What is Spiritual Abuse? The Garden Greenville, Chad Norris: Micah and Lindsey Usry Story

[@rachelmiller2536]

Guys this podcast is getting me through some really hard things & helping my husband & I to understand why it’s been so hard. Been in full time ministry since we were 20 😭 so much hard. Seriously please keep going. We’re beyond thankful.

[@WakeUpandWinPodcast]

This comment right here 😭 🙏🏼💪🏼

[@JulieMeyerMinistries]

This is everywhere... Thank you for being a voice and thank you for being a whistleblower. Thank you...

[@a.k.88HisWay]

Anyone, who has been in ministry for some time and who has influence over many; it is my prayer they TOO speak up and speak out! Silence is from the enemy. IT IS TIME

[@ConnieRowell-sh4gc]

I’ve been through spiritual abuse. IMO churches have become businesses, with bosses that everyone has to obey and believe everything that the boss/pastor does and teaches. It’s so disturbing. I’ve been done with church for about 8 years and feel closer to God and truth more than when I was going to any church. It’s definitely the season for so many stories to be heard and abusive leaders to be stopped! So grateful for Gods grace and courage that flows from the interviews and conversations on this channel!💛

[@HeartAliveToday]

Same here. "Churches" have not been safe for years. The true church fled to the wilderness years ago, and Jesus is feeding & ministering to His flock there. I am grateful the truth about these 501(c)3 government run entities is finally being revealed.

[@elianaboer7593]

I went through this many year ago, it was so bad I totally washed my hands of churches or ministry and just months ago, I came back to the Lord. This is more prevalent than I had thought. God have mercy on us and we need You! Thank you for sharing this testimony! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty! Set Your ppl free Lord! You are our God Shepherd ❤

[@deirdrekeegan7701]

This is so sad, that a Christian Leader/Pastor would treat another Pastor in such a demeaning manner (& ALSO say NOT to share with your spouse!)...just tearing down a person/Pastor INSTEAD of building up his staff/Pastor's (& their spouses too)...horrific!!!

[@lieslbestbier9271]

Thankyou for this conversation, for your honesty and vulnerability. I needed to hear this, to this day four years ago my spiritual life was destroyed by a pastor, everyone covered for him, it was acknowledged that he was wrong, and I didn't back down, but they did nothing, turned on me and literally cancelled everything about me. Took me off teams, went to other team members and told them his version of the story. I served that church faithfully, Sunday after sunday, year in and out, gave up holidays, i wrote productions, headed up a dance ministry, did Christmas events for them. One moment i was in, the next i ceased to exist. I didn't do anything wrong, it was because he 'felt' i was bad for the congregation....i left that church after desperately trying for a year to figure out what i did....i was broken, lost my church, lost those i thought were my people. Lost my community. God has painstakingly put me back together again, my foundation is now no other than Jesus. I don't think i could commit to another church or leadership again. The damage has been too much.

[@11candy11]

The moment Micha's voice cracked when he talked about wanting to go to sleep and never wake up is Heartbreaking. Also, such an important statement, "Until exposure happened, NOTHING happened."

[@allthings2allmen]

He's a tender hearted brother for sure! I sensed just watching that he has a true pastor's heart. (not necessarily a church pastor, a body of Christ people pastor)

[@JulieMeyerMinistries]

I agree - I actaully started crying - Micha is stellar - Go Micha go,

[@HealthyProphetic]

Thanks for having us on. We are glad it seems to be helping some people.

[@PattiMcGinnis-l4j]

This is so very sad…such a kind couple and I’m so thankful God rescued them out of it.

[@irisbyrnes4442]

Hope Micah and Lindsey are know healing and doing better in every area. Hugs

[@leighmcsker4314]

In June of 2021 my husband and I moved from Maryland to the Garden Greenville (the Lord leading) . I right away joined the Ascent now called the Garden college. I was so excited to be a part of what looked like a team going after the Fathers heart. It was the worst experience of my life. Since leaving in 2022 I feel like I’ve been recovering from a severe car crash spiritually. It’s been hard to let go of all the things I felt happened to me personally. Micah, I thank you for speaking out. You were one I remember speaking life in one of the classes. Praying for you and Lindsay to be 100% free of it all.

