This episode was made possible by our incredible patrons who faithfully support the work of amplifying the voices of spiritual abuse survivors.

We are an extremely small team comprised of just two families with a passion for stories and image bears.

We committed early on to not monetizing any of the stories and rely solely on the donations of our Patreon community

to operate. If you value this work and are able to contribute, you can join for as little as

$5 a month. Another way you can support us is by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast.

It only takes a moment, but it has a big impact on our reach. Thank you for

daring to listen. Before we begin, we want to make the listener aware that this story contains

adult content related to suicidal ideation. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts,

you are not alone. You can place a free and confidential

call to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. We've linked the number in our bio. You are worthy

of fighting for, and you are loved. For Elle, her church in Fort Worth, Texas, was more than just a place

to go on Sunday.

This is where she found the grace of God and a community that she valued and cared for.

It was an anchor for her, and she loved it.

But it was also the same place where she began to doubt herself, her health, and God's

unconditional love for her. She met lifelong friends at this church,

but also encountered leaders who stirred up so much turmoil in her life that it caused her to

question her own self-worth. Elf's story is a reminder that we can find beauty and goodness in our

faith institutions.

But those qualities will quickly be eroded if what we teach and how we interact with others

brings shame, fear, and hurt.

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

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