Choosing to trust again after being wounded takes courage, yet for some, that trust is met with harm more than once. This was the painful reality for my guest, author Charlaine Martin, and her first husband, Don. After experiencing spiritual abuse in their very first church assignment, they later faced it again further along in Don's pastoral career. The repeated betrayal left deep wounds of hurt and shame, made even heavier by the silence and inaction of denominational leaders who should have offered support and protection.

In this episode, Charlaine shares how the path to healing did not come easily, and how forgiveness became the doorway to release, restoration, and freedom. Her story speaks to the resilience of faith, the cost of misplaced trust, and the redemptive power of choosing love even after profound disappointment.

Connect with Charlaine: https://charlainemartin.com

Charlaine's book: Twice Blessed

Links Mentioned:

Peacemakers Ministries, Ken Sande

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

Many who enter full-time Christian ministry expect hardship, but few anticipate the depth of disappointment, betrayal, and criticism that can come from within the church itself. For some, the wounds go even deeper, resulting in spiritual abuse by those entrusted with oversight and care. These experiences have led many faithful servants to quietly step away from ministry, carrying grief they never expected.

In this week's episode, Charlaine Martin joins me to share the first part of her story. As a pastor's wife, Charlaine faithfully served alongside her husband in small rural churches for many years. In this conversation, she recounts the painful experience of spiritual abuse they endured in their very first church assignment. Her story sheds light on a hidden struggle faced by many in ministry and opens the door to hope, healing, and truth.

Connect with Charlaine: https://charlainemartin.com

Charlaine's book: Twice Blessed

Links Mentioned:

Peacemakers Ministries, Ken Sande

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

The miracle of God's grace is that He is never hindered by the walls we build or the shame we carry. Even when our hearts feel locked away, He faithfully creates safe places for us to risk drawing near to Him. Through His Word and His presence, He reveals Himself as the God who heals, restores, and frees us from the burdens we were never meant to carry.

This week, therapist and advocate Tanyka Abbott, LCSW, returns to the podcast to share how God gently earned her trust after the trauma of sexual and spiritual abuse. In this powerful conversation, Tanyka describes the slow, holy journey of learning to forgive, releasing shame, and embracing God's peace. She also shares how the freedom she found in Christ allowed her to meet with her abusers and extend grace with miraculous outcomes.

Scripture mentioned: Genesis 50:20

Connect with Tanyka: https://tanykaabbott.com/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

My guest this week, Tanyka Abbott, LCSW, bravely shares how years of sexual and spiritual abuse drove her into hiding. After being date raped twice by a pastor, she carried the shame that never belonged to her. Those who violated her were relieved to let her hold the weight of their wrongdoing, and Tanyka convinced herself that staying silent was the only way to stay safe.

In this episode, she begins opening the door to her story, revealing how secrecy shaped her life, how shame distorted her identity, and how the long road toward healing is unfolding. Her honesty is both heartbreaking and deeply hopeful, and I pray her voice brings clarity and courage to those who have suffered in similar ways.

Connect with Tanyka: https://tanykaabbott.com/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

One of the most damaging impacts of any kind of abuse, including spiritual abuse, is the belief that we somehow deserved it. We can become convinced that the mistreatment was our fault, that our past experiences justify it, and that those who harmed us must be right in their assessments. Spiritual abusers are skilled at exploiting insecurity. Their words can sound logical, even righteous, while quietly destroying confidence and identity.

In this week's episode, Josh Patterson returns to share more of his story. When he faced spiritual abuse within the church where he served, he had no one who stepped in to protect him. The mistreatment continued until he finally resigned. The condemning words spoken over him lingered long after, creating deep doubts about his calling and even God's love for him. Eventually, the weight of the harm pushed him out of ministry entirely. Josh opens up about this painful part of his journey and how healing is slowly finding its way back into his life.

Connect with Josh:

Josh Patterson's podcast:

https://www.joshuagpatterson.com/rethinking-faith

Scripture mentioned: Proverbs 6:10-19

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

This week, I'm joined by podcaster Josh Patterson, who courageously shares the first part of his story while still in the middle of the struggle. Josh has experienced spiritual abuse twice at the hands of church leadership. The first wound came as a teenager when his family was shunned from their church. Years later, it happened again while he was serving on pastoral staff. These experiences left deep marks, and Josh is still walking the long road of recovery.

I am grateful for his willingness to speak while the story is still unfolding. Nothing is tied up neatly, justice has not yet arrived, and the pain is still being worked through. Yet Josh is confident that God has not stopped working. In this episode, he shares what happened and how these experiences have shaped his life. His honesty invites us into the reality of healing in progress, where faith meets ongoing hurt and hope remains alive.

Connect with Josh:

Josh Patterson's podcast:

https://www.joshuagpatterson.com/rethinking-faith

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

This week, Dr. Ryan Mullins, lecturer at the University of Lucerne, returns to share the next chapter of his story. After years of enduring deception and manipulation from his doctoral supervisor, Ryan came to recognize the spiritual abuse that had taken place. With great courage, he reported the truth to university authorities, setting in motion a difficult process filled with consequences and painful revelations.

As the lies unraveled, healing slowly began. God's faithfulness sustained Ryan through loss, uncertainty, and the long wait for full vindication. His story is both heartbreaking and deeply hopeful, reminding us that even in the midst of injustice, God is still working to bring truth, redemption, and restoration.

Connect with Dr. Ryan:

Website: https://www.rtmullins.com/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.

It can be deeply confusing when someone in spiritual authority—especially a person who claims to follow Christ—uses that position to lie, manipulate, and control. The betrayal cuts even deeper when that person is someone you trusted to guide your growth and development.

This week, Dr. Ryan Mullins, a theologian and professor at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland, shares the first part of his story. During his doctoral studies, Ryan discovered that the supervisor assigned to mentor him was not the man of integrity he appeared to be. As manipulation and dishonesty began to shape his academic journey, Ryan faced difficult questions about truth, trust, and how to respond when those in power misuse their influence. His story offers a window into the realities of spiritual and academic abuse—and the grace that sustains us when truth comes to light.

Connect with Dr. Ryan:

Website: https://www.rtmullins.com/

To inquire about counseling, email Louise at Louise@louisesedgwick.com.