Ep. 7 - Grace's Story — Missions, Domestic Abuse, and the Church

Before you listen: This episode touches on abuse. If anything you hear today resonates with you, resources are available. Two we recommend — Flying Free Now ( www.flyingfreenow.com ), a resource built specifically for Christian women, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline . For the hotline please call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788, free and confidential, 24/7.What happens when the church sends a family to the mission field — and the real danger is inside the home?In this episode, we sit down with Grace (not her real name) — a Christian woman, a missionary, and domestic abuse survivor — to hear her story of surviving abuse within a Christian marriage, and what healing has actually looked like on the other side.We talk about the moments nobody warned her about — the isolation, the spiritual manipulation, the way faith was used as a tool for control. We talk about what the church got right, what it got terribly wrong, and what she wishes someone had said to her sooner.We break down the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation — because they are not the same thing — and why the church’s tendency to conflate the two has kept so many survivors stuck, silent, and unsafe.If you’ve ever experienced religious abuse, spiritual manipulation, toxic marriage dynamics, or felt like the church chose the abuser over you — please listen and share this episode to anyone in mind.Grace also drops some unexpectedly solid parenting advice. Be blessed everyone! Faith Rehab is a podcast about church hurt, healing, and rebuilding faith.We create a safe space for honest conversations about spiritual disappointment, doubt, and the process of finding hope again—without pretending or having all the answers.Co-hosts: Steve McNitt, Heidi Brandt & CJ Mateo Produced by: CJ MateoContact us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear your story.