Spiritual Abuse in YWAM Pt. 3: Loose Ends
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 พ.ย. 2019
- This is (hopefully) the last part to this "series". I felt like publicly addressing the critique I've been getting and tie up all the loose ends. This has been therapeutic for me honestly, and while this experience will always play a huge part in my story and I nothing will ever be the same because of it, this process has helped a lot in giving me strength to heal from the past and put it behind me.
If you guys would like to further research this on your own or even just validate my claims, here are some resources to get you started. (Be sure to also check the resources in the descriptions of the other videos.)
Cult Education Institute resources:
YWAM visitor comments-
culteducation.com/group/1245-...
Thought Reform and YWAM
culteducation.com/group/1245-...
All YWAM related-
culteducation.com/component/i...
I've watched all three videos, and I'm beyond impressed by your insights and maturity. You're speaking on behalf of thousands of damaged Christians, and you're doing it with restraint and respect, while still telling the unvarnished truth. I'm sorry you've been attacked for doing what's right. "You're not alone" is an important message, and for those who feel they can't talk about it, your videos will continue to be a source of validation and -- ultimately -- healing.
I have to say I am so thankful for these videos. I stumbled on this video while trying to research YWAM for fulfilling my desire to go out into the world and preach the gospel. I will be performing VERY strenuous research into any organization which I volunteer through. I will not be going through YWAM. I appreciate you, your heart for truth, and your genuine care for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Keep your head up and lay your burdens at the foot of the Cross.
Don't you love it when people try to tell you what happened when they weren't even there haha or when they tell you you're being rebellious because your spirit is screaming inside trying to warn you
I have had my PTSD invalidated as well, and it is the WORST feeling. I BELIEVE you. And the fact that you struggle today makes sense.
I did my DTS in Newcastle many, many years ago. Sounds like nothing’s changed. The abuse I experienced and witnessed still takes my breath away. Good for you on speaking out.
This is probably the longest comment I’ve ever written. Just finished watching the 3 videos you posted. I came across your videos unintentionally, funny enough because I was a leader at YWAM Newcastle several years ago leading DTS’ and its been a couple years but would probably know most of your leaders still. I loved what you said that disagreeing doesn’t equal disunity. Group think drives me crazy and isn’t a healthy environment. A lot of bases in YWAM Australia use to do a week of teaching called ‘authority and submission’. Thank God I never had this week of teaching on any school I was a part of. Especially considering the damage it’s done. In one school I led we had maybe one or two sessions on this. Some of the more intelligent students came to me pointing out so many problems with the teaching. I couldn’t do much more but agreed with them. I think my response to the class was something like ‘submit to God, not man’ which is what the Bible teaches. And besides, I’m way more of a rebel then anyone that’s come through any of my DTS’ so thats awkward. I remember some people telling me some of my students had a rebellious spirit for staying up too late or something. That’s an example of a hyper spiritualized environment. I was lucky that I have some very close friends who were part of the YWAM founding days and are quite frankly big names in YWAM who I could talk with about this stuff and hear where the teachings came from. This helped me discern some of the stuff you have been talking about. The other thing you identified that I strongly agree is a problem in YWAM, is what I call a hyper spiritualized environment. When you told the story about getting contradictory words about the Sunday service and arguing about it for an hour made me laugh because it’s a familiar story. I definitely believe in seeking God’s guidance but he’s already told us what to preach; the gospel. And thats what I’ve always taught. To simply share the gospel and the testimony of what God has done in your life. Gods power will show up. Have you ever heard Billy Graham preach? He preached the same message for 50 years. I think that YWAM teaching to seek Gods will and to prayerfully ask him about your life is amazing but when it looks like people praying about every little decision at every little moment it becomes crippling. God does not desire that kind of relationship with us. I’ve also seen people use crazy ways to try to explain away why people are hearing contradictory things from God. There needs to be the freedom to say, “I don’t think that’s a word from God.” The good news is it seems YWAM is starting to deal with and move away from the issues you discussed and I really hope your video helps YWAM change. YWAM is an incredible organization filled with amazing people but if we allow those things to go unchecked, it will be very damaging. I’m actually in senior leadership with another NGO/ministry and we’re about to start running a YWAM base with DTS’. Which is ironic and hilarious for me because I had a very good escape route from missions. With everything said, YWAM has done amazing things and I believe/hope the people in YWAM have the maturity to learn from our mistakes and grow. Either way I remain involved with YWAM despite me. You did the right thing girl.
what YWAM base are you running Danny? I like your perspective
me too
Why Do you call Abby Girl? You should show more respect. These things are there for 50 years and you did not know that? And there is more. So what are you writing here?
