EP. 216 After Church Hurt: Rebuilding Healthy Churches W/Pastor Tim St. John

Michael interviews Tim St. John about his “Freedom in Christ” session, “Building Churches that Honor and Protect,” concluding a hidden abuse track focused on identifying abuse in churches and then rebuilding healthy culture. Using a termite-damage metaphor, St. John explains that removing abuse isn’t enough; churches must reinstall “beams” like sound theology of suffering and identity in Christ to promote healing and exalt Christ. He defines church hurt as unrepentant sin normalized or protected by leadership and describes three waves of pain: the direct wound, failure to address it, and loss of community. Discussing his book After Church Hurt, he addresses both sheep hurt and shepherd hurt, urges looking to Christ as the Good Shepherd, and offers practical steps including diagnosing what happened, seeking legal counsel when crimes are involved, finding experienced counseling, easing back into church, planning conversations, and evaluating church accountability and culture.

00:00 Conference Intro

00:41 Meet Tim St John

01:24 Workshop Overview

03:11 Church Hurt Defined

06:11 Three Waves of Pain

08:16 After Church Hurt Book

08:34 Sheep and Shepherd Hurt

11:30 Hope in the Good Shepherd

14:53 Practical Steps Forward

18:11 Closing and Resources

Episode Resources
After Church Hurt - Tim St. John