Part 1 of Moses Flores' story is here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mOMaeIeVnuHeZvF2N1JSI?si=BIPw1tXdTdaJrI8swC9aow

In Part 2, Moses shares the fallout of attempting to request charges against his senior pastor and how the pastor instead turned others against Moses and bore false witness about Moses' engagement in ministry and even his marriage, harming his wife and family in the process. Listen in to more of Moses' story and how he continues to call his brothers in his previous church and Presbytery to love and to save each other from their sinfulness.

AskingForMe.org

"Leaving Church" is a series of stories recorded with people who have left their churches and/or denominations over the past few years. You can listen to other episodes on AskingForMe.org.

Sadly, a common story among church goers is how actions of the leaders are targeted against someone who asks for more accountability from them. This is the story that our guest, Moses Flores, shares about his church in McAllen, Texas. A former ruling elder and ministry leader in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), Flores tells how he went from a supportive relationship with the lead Pastor of his church to a "no win situation" once he became the target of spiritually abusive decisions.

Listen in to part 1 as Moses shares his story and the hurtful experience he and his wife endured at the hands of the South Texas Presbytery, PCA. Stay tuned for Part 2 to be released soon.

on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Reflections on The Wall of Silence podcast

Episodes 8-9: Helen's Story

I just finished listening to a podcast and wanted to record some thoughts I had. It's called The Wall of Silence, and it was a two-part episode that I listened to from a woman who had been on the ACNA Bishops Council in the Midwest.

I was struck by how similar things were between her story and mine and my husband. Here are some of those thoughts. You can also read the transcript on the blog at askingforme.org.

What is spiritual abuse? Why does it seem so prevalent and whose fault is it? Who gets to say what abuse is or isn't? Join us as we talk about what we've learned and seen and experienced in the first of the discussions on Spiritual Abuse in the Church. 

What does gender have to do with the gospel? Why do some of us make a big deal about the four women named in Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus? Is there significance to the gender roles society has seemed to instill for millenia and is there something to be said for how women have been treated throughout history in our interpretations of the bible and the inspiration and encouragement we receive now from what we know about the story of God's people?

Transcripts available on our blog at askingforme.org

"And the reason why we don’t have Bathsheba’s name in this passage very much, the reason that she’s referred to as wife and woman more often is because this is a story about an abuser. This is a story about David who abused his power.

He abused his physical power, his spiritual power, his social power. He abused his power that he was given to rule and reign righteously. It is a story about an abuser."

To read the transcript:

https://askingforme.org/2024/12/08/advent-3-about-uriahs-wife/

Throughout scripture, we see God saying, care for the widows, care for the orphans, care for the poor, that if we have the resources to care for widows, orphans, poor, and anyone who cannot care for themselves, and if we have those resources and we don’t, we are no longer on the side of justice.

We are no longer on the side of God.

To read the transcript at askingforme.org

https://askingforme.org/2024/12/01/advent-series-2-restoring-ruth/

Listen in on these sermons from Advent and you'll hear it. Truth and Justice for the oppressed and hope for the women who bore the marks of abuse and shame.

To read the transcript of this episode, visit our blog at

https://askingforme.org/2024/11/19/advent-series-1-tamar-the-more-righteous-than-judah/

Looking back, these sermons by Rob were a crucial turning point for both Rob and Robin. Through digging into these stories of the women in the Bible, they couldn't help but see the parallels to modern day cases of abuse that they personally experienced and were watching unfold for far too many others in church ministry. These sermons and discussions that Rob and Robin had over the months of November and December of 2022 during the Advent and Christmas season were truly the movement of the Holy Spirit of Jesus calling them to follow His leading no matter where they might go. It cost them their jobs, many friends and colleagues, their reputations, and their home. 

Asking For Me was born out of the searching for Robin and other friends in ministry, trying to make sense of the stories we were hearing and experiencing firsthand, and re-commiting to truth and justice instead of shallow performative peacekeeping (peacefaking) and cover ups of abuse.

A quick few thoughts on forgiveness and a brief review of some of Tim Keller's book Forgive.

False performative peace is a plague on the church. Forgiveness is often a demand that leads to false peace and unity.

NOTE: A full transcript is available on the website if you prefer to read it.

CW/TW: Suicide and hell

Please also note there are occasional dogs barking and emergency sirens in the background at 0:30 seconds and 5:00 and around 11:10, later on. I tried to edit most of it out. If that bothers you, I am so sorry. I will also post the transcript if you'd rather read it. I totally understand.

The summary is this: all suicides do not go to hell. It is not biblically sound doctrine and a hateful theology. God loves you. I deeply believe it.

More to come...