[@MrLukiluki]

This makes me sad, mad, and at the same time brings hope. In the bigger picture, maybe something will start to change! The crap is surfacing! Blessings and greetings from Estonia (Eastern Europe). Keep up the good work!

[@onfireforjesus77]

I really needed this! Finally, language for all of the eggshell-walking/honor culture. So appreciate this bold topic! I will await part 2!!! Would love to hear more about the distinction/examples between church hurt and spiritual abuse. Thank you!!

[@HeartAliveToday]

“But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 23:8-11).

[@jennystull981]

These videos are so needed in the Church! Thank you for doing these! The book, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, was so helpful for me. I hope you were all safe during the hurricane. Prayers for you all!

[@joshockey7447]

Wow. These are truly perilous times.

[@theintimatepursuit]

I'm a pastor in Jacksonville, and my dad attended this church, experiencing the very issues you're describing. I suspect that when Micah mentioned not sharing others' stories, he might have been referencing my dad's experience. When my dad shared some of this with me, I urged him to get out! I'm thankful that you're no longer part of that. The responsibility I feel as a pastor and my fear of the Lord are immense. May church leaders be humbled and truly led by the HS!

[@margaretfriedlein8561]

I went through a pastor and the elder pastor trying to turn my husband against me. They accused me of things that had little basis in fact. I was in tears that night. The healing for me was my husband turned and said l love you and it doesn’t matter what pastor and said . He went back and told don’t ever come between me and my wife again. We left shortly after as we were labeled rebellious and people wouldn’t hang out with us.

[@sallyshaw4910]

Thank you so much for talking about this topic. My heart goes out to Micah and Lindsey but they did the right thing by getting out of that abusive church. Allow yourselves time to heal and keep hanging around Blaze and Christina. They have alot of wisdom and you guys do too. Trust the holy spirit inside of you and before you know it you will see that you're super strong warriors. Thank you for having the courage to share your story publicly. There are so many people in similar situations that need to hear your story.

[@camgalloway691]

I was honestly wondering for a long time if ya’ll would end up covering this, I wasn’t sure whether to bring it up or not. Glad to hear a conversation on it now

[@shannonbradbury2138]

So heartbreaking! I’m so sorry you experienced this! Thank you for clarifying the difference between spiritual abuse and church hurt. So sad they manipulated Lindsey to give more than she already was giving so much! And the games they played to wear them down! How sad!!!!😢

[@patriciabenavente8147]

Excellent!!! The definitions and breaking down of the ins and outs of spiritual abuse are clear, comprehensive and 100% accurate. If that's what the Lord tells me to do, I'd like to call out this same prevalent issue in the Spanish-speaking church world.

[@redrider5832]

So interesting! I just left a church that I was with for 12 years because of this very thing. Our pastor became Apostle and said he was our Spiritual Father. Members of his disciple group would kneel down before him and repent for rebellion. The disciples also don't tithe to the church but directly to him in cash. Also he gathers First Fruits from the whole congregation of cash that go directly to him. Then if you didn't agree with him, he would isolate you and warn you that you would be vulnerable to the devil because you weren't under his spiritual covering. When we left the church, he thought he would try and curse me by saying "don't become a Miriam." That gave me confirmation that leaving was definitely the right thing to do. We were also put on a "do not contact" list. We had been very visible leaders in the church before this. Also, all the ppl that have left....most started with the wives seeing the abuse. This also caused conflict in the marriages.

[@caramares2669]

I’m so glad spiritual abuse is coming to the forefront of church conversations. Based on my own experience and how I communicate the topic with others, my definition is….when anyone (especially those in authority) uses scripture, prophecy or other spiritual practices to manipulate and control, that’s spiritual abuse. Most of the time we don’t know it’s happening until God opens our eyes to it. I pray the Lord uses this testimony to open the eyes of others who are in bondage to this type of abuse! If anyone feels like they’re not free or joyful or with peace, really examine what is going on in your church circle. It’s likely there’s some sort of manipulation/control holding you back. We will be convicted and go thru trials, but being in a local church should never feel like a burden!!

[@Sara-ky5nf]

I went to a church like this. This is happening everywhere.

[@tammyglines116]

May the REAL church be set free and stand up!!!!!

[@dawnbrown2125]

Blaze you two hit it out of the park with this post, many of the things they discussed I though not on staff experienced going back decades. Thank you for posting this. Grateful for the exposure of the dynamics of how this abuse is kept under cover and perpetuated. Much love in Christ to all in the video my compassion and prayers for those mentioned in need of healing and recovery.