Being new to an AoG, ywam connected church, I was astonished to be told "Jesus told us to do this...are you suggesting we ignore Jesus?!" when I questioned a decision of the board. Your testimony helped me understand how I was treated and why, so thank you.
Speaking up about these issues and your experience is SO important, and I am thankful for your voice and your heart.
Hey Abby- just saw that you subscribed to my channel and wanted to give you a thank you here! I saw your videos a few months ago and you are one of the folks on TH-cam who gave me the courage to make my own YWAM spiritual abuse video. Thank you bunches for your candor and honesty and bravery.
Hey, girl! I love hearing this and I'm so proud of you! Please reach out to me anytime if you ever wanna talk about this stuff or just chit chat. I'd love to even just Facetime and get to know you. Let me know if that's something you'd be interested in... XOXO
You think very clearly and deeply and are impressively well-spoken. I have never been part of YWAM, but a recent blow-up of my church cell group made me realize on a personal level how easily spiritual abuse can happen. You've helped put words to some of what went wrong. Thank you.
Wow! I really appreciate these videos and applaud your courage to share. I was never involved in YWAM but used to be envious of those who did/could, and knew a lot of YWAM people. But I was involved in several unhealthy charismatic and prosperity gospel types of churches over the years and I have experienced some similar things in church though at much less of a degree of severity. I don't know how long it will take me to fully recover from what I've experienced; if I went through what you experienced I probably would not have survived. It's time for people to speak out against the abuses and false teachings in these movements and bring some accountability. Thank you again for sharing. I will never send my daughter to YWAM or anything similar.
Former YWAMer here. I agree so much with the "disagreement doesn't have to mean disunity." I struggled with this so much because I had views that the leaders don't agree with and I was a rebel for that. Rebellion = witchcraft (according to the Bible), so I got accused of that, too.
Abby you are a strong woman and have been incredibly brave by posting this. One of the chief tools used by spiritually abusive leaders is to make you think that you are alone and another is to make you doubt yourself. Bravo for your courage. My heart breaks for the s*** that you've had to experience
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I was never part of YWAM, but related with so much of what you've said in regards to your mental and spiritual struggle afterward.
Abby, You have articulated the experience better than I have ever heard it articulated before! Thank you for creating this video! I was forced to leave YWAM after 5 1/2 years and I have gone into the details of that elsewhere so I will not repeat it, but one of the most difficult things is when we get home and all our friends, loved ones and church leaders think YWAM is the "most in touch with God organization in the world" -- just as I did when I joined! All of a sudden we are in no-man's-land without any moral support. We become the bad-person both within and without!
I would tell anyone reading this. Those who leave YWAM with serious damage done to them, need your support! Never forget what Jesus said about the least of His disciples and how they are treated by us!
I want to commend you on these videos. You did right and are brave for doing so. I hope being open like this will help your healing process and God will use it for his glory.
I was told that too “I’m sorry that happened to you but it seems that your alone in this experience and there were no witnesses so we can only do so much” so passive and such lies there is NO accountability.
Time for the leader of YWAM Newcastle to step down.
You have done an important work. You have been working through what happened to you. You are processing what happened and how you were spiritually abused. You have not slandered anyone or anything.
Your trauma is real. One of my best friends went into YWAM, and She has never been the same. The control they exerted over her, caused damage to her. She never admitted it to me but came back unable to relate to real life.
I understand what happened to her now.
I saw that they had some kind of control over her and that she was under some kind of authority. Your message has been very important. It might save someone from damage.
Thank YOU for not turning a blind eye to these problems which are real and systemic. The truth must come out.
Can we start a Me Too movement on YWAM spiritual abuse? Or, spiritual abuse in general.
