WELCOME TO DAY 3!
Ready to get started?
Start watching session videos below. Feel free to watch them in any order you prefer. Each session comes with a description, speaker bio, and links & resources.*
I do want to provide a general CW/TW for all sessions. Since this is a summit focused on recovery from abuse and trauma, assume that we will talk about trauma and abuse regularly. Some speakers may go into detail about their spiritual, emotional, or sexual abuse. Others may talk about suicidal ideation or attempts. If you need to take space for yourself, please do so.
Remember: these sessions expire after 36 hours!
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If you're looking for a safe and small communities designed to help you process and share your story, provide practical tools to stop feeling stuck in your trauma, and start moving forward toward healing and wholeness, consider joining the THROUGH Cohort. If you’re looking for a way to find language for your experience, understand what happened to you, and what you can do about it, all while finding a safe community to do this sacred work together, then this Cohort is for you. Applications will open this Friday. Seating is limited, so sign up for the waitlist today.
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LIVE Bonus Session
Reevaluating Forgiveness
with Adam Breckenridge
The misuse of scripture and texts like Matthew 18 have been the cause of spiritual abuse, manipulation, and forced forgiveness or reconciliation for so many. Join us for our LIVE Bonus Session with Adam Breckenridge as we take a closer look at the biblical concept of forgiveness and examine other passages like Luke 17, 1 Timothy 5, and Hebrews 13.
Get an All Access Pass to watch the recordingLive Community Call cancelled for tonight
Sorry, everyone. As much as I'd love to meet again, I'm not feeling well, and need to listen to my body. I'm hoping I'll be better tomorrow and look forward to wrapping up the Summit with you then!
Katherine Spearing, MA, CTRC: The Stigmatized Single Person (and How to Thrive Anyway)
In this conversation, Katherine and Brian discuss the challenges faced by single individuals within faith communities. They explore the lack of discussion and support for singles, the pressure to get married, and the marginalization experienced by single people. They also highlight the harmful effects of societal expectations and the importance of curiosity and acceptance. The conversation emphasizes the need to challenge damaging theology and cultural norms, and to create spaces that allow individuals to be seen and valued for who they are.
Bio
Katherine Spearing MA, CTRC is the founder of Tears of Eden, a nonprofit supporting survivors of spiritual abuse, and the host of Tears' affiliate podcast Uncertain. She also hosts the podcast Trauma & Pop Culture and is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach working primarily with clients who have survived cults, high-control environments, spiritual abuse, and sexual abuse. She also provides specialized trauma informed career coaching, as folks with trauma often need extra support for interviewing and networking.
Katherine is the author of a historical romantic comedy, Hartfords, a novel that challenges gender roles in a patriarchal society that will appeal to fans of Jane Austen. She has been a guest on a number of podcasts, including IndoctriNation and That’s So Fcked Up, is the author of several nonfiction articles, and writes regularly at katherinespearing.com and tearsofeden.org
Resources
Website | Tears of Eden website | Instagram | Uncertain Podcast Instagram
Jerome Gay: Deconstructing Church Hurt
In this session, Jerome emphasizes that many people's issue with God is not theological but relational, as they have been hurt by Christians. Church hurt is compared to a spiritual autoimmune disease, where the body of Christ attacks itself instead of functioning as a family. Forgiveness is discussed as conditional, with repentance needing to bear fruit. The importance of acknowledging and processing church hurt is highlighted, along with the need to resist celebrity culture in the church.
They also address the challenges of navigating cultural traditions and provides guidance on moving beyond resentment and bitterness, as well as the importance of holding the church accountable. He emphasizes the need for healing and provides insights into his book on the subject.
Jerome also shares his personal experiences of causing church hurt and the importance of apologizing for it. He highlights the lack of victim recovery plans in churches and the need for leadership accountability. Additionally, he addresses the fact that pastors themselves can experience church hurt and the importance of unity and authenticity in the church.
Bio
Pastor Jerome Gay Jr., was raised in Southeast Washington, DC and moved to Raleigh, NC in 1997.
Vision Church was planted in 2010 and has grown by God’s grace and is impacting the inner city of Raleigh by missionally engaging the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ through discipleship, leadership development, service, and holistic empowerment.
Pastor Jerome serves as the Lead Pastor of Teaching and Vision at Vision Church. Jerome has a vision to see gospel centered churches and leaders raised up within the urban context and sent out to plant other gospel-centered churches.
