In 2012, Derek and Kaylee moved to Columbia, Missouri.

They had graduated Bible College in 2011, married soon after,

and they missed the close connections they both had in college.

They were eager to plug into a church

and soon found a young, small, Act 29 church in Columbia

that was meeting in a rec center. There were roughly 20 people at the

church at the time, but it felt different. It felt like a true family. Derek and Kaylee were ecstatic,

and they jumped right in. Within two years, Derek would become the worship deacon, and Kaylee would be

asked to be an administrative deacon to the lead pastor, Andy.

Derek and Kaylee were also small group leaders and served almost every Sunday.

It was a draining schedule, but they were committed, and they had formed deep friendships

with Pastor Andy and his wife and another young couple, Matt and Cassie.

But these friendships were about to be tested, because underneath the busyness of the church

was a destructive culture that demanded complete loyalty and submission to Andy.

Over the next three weeks, we are going to be sharing the stories of Derek and Kaylee and Matt and Cassie.

These friends, despite the manipulation and lies by church leaders, found a way back to each other.

I am Jay Coyle, and this is The Bodies Behind the Bus podcast.

I am all about blessed subtraction.

There is a pile of dead bodies behind the Marsville bus. And by God's grace, it'll be a mountain by the time we're done.

You either get on the bus, do you get run over by the bus?

Those are the options.

But the bus ain't going to stop.

...