Someone did start one on Twitter several years ago! I think you can still find those tweets under #ywamtoo
You speak with such sincerity + integrity. God will certainly use your testimony, bless you
Hi again Abby, As I've been praying and viewing some other YWAM videos, possibly one of or even the most important factor of you and others reporting on any Spiritual Abuse, is that some of the most mature and seasoned YWAM Leaders are looking into this issue with the aim of making corrections where needed as a result of their maturity and humility..... which, as you know, is what each of us should always be willing and ready to do when any of us are faced with and dealing with our own sins and limited knowledge. Cheers, Ted Schempp, Nashville
You have a right to tell the truth you have a right to tell your story. I wish someone would have told me that 28 years ago
In hindsight I remember when I first came out in the feelings were very raw and so I kind of understand why the Recovery Group didn't want to hear the perspective of someone who had been on their recovery Journey a few decades later and the heckling was a little immature but hurting people hurt people and deception runs deep as it can take years to unravel
Bless you. I have been through this too and faced similar responses. You are courageous and wise to speak up. Spiritual abuse and cult like tendencies can do much damage.
I appreciate your honesty, sounds like it’s rare at YWAM. My granddaughter who was in YWAM Salem has a boy friend still in the program and uses money donated to him to fly to see her and recently took a vacation to Mexico. He also used a string of “f” words in a social media, complaining about his homework assignments. Of course he’s just one student in the YWAM program, but why do they keep ungodly kids there. Somethings really sadly amiss.
Shining light on the darkness in YWAM.
Hey Abby, I seen your videos and I`m sorry this happened to you. I did my DTS in 2007 in New Castel and my experience was amazing ( It change my life) that being said i think you are doing a good job by putting this out, I really love the way you said t "disagreement dose not mean division"
and I think we can all learned from all situations. Also I think by warning ppl of this thing is good, we were told that we were able to get out of there any time we wanted to and i hope ppl can use that option if necessary. Just know that by the end of the day is you and Jesus I`m not sure where you at as far as your faith but needless to say that i have also had a hard journey with my faith and im not the typical Christian. i guess what im trying to say is that i respect you and i love the fact that you have questions cuz that`s how we found the truth. YWAM is far from perfect cuz we have Humans running the organization and even tho my experience was great i encourage you to keep on making videos on how you feel because you are being the voice for many that need to have a voice.
Good series of vids! 👍
Don't let anyone take your voice. Use your discernment and let the Holy Spirit lead you in what you say and share. Of course you shared this because had someone shared it before you signed up, maybe you could have saved yourself from the spiritual abuse and your ptsd that you now deal with unfortunately. What always fascinated me was how Jesus was not big into the church, He wanted to be with the "sinners" (we all are but He sought out the lowly and unwanted by the church). I find it interesting that one of the times that He went into the church, He was flipping tables and being a "rebel" so stand strong sweet girl & continue to be Christ like.
Sarah Pardew thank you, Friend! 😭❤️
That is the same issue that I have I don't want to keep happening and I'm hoping and praying for the vulnerable ones and speaking up about my situation to them I hope helps in some way to teach those that have ears to hear but also I have met some loving people in there as well and some have apologized and some have somehow forgotten everything that they said years ago but at the same time God knows what happened and yes I would want to forget if I said those things to somebody as well so I guess there's always a bright side to it you have to say maybe if not for the grace of God there go I but I know that there has been leaders who have really been loving and we're saddened to find out about stuff that happened and I pray that they are taking steps to make sure that it doesn't happen again and I think the more that they are aware then the more they can help the problem and be part of the solution and I'm believing that my life will be restored cover for my cello Hallelujah
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge--
then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
I personally was positively affected by YWAM. I am sorry for your poor experience.
Yes, true peace is the presence of justice. I believe Luther King said something similar. Speak your mind. Go Abby Go
Thank you. So much destruction. They use the name of God like a fist.
ignore the haters!! Forgiving the perpetrators doesn't mean not pointing out their wrongdoing. The loving thing to do is biblically correct, which is exactly what you're doing. Show no favoritism
great comment. there is a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. the former can go one way. the latter cannot.
From yours and others comments, l would say that YWAM has some major quality control and discernment issues with the people they employ in leadership.
Even though the things that they told me The leaders have told me things. like the people that told me those things decades ago do not believe those now but it does not change the trauma of what happened it does not change the truth and it can't make up for everything that was lost and stolen but I can say if they truly believe differently now then that was an answer to prayer and that God is faithful
Disunity is cause by the ones who teach unbiblical doctrine- not the one who exposes it!
22:02 cognitive dissonance and the following internal reinforcement measures are one heck of a drug, arent they?
Not abuse people not organization
Not every base awful about that not a cult. I did ywam it didn't go good bash people. Not a cult.