Wounded in the Church: Hope Beyond the Pain

Church should be a safe place, right? Then why do so many get hurt there?Ray Beeson and Chris Hayward combine their years of ministry experience to address head-on the elephant in the room: church members and church leaders hurt Christians. All the time. And the long-lasting effects-rejection, shame, despair, loneliness, fear-can be devastating. The authors have witnessed the rise of the “dones,” those who are just done with God thanks to scars from church.With first-person stories of hurt and loss, this book is a wake-up call for any who deny woundedness in the church but is also a redemptive message for any who hurt from church wounds. Leaders and laypeople alike will learn how to grieve over abuse, to leave unhealthy attitudes and patterns that cause pain, and to trust in God’s real, delivering work through churches that build up, not tear down.Thanks to the grace of God, there is always hope beyond the pain.Review“Chris Hayward and Ray Beeson are two of the most theologically balanced and spiritually sensitive leaders I know. Their experience and their impact in the body of Christ through their pastoral work and writings, as well as capable conference ministry, is known in many segments of the evangelical community. Their pastoral backgrounds highly qualify them as sensitive and wise communicators. I commend this book as a helpful resource for pastoral and group study, as well as a self-examining read for any church leaders wise enough to open their hearts to learn how to heal the hearts and souls of broken people.”-Jack W. HayfordChancellorThe King’s UniversitySouthlake, TX“There are multitudes of people from all walks of life suffering from deep wounds and great pain. They are seeking help, hope, healing, and happiness. When they turn to the church for answers they are often hurt worse rather than embraced, understood, and led through a healing process. Most churches are ill prepared to bring wholeness to these hurting individuals. Often the leadership of the church hinders rather than helps by not having been equipped to address the real issues at the source. Deliverance and inner healing are misunderstood by much of the church, and shunned, ignored or glossed over with holy-sounding answers. Wounded in the Church very accurately describes the seriousness of the issue, and pinpoints the existing need with many true-life examples. We are deeply indebted to Chris Hayward and Ray Beeson for exposing these problems, and especially for indicating ways to repair them. I love this book, and I know you will also!”-Doris M. WagnerGlobal Spheres, Inc.Wife of C. Peter Wagner“This book is long overdue. During my own years in pastoral ministry, I have seen and experienced everything described here. I remember well when my friend and brother in ministry, the author Ray Beeson, first began this project several years ago. Now, with the collaboration of Chris Hayward, they have together described ‘abusive congregations’ at both the pastoral or leadership level and the congregational level. They describe so clearly the demonic culprit guaranteed to wound the body of Christ-the perfectionistic ‘religious spirit’ which lies at the heart of all church abuse. The best part, however, is their presentation of biblical solutions. May the healing of the wounded in the church begin as Christ, the Master Healer, is exalted!”-Jim AyarsPastor, Ventura Seventh Day Adventist ChurchVentura, CA“Our churches and ministries are filled with hurting hearts-among them, those who too often have been wounded by the body of Christ itself. These are suffering souls we cannot ignore; problems we cannot sweep under the proverbial rug. We wound Christ when we wound others! Wounded in the Church is a powerful resource every church leader urgently needs. Filled with honest and heartbreaking stories, this book will open your eyes to the real emotional pain far too many are experiencing at the hands of those who should be l