[@deborahlee4441]

Looking forward to part 2. This was almost exactly how it played out at our church and it’s good to have validation.

[@donnaeid2862]

Hopefully this couple’s experience helps others to awaken to their own spiritual abuse! Thank God Chad and Wendy were asked to resign and hopefully a healthier church comes forth!

[@richardm23]

48:00 exactly great advice Blaise! If they cannot say exactly what you are doing, and who will be at this meeting then do not go!

[@yvonnerobert-carr8809]

This interview helps me see clearly. Thank you for teaching something too many ministries won’t teach - Discernment. I am so tired of the charlatans’ behavior.

[@donnaeid2862]

So thankful Micah and Lindsey had the courage to speak up! God bless you both to fulfill the scroll that has been destined for you! Obviously you are a strong couple who have walked through something terrible and have come out victorious!❤️🙏🏼

[@faithworks217]

People need to speak up when they are abused. I had a friend whose third husband was a real pill. He said something nasty to one of her daughters and the girl talked back to him. I was with the girls and their Mom when Karen told her Mom what her stepfather said and her mother admonished her to not talk back to him. Karen was only 13, but what she said made a lot of sense. She replied, "You have to say something, or it sits in your head and rots."

[@meggy8868]

You did everyone a huge favor by having this couple on. Demonstrates the evils of control where the charismatics out pope the pope. It is always about top dog and underlings. Not about brothers and sisters in Christ.

[@Elizabethvaughan1]

If I never hear the words “spiritual father” again it will be too soon ! God is my father I had a fleshly father. I was born again by the Spirit of God . Not by a seed of any human servant Shepard .

[@preacherbarbie]

Amen. Even the Word tells us in Matthew 23:9- "And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven." Of course Jesus isn't talking about our paternal parent but many in those days and now that enjoy the Title and wield it as a weapon🙏 "

[@karenduckett5288]

Amen!!!

[@hldvdsn100]

That’s so heartbreaking! So divisive to come between marriages! Ugh, so wicked. 😣

[@susanlewis6000]

I lived through this in my late 20’s, with four, then five young children I was homeschooling. A pastor asked for our help in worship ministry, absorbed my husband into the work of the church and meeting with him weekday mornings and I was sensing extreme unease in my spirit. I was alone and rejected from working alongside my husband in ministry, as we had for years. I told my husband that something was very wrong, in a certain area, even, that I could sense from this controlling pastor who oozed “fear of man”. We finally moved away and my husband had been almost struck by this pastor in the year before. Years later, we learned that this pastor sexually attacked one of the teen girls in the church. We are both pastors’ kids and I am a grandmother, now. My husband is desired for ministry in any church to which we go. He was Chairman of the Board for years at our last church as I suffered with illness and, seven months after we moved far away, we learned that this pastor ran off with the executive pastor (female), away from their own spouses. I am very discouraged, at this point.

[@susanlewis6000]

God, give us wisdom to be understanding Your truth in all of life and to obey You.

[@reesecop]

​@@susanlewis6000 I'm so sorry for the abuse and betrayal you and your husband experienced.

[@hldvdsn100]

@@susanlewis6000 Wow, that’s so heartbreaking. I’m sorry for the pain this caused you. This is way too prevalent. 😪

[@susanlewis6000]

@@hldvdsn100 Thank you. God bless.

[@connielester1641]

Transparency is vital to guard against spiritual abuse.

[@sheacoaching]

Thankyou so much for speaking out. I appreciate you all so much.

[@rebeccalucy1]

Lindsey i get it totally. In a prophet/ apostle situation that my husband got us involved in i became a big problem when i resisted. It nearly ended our marriage and cost us over a million dollars. Thank God my husband woke up before it cost us everything. But I was the bad one, and all the men were told to not talk to their wives about what was going on because wives weren’t safe. So much prophetic manipulation to gain money and control. Our marriage made it and boy are we wise to this b.s now. And still walking with God. Im sorry you had to go through this. The way they try to divide marriages when the wife stands up, uses discernment and says no is evil

[@PretzelBubba]

And say, "Your house is not in order" when the wife has discernment and stands up to the manipulation and control 😡

[@rebeccalucy1]

@@PretzelBubba and shes a jezebel of course. These men should be very concerned about how they are trying to destroy marriages that they can’t control because Gods very clear about how he feels about marriage .

