what was practiced publicly, leading to confusion and a loss of trust. After prayer and discernment, she made the difficult decision to leave, only to experience the additional loss of her community and her mother shortly afterward. Through counseling, vulnerability, and discovering she was not alone, she began healing and finding purpose in sharing her story. This episode explores the impact of church hurt, the importance of honest conversations, and the hope that can come through healing and restoration.

In the first episode of The Church Damage Podcast, we introduce ourselves, share the story behind why we started the podcast, and explain our mission. We discuss how experiences of church damage are often ignored, minimized, or kept quiet, leaving many people feeling isolated in their pain. Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive space where people can share honest stories of church damage, healing, growth, and faith while emphasizing that healing and hope are possible. We also share our own church backgrounds and explain how hearing others' stories inspired us to create a platform where no one has to feel alone in their experience. Finally, we preview upcoming episodes, including our personal stories, conversations about healing, and interviews with guests who will bring theological, mental health, and lived-experience perspectives to the discussion.