As someone who is a leader in a parachurch organization, reading this article was very sobering. While I personally have not experienced this kind of spiritual abuse, I have heard enough stories from around the world to agree with the author that it is far too common, and that some aspects of religious faith/institutions make that abuse more easily hidden. It reminds me that I need to make sure I am right with God and with others I am leading, and also that transparency in an organization, even if it is inconvenient or unwieldy, is a must. Your reminder to read and lament is good--I am resisting the urge to jump to potential solutions for now, but will definitely be thinking about this in the coming days.
Thank you so much for publishing Breanna Randall’s tragic story, “Demons of Miscommunication.” That has led me on to reading “Marked for Elimination” by Dalaina May, which I’m still in process of reading. In 2016 I was advised by a psychologist at a burnout retreat that I needed to write a book. She said that I have lived in a foreign culture so long (in East Africa since 1999) that I have much to say that others need to hear. But even though I have written many parts of my history, I have hesitated to put it into a book, or to write the more personal parts of my experiences on the mission field. Thus a previous book I wrote was once critiqued to me as being more like a travelogue – a lot of interesting stories, but nothing personal…
My story is very different from these two ladies in that I am a single woman (divorced with grown children), I have been in missions via individual churches rather than mission organizations, I live alone and minister from an African village, working with an African church. I came here on a short-term program (2 years) and ended up staying long term, making a lifetime commitment.
The deepest hole in my life in Africa came when there were several changes in the leadership of my denomination. Corruption and inexperience were the major issues, as well as lack of communication. I was blamed for misusing funds by a leader who was misusing funds. I was ultimately fired for “refusing to submit to my spiritual authorities.” Because I thoroughly studied scriptures on that issue, and I was not beholden to an organization, I refused to leave Africa when told I must. So my financial support was cut off.
God took care of me and protected me, and provided for me, and I’m still in Africa after many years. The men who denigrated me are long gone, the corrupt one having been finally proven of his long-suspected dishonesty and immorality, himself being fired. Interestingly, he was forced to leave Africa exactly when I was told to leave and didn’t. So he left, I stayed.
The psychologist told me others needed to hear my experiences. I understand that more now because I needed to hear these 2 ladies’ stories myself. They have stirred in me both the old hurts, but also the truth that others may need to hear about them. So I am going to begin writing now, exposing my heart finally. And I would certainly appreciate any input on doing so…
As someone who is a leader in a parachurch organization, reading this article was very sobering. While I personally have not experienced this kind of spiritual abuse, I have heard enough stories from around the world to agree with the author that it is far too common, and that some aspects of religious faith/institutions make that abuse more easily hidden. It reminds me that I need to make sure I am right with God and with others I am leading, and also that transparency in an organization, even if it is inconvenient or unwieldy, is a must. Your reminder to read and lament is good--I am resisting the urge to jump to potential solutions for now, but will definitely be thinking about this in the coming days.
Thank you so much for publishing Breanna Randall’s tragic story, “Demons of Miscommunication.” That has led me on to reading “Marked for Elimination” by Dalaina May, which I’m still in process of reading. In 2016 I was advised by a psychologist at a burnout retreat that I needed to write a book. She said that I have lived in a foreign culture so long (in East Africa since 1999) that I have much to say that others need to hear. But even though I have written many parts of my history, I have hesitated to put it into a book, or to write the more personal parts of my experiences on the mission field. Thus a previous book I wrote was once critiqued to me as being more like a travelogue – a lot of interesting stories, but nothing personal…
My story is very different from these two ladies in that I am a single woman (divorced with grown children), I have been in missions via individual churches rather than mission organizations, I live alone and minister from an African village, working with an African church. I came here on a short-term program (2 years) and ended up staying long term, making a lifetime commitment.
The deepest hole in my life in Africa came when there were several changes in the leadership of my denomination. Corruption and inexperience were the major issues, as well as lack of communication. I was blamed for misusing funds by a leader who was misusing funds. I was ultimately fired for “refusing to submit to my spiritual authorities.” Because I thoroughly studied scriptures on that issue, and I was not beholden to an organization, I refused to leave Africa when told I must. So my financial support was cut off.
God took care of me and protected me, and provided for me, and I’m still in Africa after many years. The men who denigrated me are long gone, the corrupt one having been finally proven of his long-suspected dishonesty and immorality, himself being fired. Interestingly, he was forced to leave Africa exactly when I was told to leave and didn’t. So he left, I stayed.
The psychologist told me others needed to hear my experiences. I understand that more now because I needed to hear these 2 ladies’ stories myself. They have stirred in me both the old hurts, but also the truth that others may need to hear about them. So I am going to begin writing now, exposing my heart finally. And I would certainly appreciate any input on doing so…