[@leeannaperry6097]

Thank you so much for this episode and giving clarity on spiritual abuse. We are recovering from spiritual abuse and appreciate you covering the topic

[@mj_byrd]

Lindsey saying that she didn’t know what was going on but was praying for him….. I just got the feeling that those prayers saved his life. Praise God for praying spouses.

[@vipkidteacher]

Thank you much for your podcast. I’ve been following and it’s really helped me process my own spiritual abuse I experienced on the mission field…it’s really bad out there. Especially for single women they get it the worst and are on the bottom of the totem poll. I’m still processing it to be honest so this is helpful. My husband’s dad was his spiritual abuser pastor …it destroyed him. So much to process and I have found it extremely difficult to find a church with godly honest loving Christian leaders…Jesus deserves more than this …he deserves Christ-like leaders to serve his body.

[@user-qp3pu5yv1e]

Oh my, I’m so sorry .

[@PattiMcGinnis-l4j]

Thank you both for your keen insight!… praying for this sweet couple

[@susanlewis6000]

Brother Micah, I am very sorry you went through this, too. As I listen further, I can tell you that my husband and I went through the same kinds of things. It was very hard for us, as wives, and very hard for you. My dear husband has quickly forgotten so much of what we went through (mostly I went through), but I still struggle to work through this all. I’m a pastor’s daughter, too.

[@sharonvarkalis5432]

And Micah you and your wife are lovely. Both following after The Lord.😊

[@mamahannahmarie]

I’m so sorry that y’all went through that. So controlling, manipulative, and divisive-it’s maddening! 😭 Praying that God uses all of these heartbreaking stories to build a healthy church with safe shepherds. 😢🙏🏼

[@lasdoscarasdelmisterio9769]

You cannot imagine how much I cried watching this. This happened in our church in Quito-Ecuador. They applied the same type of covering tactics. You were told you were rebellious when you confronted them. This brings so much like home. We had these missionaries who came from Christ for the Narionsand Vineyard.

[@ericasingergal]

Thank you so much for having this and many other much needed conversations!!! I so appreciate it and thankful to see healthy conversations and more and more people seeing these issues in the church and in leadership, that need to change!

[@paulinemyers7588]

My husband and I became part of a ministry back in 2020 and become friends I was the armour bear for the wife she was a traveling minister my husband was the spiritual covering the husband however she was the main pastor, we went on vacations with them, became part of their " family" my husband and I went through spiritual abuse not knowing what was going on until Holy Spirit opened our eyes by a KZbin video and then we felt strongly Holy Spirit telling us to leave the church so we did, we tried having a meeting with them with other members and it ended up them twisting the story around so nothing was resolved and we heard they were lying about us why we left saying we were demonized and they couldn't help us, a year later 10 other families left experiencing spiritual abuse. Unfortunately, they still have a church. 😢 It effected my husband for 2 years he finally has now been able to get past it, Holy Spirit healed me pretty quickly it does still hurt though because I truly love them it's so sad, I continue to pray they get exposed and come to repentance.

[@sanettestrydom6371]

This is a very important topic! It happens everywhere in different degrees and it always hurts and turns people away from churches in general. (Speaking from experience)

[@kennethrandolph915]

My.wife and I were members of the church that Micah and Lindsey pastored in GA. We love those guys as well as Armondo. Great folks. They moved to SC and we ended up moving to Murphy, NC. I believe all they went through will be a huge bonus in their life as they move forward.

[@hannahtedeschi673]

Love you guys! This comment is coming from a place of love: I hope if you guys do a part 2 that they’ll have more of the floor. It was all good! Just a lot less of their story than I thought

[@joshockey7447]

Insecure people who lack in their own relationship with God require a power trip to bolster their egos.

[@wendylong5785]

Thank you for doing this video. Looking forward to Episode 2.

[@jessealdrich2152]

Thank you for sharing. Your story has so many identical experiences to mine. It was both healing and painful to listen to. A couple additional things that happened to me was that my wife passed away of cancer and I was told by my Pastor that she died because she couldn’t overcome a Jezebel spirit. Thank you again for your testimony and God bless you.

