Healing from Spiritual Abuse: Aaron's Journey from Church Hurt to Wholeness

In this episode, our guest is @AaronJDaigle a pastor who speaks from his own experience of spiritual abuse and how he was able to find healing from church hurt and reconnect with healthy churches and ministries.

Timestamps if your looking for a particular subject.

1:26 Aaron Shares his Testimony of Church Hurt
5:38 Why Aaron Spoke Up
7:50 What is Church Hurt?
11:59 - Signs of Church Hurt
19:40 - How to Minister to Someone that has been hurt by the church
22:36 - When Aaron Picked up the Pieces from Church Hurt
26:52 - Gaslighting in the Church
29:00 - Is it my responsibility to fix this if I see it in Church?
30:45 - Is this the Spirit of Jezebel at Work?
34:15 - Aaron's Journey back to serving
37:10 - Setting Up Boundaries
42:22 - What would I have done differently looking back.
45:00 - A word to leaders.

We discuss the power of boundaries when engaging in ministry after experiencing pain, the dangers of unchecked ambition in spiritual leaders, and Aaron's heart for the Lord.

Aaron shares his story of spiritual abuse in a church setting. He details how it felt to be manipulated by a pastor whom he once trusted, but quickly discovered was only out for his own gain. In order to heal from this experience, Aaron decided to take a leap of faith and find healthier churches and pastors that could provide him with love and support. It took time for Aaron to work through all his pain before reengaging in ministry, but ultimately he found strength in God's grace and forgiveness.
When it comes to confronting those who are spiritually abusive, Aaron believes it is not always wise or necessary; instead, finding healthier environments can be more beneficial to one's spiritual journey. Boundaries are also essential tools when reengaging in ministry as they help protect us from further hurtful experiences. Drawing on Jesus' example during His earthly ministry as well as Paul's firmness in his identity is an important reminder that we must stand up against mistreatment if it is safe for us to do so.

We also discuss Solomon's story about how unchecked ambition can lead even the most pious figures into corruption. While this does not directly relate to Aaron's story, he does emphasize that any decisions made by those in leadership should be according to the Lord's steps—not what appears right in our own eyes—in order to ensure their followers are not subjecting themselves to manipulation or control.

Finally, Aaron speaks about his heart for the Lord and how his mission is now focused on helping others who may have gone through similar experiences as himself. He emphasizes the importance of following God’s ambition rather than our own desires so that we do not harm others through selfishness or pride. If you'd like to learn more about Aaron’s work or connect with him on YouTube or Instagram you can search for him there!

Remember that no matter what kind of pain we experience due to church hurt—God provides us with healing and grace if we seek Him out.

Connect with Aaron

Aarons Playlist on Church Hurt - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjxfwfmNGrKjyLLh18ypfQGhuOndlw7hZ

Youtube - @AaronJDaigle

Connect with Justin on Social:

More Resources on Church Hurt and Spiritual Abuse on my Blog: https://justinfranich.com/blog/healing-from-spiritual-abuse-aarons-journey

Facebook: https://facebook.com/justinfranich
Instagram: https://instagram.com/justinfranich
Website: https://justinfranich.com

Look for More Resources to Heal from Church Hurt:

Getting the Healing You Need: Resources to Overcome Church Hurt: https://www.justinfranich.com/blog/he...

Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You and Avoid Those That Aren't - https://amzn.to/3lpuQ8w

Boundaries - https://amzn.to/3XjJhZ0

My Podcast Setup:

Blue Yeti Microphone: https://amzn.to/3XoJrPO
JBL Headphones: https://amzn.to/3iR9kZx
Recorded on Riverside.fm: http://bit.ly/3XXsI6f
Logitech Webcam: https://amzn.to/3XGGg5S
Soft Box Lights: https://amzn.to/3HQomZq

A Few Recommended Books

Celebration of Discipline - https://amzn.to/3HTlGKt
Extreme Ownership - https://amzn.to/3X29VW8
Five Masculine Instincts - https://amzn.to/3jlvnbe
Start With Why - https://amzn.to/3WUXMCA

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