Episode 21 Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape

Matt Hempel entered the Community of Jesus at just 12 years old—and within weeks, he knew something wasn’t right.

In this episode, Matt shares what it was like to grow up inside a highly structured, controlled environment where questioning wasn’t welcomed and conformity was expected. While parts of his experience included structure and opportunity, he also witnessed practices that felt confusing, unsettling, and deeply dysfunctional.

Looking back, Matt describes those years through a powerful lens: survival, evasion, resistance, and ultimately, escape.