You are here at this site because you are suffering from guilt, shame, remorse, and a myriad of feelings. You want to be set free. We sympathize with your pain. We’ve been there. We can help.

Although you may feel isolated and terribly depressed, maybe even abandoned by God and everyone else, please remember that you are NOT alone. You are NOT the first one to be abused by your pastor/clergy/counselor. You can take the necessary steps to recover and restore your relationship with God and your spouse or significant other. You can be WHOLE and WELL again. There is HOPE for a new beginning and a new life in Christ.

Below are some links to other survivor’s stories, poetry and other articles on clergy abuse. Read them and weep, but also rejoice, for these one-time victims are now living full, happy lives, and the best part is—YOU CAN TOO!

Stories:

Hope Renewed—Samantha Nelson

Long-Awaited Hope—Sandy Kirkham

Rebuilding and Rekindling—Heather Huffman

Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole—Melisa Sopke

False Friend—S.S.

God Heals Marriages—Anonymous

A Letter to Youth—Chris*
(*A pseudonym)

Classic Incest—In the Kingdom of God—K.

Love Beyond Measure—A.H.

Silence When the Door is Shut—Kate

When Religion Fails, God Remains—Deborah Arocho

The Wolf—S.S.

No Longer a Voice Crying in the Wilderness—Phenessa

Behind the Mask—Laura E. Holman

Still Hurting...—Marty*
(*A pseudonym)

All Shall Be Well: One Woman Survivor’s Story of Clergy Sexual Abuse—Mary Isabel Steele

No More Silence...—Marie W.

Finding God After Abuse—Pat Stachler

Shattered Pieces—A.T.

Bleeding Souls—Makeba

The Prodigal Daughter—Di

A New Creation—Amy

Husband’s Stories:

That Fateful Day—Steve Nelson

What Used To Be?—Steve Nelson

Betrayal of Innocence—Curt Szajnecki

Poetry:

You Knew...—Samantha Nelson

The Hidden Part of Me—K.D.

Today—K.D.

Hollow Reflection—Sherry Stockford

Little Girl Again—Sherry Stockford

How Did This Happen?—Written by A Member of the Congregation

To Trust Anew—Written by A Friend of a Victim

Why Couldn’t You Just Leave Me Alone?—Phenessa

Anomaly Homily—Rachel Clarion*
(*A pseudonym)

Hit and Run—Rachel Clarion*

Who’s Next?—Rachel Clarion*

His Power—Rachel Clarion*

In Between Nowhere—K.D.

In Quiet Desperation—K.D.

Lost But Found—K.D.

Church Abuse Poetry Therapy

Little Girl’s Soul in a Woman’s Body—Kim

Two Faces Collide—Kim

Mary, Mary, Everywhere—Jennifer Jill Schwirzer

Lift Up Your Eyes, Magdalene—Jennifer Jill Schwirzer

Silent Tears & One Day—J. Marie Waldrep

Excerpts:

Sound Counsel—Written by Ellen G. White

If you are a survivor of pastoral abuse, we would love to hear your story and possibly make it available on this web site for others to read and renew their hope. You can use a pseudonym if you choose and rest assured that all personal information will be kept private and strictly confidential. Please contact us at help@thehopeofsurvivors.com.

Please note: We do not necessarily agree with or endorse all the information contained in the survivor’s stories. We do, however, feel they have some valuable information that could be useful to you in your recovery. It helps to know you’re not alone, that others have shared your pain and have healed, by the grace of God, in their own time and way.