The Way Home

Learning from Others

Every journey toward healing, understanding, and recovering a thriving faith is unique, but it can help to learn from others who've walked a similar path. We hope you will find some of the resources below helpful. Many of these individuals and organizations have a breadth of experience on the path to healing after spiritual abuse and trauma, and we have learned from them along the way.

Podcasts

Healing from Spiritual Abuse

Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen look at the impact of spiritual abuse and how we can begin to move towards healing.

On Church Hurt & Spiritual Abuse

Connie Angel Sanders, co-founder of The Way Home, discusses the impact of church hurt and spiritual abuse when the very ones who were supposed to point you to Jesus actually became a stumbling block to receiving His love.

The Place We Find Ourselves

Adam Young unpacks how trauma and abuse impact the heart and mind, as well as how to navigate the path toward healing, wholeness, and restoration.

Untangled Faith

A podcast for anyone who is disillusioned or discouraged in their faith journey and wants to hold on to their faith while untangling it from all that is not good or true. Hosted by Amy Fritz.

Videos

How to Spot Spiritual Abuse

Wade Mullen explains spiritual abuse, the ways and environments in which it grows, the use of charm and the erosion of boundaries, and our role in responding to abuse.

The Imbalance and Exploitation of Power - A Recipe for Abuse

A messsage on the exploitation of power by Boz Tchividjian, founder of GRACE.

Understanding Abuse of Power in the Church

A message for the church by author, psychologist, and trauma expert, Diane Langberg, PhD.

Becoming a Trauma-Informed Church: Safety

As churches acknowledge the trauma of abuse, taking steps toward making church a safe space for those who desire healing is essential.

Articles

10 Ways to Spot Spiritual Abuse

Often, those in unhealthy, manipulative, or abusive situations don't realize it until their health is damaged, their soul is torn, or outside relationships suffer. Learn to recognize spiritual abuse now.

Healing from Spiritual Abuse

When we've experienced the heartbreak of spiritual abuse, we want everything to go back to normal, but the goal of healing isn’t to bring you back to where you used to be. It’s to make you healthy.

Webs of Deceit

An abuser who has been caught aims to control your perceptions so you see only what they wants you to see. They weave a web of deception and truth-seekers must have the patience and wisdom to see each thread, understand its purpose, and then detach it from the truth it is seeking to obfuscate.

When You've Been Harmed in the Name of God

God hates the harm you've experienced in His name. Author Carol Peters-Tanskley shares how God responds to such harm.

Engaging in Lament

Crying out to God when we are in pain is an essential component of healing. Learn how to write your own lament with this tool from the Trauma Healing Institute.

Recognizing Signs of Gaslighting

Not uncommon in spiritual abuse, gaslighting is designed to plant seeds of self-doubt and alter your perception of reality. Understanding what's underneath this practice can be helpful in regaining your footing and learning to trust yourself and God again.

Preventing & Responding to Clergy Perpetrated Sexual Abuse: Best Practice Guide

Published by Baylor University, this guide by David Pooler outlines best practices to avoid and respond to clergy perpetrated sexual abuse.

Abuse by Clergy, FAQs

A helpful overview of what constitutes clergy perpetrated sexual abuse, compiled by the Faith Trust Institute.

Three Questions

Learn how to listen to someone who has walked through trauma.

6 Warning Signs of Spiritual Abuse

It’s critically important to be able to identify spiritually abusive, dangerous, destructive pastors before everything falls apart.

Solving Spiritual Abuse in the Church

Michael Kruger points out that not every sin a leader commits is spiritual abuse; nor is every slight that a member feels. So what is it? And how do we solve it?

It is never too late to speak the truth about a wrong that was never made right.

- Wade Mullen, "Something's Not Right"

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the resources cited on this site do not necessarily state or reflect those of this site or The Way Home Ministries, Inc.