[@karenduckett5288]

@@jessealdrich2152 i am so sorry this happened to you

[@jmm8305]

This is heartbreaking. I feel like they still haven’t fully processed and recognized some of the abuse. Even as they are talking about it some of it is still “normal” or expected to them.

[@valerievujs664]

Yes I agree!! As I’m listening I can still sense their hesitancy and almost making excuses for these people who did this. I pray they continue with good counsel and heal completely.

[@debkate2957]

I was taught covering a leader of their wrong doing was biblical, I was wrong to follow that. I’ve change my theology due to Wake Up and Win! ❤Thank you, thank you. Blessings chase you! ❤

[@paulinemyers7588]

There is so much more to our story, we have never really been able to voice what happened to us. It was such a shock to find out Jezabel and Ahab was running the church. Such similarities in their story.

[@troymccullagh]

So scary that people get drawn into that and they are tangled into bondage and suffering. If they would talk about this to outsiders it would be found out much sooner.

[@stevensharp981]

Thanks for sharing this story, this is a major problem in the body of Christ and needs to be addressed!

[@KimberlyBowers-n3q]

Why would you ever have staff paid elders??

[@allthings2allmen]

I will be praying for Micah & Lindsey!

[@Kathy-y7e]

Fear is not of God. Perfect love casts out fear.

[@lindag9975]

So sorry it happened to this beautiful couple. That is cult like, and Chad needs to never be allowed to pastor at any other church. The Shepherding Movement started a lot of the abusive covering theology. The Scriptures have clear requirements for church elders, as outlined in 1 Timothy and Titus. A lot of this pastor's behavior seemed to be motivated by greed for power and/or money.

[@faithworks217]

Ern Baxter was my pastor when I got saved in 1972, at 17 years old. Yes, it sure was abusive. I boarded with a couple of the "elders" who were only 26 years old when I was 19. Man, were they bossy! They pushed too far. He was a policeman and she was a nurse. They said I had to ask permission when I wanted to go shopping or to attend the youth group at church. I ignored them and went shopping and to church anyway, without asking. After all, I was legally an adult. One time when I complained to the policeman about how he treated me like a child, he said, "I will treat you like an adult when you act like an adult." Initially, they hired me to be their baby's nanny and I took good care of him and kept the house tidy. I never swore, didn't have any addictions, and I went on a date only one time (with a very nice guy) when I lived with them. But that man talked to me like I was a punk. When the wife decided to stay home to look after the baby, and I got a job in an office supply store, I was still required to do chores after work, like I was their kid, though I paid the normal rate for room and board. I didn't even get to have my own room. I had to share the room, and the bed (!) with their 18 year old foster daughter, and neither of us liked each other. She was mannish and I was girlish, which she despised, and I did not like to see her dirty sneakers or bb gun as part of the decor, never mind the lack of privacy. There was a guest room that they should have let her have. If that couple cared so much about me, then why did they never object to me hitchhiking to work every day or when I went shopping? Why did they not give me rides to work? No buses ran on the country road where we lived. I left in a huff after the policeman pointed his finger in my face and ordered me to submit to Fran, when I complained about her. Thankfully, an older couple in the church took me in as a boarder, and it was very healing to live with them. They never bossed me around and we got along great. The only job I was required to do at home was to wash or dry the supper dishes. That dear lady did my laundry, cooked my meals, and made my lunch for work. Someone said they thought she was spoiling me. She replied that I needed to be spoiled. (Yes, I did. It was lovely!) When one of the other couple's friends simperingly asked Ruby how she was getting along with me, she said fine. The girl was surprised and said, "Really?" She said, "Yes, all you have to do is treat her like an adult." This couple was in their fifties and not elders in the church, though they were far more qualified in age and maturity than the policeman and his wife.

[@maryestes9584]

@@faithworks217 I was saved during the shepherding movement also. Your story is almost word for word the same one a single friend of mine tells about her experience in a similar church. Leadership loved to use young single girls as nanny’s to help raise their children and do household chores while paying rent to stay with them. It’s horrible to think that this is still going on in the church today. My whole family was shunned and excommunicated after meeting with the Pastor and his wife and sharing our concerns.

