Chapter 5, Episode 6

Pastor Young Gun is out, but the fallout is far from over. With the church divided, Tom is desperate to reassert his authority. He played his hand, forcing people to choose sides, and now it’s time to bring the Team Young Gun stragglers back into the fold. But how does he do it? And more importantly—does it work? Meanwhile, amidst the tension and manipulation, something unexpected happens. Brandi and Amanda are allowed to be friends again. What changed?

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Chapter 5, Episode 5

Tom has never been one for deep self-reflection or lingering in raw emotion, but as a pastor, he knows he has to maintain the illusion of spiritual depth and care. With Good Friday 2019 approaching, he faces a dilemma—how to keep his mask on without letting the service become too introspective or heavy. His solution? Send Amanda and Froggy into the planning meetings to do the dirty work for him.

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Chapter 5, Episode 4

Coming off the success of the Christmas play, Melissa is determined to make the church’s Valentine’s event unforgettable with a dinner theater experience. The Griswolds take charge of the meal, while Melissa reimagines The Glass Menagerie with her own twist. But the real question of the night—can Froggy pull off his sermon-style message and send couples home feeling encouraged in the Lord?

Meanwhile, Amanda is sidelined with pneumonia as the church gears up for the third annual Daddy-Daughter Dance. She leaves the event in others’ hands, but as tensions rise and women start walking out, she’s called in at the last minute. Will the night end in sweet memories or complete disaster?

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Chapter 5, Episode 3

In this episode of Burning Butterflies, Amanda recalls the tense and defining moment when she decided to challenge Charlette’s rigid approach to women's ministry at Come As You Are. For years, the women's events at the church were steeped in tradition—every gathering required a keepsake, a craft, and, of course, worship. It had become an adult version of VBS, and Amanda, along with Brandi, was growing increasingly frustrated with the formulaic approach. After attending a series of fresh, innovative conferences, the duo felt inspired to put on an event of their own—a simple, meaningful gathering for women, without all the unnecessary fluff.

But Charlette wasn’t one to take kindly to being proven wrong. In this episode, we dive into how Charlette responded to Amanda’s bold move, whether the women in the church were willing to show up for something new, was Brandi allowed to participate and what did Froggy have to do with a women's conference.

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Chapter 5, Episode 2

Amanda has always wanted to serve, to be useful, to prove her devotion to the church and to Tom. But in this episode, we unravel how Tom expertly manipulates her, turning her into a pawn in his mind games—this time, with Beth as his target. As tensions rise, Amanda is unknowingly used to push Beth over the edge, leading to her final breaking point and ultimate decision to leave the church for good.

And what is Amanda’s reward for her blind loyalty? A position in the sound booth—a ministry at last, after her humiliating "time out" punishment. But there’s just one problem: Amanda has no knowledge, no experience, and absolutely no business being there. Yet, in Tom’s world, qualifications don’t matter—only obedience does.

Chapter 5, Episode 1

The premiere of Chapter 5 kicks off with a dramatic turning point as the subtle division within the church finally erupts into the open. For months, tensions have been brewing beneath the surface, with quiet alliances forming amongst the church body. Even Tom has acknowledged the split, referring to You Gun as "their pastor"—a comment that only fuels the divide.

Amanda recounts the shocking moment she walks into the church for a special service, only to be told she must choose a side. It has been decided to take the division to a vote, forcing the congregation to publicly declare their loyalties.

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Chapter 5 Mini-Sode

"It All Hits the Fan"

Chapter 4, Episode 14

The chapter finale delivers an explosive and emotional culmination as Melissa’s play turns out to be a resounding success. With stunning execution, the production dazzles the congregation, leaving no doubt about Melissa’s talents and leadership. But behind the scenes, the story is far more complex.

Amanda, forbidden from having anything to do with the play, secretly teams up with Brandi to ensure everything runs smoothly. Their covert collaboration is a quiet rebellion but thrives unnoticed, in part because Tom is laser-focused on what he believes will finally be the church's breakthrough moment.

Tom throws everything he has into the production, granting Brandi unlimited resources in the hope of doubling the church’s size—a dream he’s chased for years. Yet, instead of growth, Tom inadvertently unleashes something he never expected. By giving Brandi the freedom to act as a bridge between Amanda and Melissa, he creates a dynamic that challenges his control and plants the seeds of transformation.

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Chapter 4, Episode 13

In this episode, Amanda and Melissa dive into the aftermath of Tom and Charlotte’s decision to put Amanda and Brandi on "time-out." The fallout reveals the tangled web of manipulation and control within the church, as everyone scrambles to maintain a façade of order.

Melissa finds herself knee-deep in planning the church play, juggling the demands of her role while navigating the tension created by Froggy trying to both be the lead of the play and the director. Tom, recognizing the need to keep Brandi occupied, assigns her to help Melissa with the play—a move that he doesn't fully think through the repercussions.

Meanwhile, Amanda buries herself in office work, using the tasks as a way to avoid the emotional toll, but still maintaining her friendship with Brandi in secret. And when Young Gun returns to find everything he put into place had been undone? Well, you're not going to want to miss when Amanda and Melissa unpack how these events exposed the toxic dynamics of the church and marked the beginning of a shift in their perspectives.

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Chapter 4, Episode 12

Fall 2018 marks the unraveling of everything. Within days of Young Gun leaving for basic training, Tom attacks his Family Ministry. Amanda and Brandi are abruptly placed in "time out" and forbidden from speaking to one another, their friendship collateral damage in Tom's quest for control.

Meanwhile, Tom is riding high after the illusion of success from the church’s 20th anniversary celebration and he hands Melissa free rein to elevate the Christmas Eve service to unprecedented heights.

Burning Butterflies is a listener supported podcast. Please check out our Patreon to learn more about how you too can support what we are doing!

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