When Shepherds Prey: The Truth About Abuse in the Church (w/ Dr. Ron Cantor)

What happens when those called to shepherd God’s people… become the ones who harm them?In this powerful and sobering episode, Stephen Powell sits down with Dr. Ron Cantor to address one of the most urgent issues facing the modern Church: abuse, deception, and the growing wave of exposure.Drawing from his new book When Shepherds Prey and years of firsthand experience, Ron shares insight into what’s really happening behind the scenes—and how the Church must respond.In this conversation, we discuss:- What grooming and predatory behavior look like in ministry- Why many victims don’t come forward for years- How spiritual authority can be abused- The difference between restoration and disqualification- What God may be doing in this season of exposureThis is not an easy conversation—but it’s a necessary one.📚 Get Ron’s Book: When Shepherds Prey: drron.org/wsp🤝 Partner With This Ministry:If this content is impacting you and you want to support what we’re doing:👉 Become a monthly partner: https://www.stephenpowellministries.com/pages/partner-with-us👉 Become a paid subscriber on Substack: https://stephenpowell907.substack.com/subscribe📖 Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Dr. Ron Cantor03:51 Journey to Israel and Ministry Background05:34 The Shift in Ministry Focus07:17 Advocacy for Victims of Abuse2:29 Restoration and Disqualification in Ministry18:54 Identifying Predatory Behavior28:41 Recent Developments in Advocacy Work38:03 The Consequences of Deception in the Early Church39:21 The Fear of the Lord and Modern Church Accountability40:20 The Importance of Advocacy and Speaking Out41:55 Healing Through Voice: The Journey of Survivors42:20 Understanding Grooming and Delayed Disclosure43:55 The Psychological Impact of Manipulation45:10 The Complexity of Victim Blame46:56 The Need for Spiritual Formation in Ministry51:58 The Cost of Speaking Out Against Abuse54:44 The Role of Shepherds in Protecting the Flock01:00:19 Preparing for a New Move of God01:04:21 The Purpose Behind 'When Shepherds Pray'