What do you do when you still love Jesus… but church no longer feels safe?

In this heartfelt episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise sits down with co-host Briana Gray for a deeply personal conversation about church hurt, healing, and what it looks like to find your way back when church no longer feels safe.

Cherise shares her faith journey—from growing up as a pastor's kid to navigating painful seasons when leadership failures and broken community left her grieving. While her relationship with God was never in question, her relationship with the church was. Through seasons of disappointment, bitterness, and rebuilding, God gently taught her how to separate His heart from human failure.

Together, Cherise and Briana explore what it means to love the church again—not blindly, not naively—but with wisdom, grace, and maturity.

What We Cover:

• Growing up in a pastor's home and developing a personal faith

• A pivotal moment of obedience that shaped Cherise's walk with God

• How church hurt impacts community, identity, and trust

• The difference between losing faith in God and losing trust in people

• Why disengaging from church can quietly stall our spiritual growth

• How to rebuild trust in church without ignoring pain

• What to do when church doesn't feel safe anymore

• Learning to love people with grace instead of cynicism

Key Quotes:

"Your pastor is human. If your faith was built on them instead of God, it will shake."

"Rejection isn't rejection—it's redirection."

"If you stop engaging in community, you stop the forward movement of His purpose in your life."

"God's banner over me is love—even in the valley."

Who This Episode Is For:

This conversation is for the woman who:

• Has been hurt by church leadership

• Feels hesitant to walk back into a sanctuary

• Loves Jesus but struggles with the institution

• Is tired of carrying bitterness but doesn't know how to let it go

You are not alone. And your story is not over.

Connect With Us:

Follow us on Instagram: Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ Life Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomanssuccesscode/

Join our Facebook Group: Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact

Join the Conversation:

Have you experienced church hurt? What helped you find your way back—or what's holding you back right now?

We would love to hear from you. Send us a message or share your thoughts in our community.