[@faithworks217]

@@maryestes9584 It's a good thing that you were all given the boot, so that you could find a better church. I was kicked out of a church that I was a member of for 13 years, after I came across a Bible study that showed the verses being used to support the tithe doctrine were taken out of context. I loved that church, but it was time to leave because I could not grow any further in it. I would have stayed longer, if I hadn't been booted out. Only one couple remained in contact with me. The rest, I think, did not want to be tarred with the same brush by being associated with me. They wanted to prove their loyalty and submissiveness so that, hopefully, they would get to participate in ministry from the platform. After I left, I found out that the pastor had affairs with three women in the church, two who were married and the other one in her early twenties; he was in his fifties. I thought his interest in her was FATHERLY. I think that, when I first started attending the church, the pastor sounded me out to see if I would be amenable to an affair, but I was CLUELESS about his motives. He said that someone with my looks could cause a lot of trouble in a church, meaning that I might have affairs. I said in disgust, "That's sick!" Lol! So, he left me alone that way. He was a shrunken, bald-headed man, very stooped over, and it is boggling that those women went for him. One in particular was very beautiful and she had a good-looking husband. The other couple was middle-aged, and they were very sweet people. The wife was the visitation pastor. She was so consumed with remorse afterwards that she became quite ill, and her husband also, as he grieved with her about being sucked in by the pastor. They both died not long afterwards from their illnesses. Ironically, this pastor had an excellent teaching about lust, what motivates it, and how to avoid falling into it. I found that teaching very useful in keeping me single and celibate all these years. I was 31 when my husband left me and now I am 69, no boyfriends, no kissing, not even hand-holding with a man all this time. I had quite enough stress to deal with my wayward children and grandchildren, never mind throwing a man into that mix, demanding attention. The kids needed me. I think that the Lord kept me clueless about my pastor's more serious faults so that I could get the good teaching he imparted (minus the errors, which I always challenged), as well as for the fellowship I found in that church, while it lasted.

[@susanlewis6000]

You can see, more and more, as you tell the story, how the devil has intended to ruin us through these trials. We stand firm in Christ and walk on down His Way. We are on our way to Heaven. We will overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony!

[@pinkparasollise9646]

I've been a Christian 35 years, single. 15 years ago, I walked into a Christian meeting in a local rental room. This was a first time meeting with a pastor and his wife who were trying to start a church. I was a few minutes late; the pastor had already started talking. I took a seat by the door; there was about 15 people. After 2 minutes, all of a sudden, the pastor says 'oh, I have a word, doesn't someone here want to get married?' The pastor's son starts joking "yessssss.' This went on for 5 minutes, 15 people looking at each other verrrry uncomfortable. No one responded. Well, the pastor then brings his wife up, talking about her cooking. Anyway I stayed an hour, never returned. I've been to many churches; don't let a pastor matchmake. My longtime church that I went to for 20 years had mature pastors who understood that we were there for inner healing. A lot of today's singles are not equipped for marriage and need to soak in a mature church. God arranges spouses.

[@dusankakandija7423]

Oh so terrible, dear Micah! To drive you to being suicidal, acuse you of rebellion while you do everything according to theit instruction and cut you off from sharing everything with your wife! And, dear Lindsey, being a godly mother and home schooling your kids, raising them to FEAR AND RESPECT AND LOVE AND KNOW THE LORD is a great calling to all godly women!!! it is terrible and heartbreaking, may God bless you and lead you in HIS holy truth, HIS WORD IS TRUTH. you just need the Bible, GOD'S WORD is living and active. What these people are doing and do, these supposed "leaders" is demonic! they do not follow THE LORD; JESUS CHRIST!

[@NotEasyButSimple]

Yes, do a part two. I soo relate to their experience. was here writing as I was watching, releasing a floodgate of experiences and weeping as I listen to these two. And the marriage wreckage can be real. It's only By God we're still married.

[@sherrydavis7920]

Please consider recommending specific book titles and authors to provide listeners with needed language for articulating and understanding spiritual abuse, as well as the practical steps to take to get out of it. That way, this type interview can be even more helpful. Thanks.

[@The3pringles]

Keep speaking!!!!

[@karenbarella3116]

This had been going on for many years , we call it the mob mentality. This is not the heart of our Father. He is love. We are set up for this if we come from families that are unhealthy in terms of shame based parenting and control. When we see the truth and wake up, leave and learn who are real Jesus is. May you find His Shalom and healing 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@brandisquires1176]

For everyone reading the comments. The highest way God leads you is by the Word and inward witness. Prophetic words should all be weighed against how God is leading you in your heart. If someone has to strong arm you to obey THEM and what THEY see then THAT is spiritual abuse. Whether or not you follow anything is between you and Jesus.