Jerome has his Master’s Degree in Christian Studies and Ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Resources
Website | Instagram | Twitter/X | YouTube
Church Hurt by Jerome Gay
Shop for signed copies of Jerome's books
Kate Boyd: Rebuilding Your Relationship with Scripture
In this conversation, Kate discusses her journey of faith transformation and the process of deconstruction and reconstruction. She shares insights from her background in theological studies and emphasizes the importance of engaging with scripture in community.
Kate also introduces her upcoming projects, including the Bible Unraveled video series and the Threaded Bible Studies, which aim to provide resources for individuals seeking to rebuild their relationship with scripture and pursue wholeness in personal and communal faith journeys.
Kate also discusses the importance of wholeness and restoration in the context of faith. She emphasizes that God wants us to be whole and encourages listeners to prioritize their healing journey, even if it means stepping away from certain religious practices.
Bio
Kate is the author of An Untidy Faith (Herald Press, April 2023), creator of the "Threaded" Bible studies, and host of the Untidy Faith podcast. She helps weary and wounded Christians rebuild their relationship with Scripture and community and love God and their neighbors with their whole selves. She holds a masters in theological studies with an emphasis in biblical studies from Perkins School of Theology.
Resources
Website | Instagram |Twitter/X
An Untidy Faith by Kate Boyd
Nobody's Mother by Sandra Glahn
Rebekah Drumsta: Spiritual Identity Disruption
In this session, Rebekah discusses the stages of spiritual identity disruption, a process that occurs when one's beliefs collide with opposing lived experiences. She shares her personal journey and the work she does with NPE Friends Fellowship, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals who have received unexpected results from at-home DNA tests.
Covering topics such as awareness and disbelief, grief and loss, searching for truth and identity, fear and uncertainty, peace and advocacy, deeper consciousness, and vulnerability and secure identity, Rebekah also discusses trauma, its impact on mental health, and the process of healing and recovery. She also provides insights on supporting others through trauma and the importance of self-care and resilience.
Bio
Rebekah Drumsta is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of NPE Friends Fellowship, an international non-profit organization which assists individuals, and their families, who have received unexpected results from an at-home DNA test.
Rebekah is also a consultant, writer, and advocate with the mission of supporting survivors of spiritual abuse and religious trauma by providing resources to educate and equip not only survivors, but the public as well. Sharing her own story to help others who have had similar life experiences is at the heart of Rebekah’s purpose. She is a board member of The Vashti Initiative, a non-profit with the goal to empower and assist those fleeing and transitioning out of religious and spiritual abuse.
Rebekah’s hobbies include binge watching riveting shows, thrifting with her family, international travel, and dabbling in all things creative and artistic. Rebekah and her family reside in Texas.
Rebekah holds undergraduate and advanced degrees in: Urban Ministry and Family Crisis, Counseling, and Religious Education and is also a Certified Professional Life Coach. She has made appearances on and consulted with sources including BBC, NBC and ABC, and a variety of other platforms such as podcasts and film projects.
Rebekah’s book, When Family Hurts: 30 Days to Finding Healing and Clarity, was released in December of 2021. She is a co-author of the 2023 research paper, Percentage of U.S. Adults Suffering from Religious Trauma: A Sociological Study, as well as an author in the 2023 collaborative book, Hope in the 2020s: Encouragement for Our Time.
Resources
Tiffany Bluhm: Prey Tell: Why We Silence Women Who Tell the Truth and How Everyone Can Speak Up
This session covers the importance of corroborating stories of abuse, developing trauma-informed protocols, normalizing naming situations, reporting and naming cultures of goodness, and seeking help. Tiffany and Brian also discuss forgiveness and reconciliation and the misuse of scripture to defend or protect abusers.
Bio
Tiffany Bluhm is the author of Prey Tell, Never Alone, and She Dreams. She speaks at conferences, colleges, and companies inviting audiences to lead lives of resilience and joy.
Her work has been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, Sojourners, Red Letter Christians, the YouVersion Bible app, Jenny McCarthy Show, and more. She serves at the intersection of women’s issues and faith. She lives in the PNW with her husband and two sons.
Resources
Prey Tell | Never Alone | She Dreams
Prey Tell Discussion Guide | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
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