Have you been told to (or seen others) push through personal pain and trauma while engaging in advocacy for the health of the Church without being given the tools to manage your (or their) own emotional wellness? Are you often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted?

Meet Lori Anne Thompson: a compassionate survivor, storyteller, and student. Lori Anne is a devoted wife, mother, and enthusiastic cook who loves to share her passion for sustainable rhythms and healing for those who have survived trauma.

This episode was initially shared in April 2023, but with the heartbreaking loss of Jennifer Lyell, I wanted to share it again. You can find more information on Jennifer Lyell here: Died: Jennifer Lyell, SBC Abuse Survivor and Former Lifeway Executive - Christianity Today

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Lori Anne and Amy talk through these topics in this episode of the Untangled Faith podcast:

Who is Lori Anne Thompson?

The Three Phases of Recovery

How trauma can't be your whole life

Chronic activation

Finding sustainable ways to give back

Red flags to look for

Becoming what we're against

The power of saying no.

Resources:

Victim Impact Statement from Lori Anne Thompson regarding Ravi Zacharias:

https://loriannethompson.com/2021/02/08/lori-anne-thompson-victim-impact-statement/

https://loriannethompson.com

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/bulletin/cpac-trump-transgenderism-oscars.html

Truth & Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice by Judith Herman: https://amzn.to/3mxzx0W

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This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

Aaron Armstrong joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to explore the nuances of leaving a beloved church community, navigating the awkwardness of joining a new church, and the motivations and process behind his new book, Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It. The conversation moves from personal stories of faith transitions to honest insight into Christian publishing, endorsements, and what it means to thoughtfully engage with the important theological tenants of the Christian faith.

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In this episode we:

• Hear Aaron’s story of leaving a church he loved and the emotional and practical realities of church closure—reflecting on how endings don’t always mean failure.

• Discuss the strange and sometimes awkward season of being new in a church, resisting the urge to jump right in, and learning to simply “be.”

• Delve into the complexities of book endorsements in Christian publishing, including why they matter (or don’t), how they’re decided, and the landmines authors and publishers face.

• Talk about how reducing people to social media snippets can distort real-life relationships, and why discernment is important when choosing where to show up and engage.

• Wrestle with common theological distractions and accidental heresies.

• Explore Aaron’s new book, Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It, including his approach to foundational theology, why he wrote it, and who it’s for.

Featured Guest

• Aaron Armstrong Aaron Armstrong: Author, Speaker, Canadian

Resources mentioned

• Aaron's web site https://aaronarmstrong.co

• Faith Simplified https://amzn.to/43PxkzT

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Bill Henson, founder and director of Posture Shift Ministries, joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to talk about cultivating a posture of radical love and hospitality toward LGBTQ+ individuals and families within the church, regardless of theological position.

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In this episode we:

• Explore the difference between a church’s theological position and its posture toward LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Hear why Posture Shift was founded in the midst of the culture wars around LGBTQ+ rights and the church’s response.

• Discuss the importance of practical, missional skill sets for churches to truly love and include LGBTQ+ people, beyond merely good intentions.

• Address common language pitfalls and the impact of terminology like “lifestyle” on LGBTQ+ individuals seeking belonging in faith communities.

• Examine the need for clarity and transparency about church beliefs on sexuality—and the harm of ambiguity or “bait and switch” scenarios for LGBTQ+ congregants.

• Reflect on the dangers of treating LGBTQ+ presence in church as a threat, and instead view it as a missional opportunity.

• Consider best practices for using names and pronouns, and the principle of “pronoun hospitality,” especially in youth ministry and family settings.

• Learn about practical resources like the "Guiding Families" book and direct care coaching for families navigating these conversations.

Featured Guest

• Bill Henson, Posture Shift Ministries Posture Shift | postureshift.com

Resources mentioned

• This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and for 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithfulcounseling.com/untangled

• About - Posture Shift | postureshift.com

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Pete Singer passed away on May 1, 2025.

He is missed by his many family and friends.

Make a donation to GRACE: https://netgrace.org/donate

Pete Singer, executive director of GRACE, shares about grooming, hidden trauma, being "overly" sensitive to abuse, and the importance of third-party investigations.

“Perpetrators put a lot of effort into being the kind of person who would never do that.”

"Being more sensitive may be the product of having more knowledge."

Pete Singer is the Executive Director of GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment and an expert on third-party investigations, trauma, and trauma-informed practice.

GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment is a nonprofit organization that specializes in safeguarding initiatives to guard against church abuse, sexual abuse in the church.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. What misconceptions about perpetrators of abuse do people have, and how can we ensure we are more informed?

2. How does trauma-informed practice apply in churches, and why is it important?

3. How can churches protect possible victims and be transparent and trustworthy in their response to allegations of misconduct?

Links:

https://netgrace.org

SAMHSA’s Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care – Post-Secondary Peer Support Training Curriculum (opentextbc.ca)

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Dan and Summer Watt & Melissa Hogan joined me for episode 39: The Problem with Financial Peace University and Dave Ramsey's Financial Rhetoric. ⁠ This conversation we had was made possible by the fact that those of us involved in this episode have spent the last several years processing together our experiences with the ups and downs of Financial Peace University and the rhetoric coming from the Ramsey Show.⁠ ⁠ While we all had different levels of understanding and adhering to the plan, each of us have found ourselves with serious questions. Some of these questions started before we broke ties with the organization and some of these realizations came later.⁠ ⁠ We don’t claim to be unbiased observers. We all have had very painful and disappointing experiences with Ramsey Solutions, but we don’t think that negates the very real questions we raise.⁠

Links:

D.L. Mayfield, The Myth of the American Dream

Dan Watt- Why Write About Lampo?

Dan Watt- Getting a Mortgage with no credit score

American Gospel movie

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Amy Fritz shares a brief reflection on what it's like to reckon with there being two versions of someone.

What would it cost to believe a person could be kind and generous sometimes and cruel and abusive other times?

Are you allowed to consider that, and what does it mean if you aren’t?

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Amy Fritz is joined by Melissa J. Hogan on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss the lawsuit involving Johnny Hunt and the SBC, addressing misconceptions and the importance of the judge's resolution.

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In this episode we:

• Explore the origins and developments of the Johnny Hunt lawsuit against the SBC.

• Unpack the significance of the Guidepost Report in uncovering abuse within the SBC.

• Clarify common misconceptions about defamation cases and the impact of public testimony.

• Reveal the judge's resolution and its implications for survivors and the SBC.

• Highlight the importance of understanding power dynamics and trauma-informed perspectives in cases of abuse.

Featured Guest

• Melissa J. Hogan https://melissajhogan.substack.com

Resources mentioned

• Dr. David Pooler Professor David Pooler: What is consent and power in clergy-laity relations? | Diana R. Garland School of Social Work | Baylor University

• Judge Rules Against Johnny Hunt in Defamation Suit over SBC Abuse Report - Christianity Today

If you liked this episode you'll like these:

83: Dave Ramsey’s Legal Nightmare: Time Share Exit Team Class-Action Lawsuit Deep Dive with Melissa Hogan

94: Lawsuit Update: Hypocrisy and Double Standards at Ramsey Solutions

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If you loved this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend. Tag us if you share it on social media.

Follow Untangled Faith wherever you listen to podcasts

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Tiffany Yecke Brooks joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss her book Holy Ghosted and searching for a less anxious faith

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com

In this episode, we:

• Explore the concept of spiritual anxiety as a trauma response and its impact on individuals raised in legalistic religious environments.

• Discuss the influence of religious teachings and cultural pressures on Gen X and millennials’ spiritual experiences.

• Examine how control and manipulation manifest in religious communities through various rhetorical techniques.

• Highlight the historical presence of spiritual anxiety among church figures and the recognition of healthier ways to engage with faith.

• Reflect on the notion of God’s will as a relationship rather than a specific path, encouraging a focus on making thoughtful and intentional decisions.

• Featured Guest

  • Tiffany Yecke Brooks

  Resources mentioned

  • Holy Ghosted https://amzn.to/4llmYPZ

  • https://tiffanyyeckebrooks.com
  • https://tiffanyyeckebrooks.substack.com

  Tell Your Friends!

  If you loved this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend. Tag us if you share it on social media.

  Follow Untangled Faith wherever you listen to podcasts

  Follow on Apple podcasts

  Subscribe on YouTube

  Follow on Spotify

  Follow on Podcast Addict

  Want to share your thoughts with us or talk about partnering with the show?

  Email: amy@untangledfaithpodcast.com

  Follow me on Instagram

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  Follow me on BlueSky

Tell Your Friends!

If you loved this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend. Tag us if you share it on social media.

Follow Untangled Faith wherever you listen to podcasts

Follow on Apple podcasts

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Want to share your thoughts with us or talk about partnering with the show?

Email: amy@untangledfaithpodcast.com

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