Is Bethlehem Baptist Safe for Abuse Victims?

Guest Bios

Show Transcript

Natalie Hoffman spent more than 10 years at Bethlehem Baptist Church—the church where John Piper pastored for over 30 years. During that time, she says she was stuck in an abusive marriage. Yet rather than helping her, she says Bethlehem blamed and shamed her, and left her suicidal.

On this edition of The Roys Report, Natalie Hoffman joins Julie to tell her story—an account that’s extremely relevant, given current events at Bethlehem.

Recently, three pastors resigned from the church—including Jason Meyer, successor to John Piper—and about 10-percent of the church’s members have left. While the upheaval at Bethlehem Baptist has many factors, one issue consistently mentioned is a toxic culture that perpetuates and enables abuse. 

Natalie’s story speaks powerfully to this alleged culture of abuse. Natalie tells of repeatedly pleading with elders and pastors to confront her husband for his pattern of abuse. Instead, church leaders urged Natalie to become a better wife, so her husband would change. And Natalie says she was reproved for sharing the abuse and told not to “gossip” about her husband.

But Natalie’s story doesn’t just expose Bethlehem Baptist, a church with worldwide influence. It also shows women in similar situations how to break free, something Natalie has been doing for years as founder of Flying Free—a ministry for abuse survivors.

Natalie is also the author of Is it Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage. A Christian Woman’s Guide to Hidden Emotional and Spiritual Abuse, a book we’re offering as a gift to anyone who gives a gift of $25 or more to The Roys Report in the month of September.

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This Weeks Guests

Natalie Hoffman

Natalie Hoffman is an author, podcaster, and professional certified coach for women of faith in destructive relationships. She offers educational courses and group mentoring through her online programs, Flying Free and Flying Higher. You can learn more from Natalie each week by tuning into the Flying Free podcast. Get the first chapter of her book and companion workbook free on her website, flyingfreenow.com

Show Transcript

SPEAKERSJULIE ROYS, NATALIE HOFFMAN

JULIE ROYS 00:00Natalie Hoffman spent more than 10 years at Bethlehem Baptist Church, the church where John Piper pastored for over 30 years. During that time, she said she was also stuck in an abusive marriage. Yet rather than helping her, she says Bethlehem blamed and shamed her and left her suicidal. Welcome to The Roys Report, a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And today Natalie Hoffman joins me to tell her story, a story that’s extremely relevant given what’s happening at Bethlehem right now. As you may know, three pastors have resigned from the church including Jason Meyer, the successor to John Piper, about 10% of the church membership have left as well. And while the issues surrounding the exodus and upheaval at Bethlehem are complex, one issue is consistently mentioned above the rest, a toxic culture that perpetuates and enables abuse. The current abuse complaints surround a prominent professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary, and an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Andy Naselli. If you’ve read my articles, you’re aware that rather than commission an independent investigation into the allegations of spiritual abuse concerning Andy, Bethlehem College and Seminary conducted an internal investigation, and not surprisingly, they found Andy innocent of the charges. A similar scenario played out at Bethlehem Baptist Church. And now those who say they’ve been wounded and abused at Bethlehem are crying foul. And that’s why I think Natalie’s story is so eye openin