[@jodiporter3287]

Yes!

[@karencrawley7377]

What a horrendous story. Thank God their marriage was saved. Thank you.

[@karilynscott2501]

Usually prophecy confirms what the Lord has shown you in your spirit but if it doesnt it can be from own mental acent or a famiiliar spirit

[@livmaritids4629]

God bless this lovely couple 💕✝️🙏

[@cyndicarrillo7490]

We were at Bridgeway for a season and saw this happen with so many people. Matthew 23 is a great blueprint for how we are to relate to God and one another. Jesus tells us we all have One leader, teacher and Father- we are instructed as brothers and sisters to serve and encourage one another. I think this boils down to idolatry of ministry and man that's so prevalent in the western church. So much abuse comes because of dependence on the "church" for money.

[@WriteByLisa]

I did a post on FB about the difference between church hurt and spiritual abuse. Micah nailed it.

[@blueheaven1048]

this is why I left going to church. I cannot take the risk of being destroyed again.

[@deborahthorp758]

Follow the word not a mans prophetic word vision, God speaks ,leads each of us who are Born again , Jesus Is Lord, Jesus is my lord, He is who I follow, and if I'm off , We can help one another ,confirm ,pray ,but all in humility.

[@KimberlyBowers-n3q]

The enemy uses condemnation of over all failures accusing whole categories of failures/sin...the Holy Spirit uses conviction of specific action, choice, attitude.

[@hamiltonart7165]

Any one who ...... break UP of marriage ... Family, .... the rath of God is ON THEM. in Jesus Name.

[@hannahtedeschi673]

Homeschooling her kids and another kid while having a baby…I’m a homeschooling mom of formerly 5, now only 4 and I do nothing else on purpose. I don’t want to die. It’s a full time job. That situation makes my blood boil. Homeschool your own damn kid, pastor- and see how much of a 24/7 mental load it is

[@msegura6372]

No need to curse, homeschool mom!

[@Em-Skye]

No need to mock other peoples struggles, a##$@$ ​@msegura6372

[@Abbasgirl312]

Pls let the guest tell their story. To much interruption hinders the flow of the testimony. I say that with much love. 🙏

[@tammyglines116]

This is what has run my children off from the local church……leaders who are NEVER wrong…….they are the ultimate authority

[@elizabeth01223]

Yes please do a part two!

[@shannondolphstuart]

Walking through this realization right now. But went through an abusive marriage in 1983 to 1995 where he did this stuff to me as well.

[@rooker5]

Thank you 🙏

[@abbilenz94]

A group of us with WP films moved to Greenville to be under Chad’s covering. We became really good friends with one of the families on Chad’s leadership team. I remember ALL of this and back then, I knew this was messed up but they were so loyal to Chad’s voice and would do everything he would say. It was hard to watch all of these situations unfold.

[@AHomeofLove]

Love WP Films! I was the director of media after y’all left. I was told y’all failed your mission and that I was picking it back up 🤦🏽‍♂️😅.

[@abbilenz94]

@@AHomeofLoveWow! Just wow! It goes so deep! 😑🤪

[@raybrensike42]

Spiritual abuse can be subtle. It can be as subtle as calling another minister something or branding him as something when that is not the real matter at hand. Maybe it's simply that one minister had a different vision, or way to do things, and the other disagreed, and perhaps this happened very often. What if a church over many years grew and grew and over time the became in some ways similar to a gang. Gangs will often abuse, but usually they will abuse one who wants to quit. Sometimes they talk about going "out bad". I remember the movie The Bikeriders. One talked of quitting the club so he could join the police force so he could ride a Harley all day and get paid for what he loves doing. Well, as soon as he talked about leaving, some of them in the club either saw that as their opportunity, or maybe even duty to give him a serious beat down. Later on the president said he would take care of him but what he meant by that was shooting him in the leg with a pistol. It might be spiritual abuse to put a label on one who left or to brand him as something, when the real problem is something quite different. Sometimes people don't realize how their actions affect other people, which is why we need those who will plead the cause of the oppressed. Going public with a slanderous accusation of a minister can be abuse, and it's not just the one slandered that suffers. It can be a lot of people that are negatively affected. I want spiritual leadership that solves problems instead of create them. Yes, you might try to call one out on a public forum on something like that but what if you are ignored and they just go on with business as usual, as if to say, "Can't we just move on?" Well, it happens in politics too, but when they steal an election, no I don't think it's just time to just move on. There are some problems to be resolved.

[@richardm23]

This story is a perfect example of why we must reject “Modern Day Prophecy” with extreme prejudice! This is just the outworking and damage it does to people. But it also is theologically untenable that people can “hear this or that” for other peoples lives (Sola Scriptura)

[@jonathanhicks1690]

A thought on “the Jezebel spirit”.. as I continued to hear about these stories(and I have my own personal experience like these), the over spiritualized language that is used to dominate & divide, makes me wonder if the ones accusing other of the jezebel spirit are actually functioning out of that spirit??? Look at the fruit. “Those who are deceived don’t know they’re deceived” - Sage

[@LeslieVail-b7g]

38min I am so sad for you. I too was abuused when on a mission trip, pastor opened bathroom door, thought locked, saw back side of me naked😩 I asked pastor what we should do, he said nothing, I stayed at the church 5 more years. No place to talk to people. I felt shamed every time I saw him, it was so unhealthy.

[@richardm23]

Thanks for this interview I spent time also in Georgia in youth ministry and I’m from South Carolina. Keywords here “prophetic friend“ “Prophetic word” “Spiritual son” “Covering” “Spiritual Authority” “Enemy of the House” “Spirit of Jezebel” And John Bevere who’s on the Board of Bethel. Y’all were in the NAR the most spiritually abusive/manipulative movement/cult in the world! All language rife with the possibility for abuse. As a matter of fact, prophetic words commanding people to do this, or that are ALWAYS manipulation and abuse.

[@HeartAliveToday]

YES!!! So accurate!!!

[@tamaraabbas3875]

Sounds just like another cult. It reminds me of what happened with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill. What a terrible, wicked series of events that Micah and Lindsey went through. Truly sickening. Thank the Lord you guys are out of there!! Thank you for sharing.

[@deborahthorp758]

Scripture and verse rightly divided ,where is this teaching comming from,? Mans teaching for there own vision, thank God you both were given the strength to see and leave, God is faithful when you truely belong to Him,the flesh still persecutes the Spirit ,and is always seeking to bring Gods real people back under the curse of glorifying mans teaching over Gods.

[@ebookannie]

Horrific spiritual abuse!

[@RapturesDelight]

This is crazy. I hate it that so many people are manipulated by false prophecy and teaching.

[@KimberlyBowers-n3q]

Why do people need..desparate for "getting a word"? Alot of people that are paid staff in a church..are afraid to not be in working in a church. Very good of Alan Hood to step away and do something else for a while.

[@denalowry8710]

It was not a meeting they called Micah and Lindsey to but a tribunal - the decision has already been made but they grill you and tribunal you

[@laura-cg7vl]

I am to the point where I am very irritated when Christians frequently say “God told me …”. It seems best to say something less definitive that gives room for the possibility that we have not necessarily heard from God but that we felt to do something or make a certain decision with the weight of the good mind God has given us, the scriptures and the sense from the Lord that it was the right thing to do. Just seems more real. Also I will never again allow someone in the Church to tell me they heard from God what I am “supposed to do”. There are other less invasive ways to give guidance or advice and direction.

[@AllGoingToPlan]

Whoaaaa... You're not even 15 minutes into this conversation on spiritual abuse and you've already mentioned the leader who began the cult I was raised in. And his book was required reading for you! Wow. It's so interesting and sad to hear of churches promoting Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, when everyone involved in their cult knows they both looked down on all (ALL) outside churches and Christians as 'less than' and not 'true believers' - and their cult members are still taught to do the same. Cannot warn Christians enough to stay away from Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.

[@Livewell-xgi]

There’s a perpetual problem in the church where too many in that hierarchy are afraid to condemn systemic problems in the name of insulting “God’s anointed”. Constant denial and lack of transparency is so frustrating. Then when people leave the church after being hurt they hear “well you should have known better than to look to humans. Don’t make it God’s fault and insult all his people by deconstructing your faith”. But the problem is that these guys are the ambassadors for the faith. When they do damage they need to own up.