REST: Recovering from Spiritual Trauma

Guest Interview | Dr. Ann Maree Goudzwaard on domestic & spiritual abuse

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2299097/fan_mail/new] Dr. Ann Maree Goudzwaard joins me today to share her story of spiritual abuse as well as her work as an advocate for women in abusive situations. She is the founder and Executive Director of Help[H]er, a nonprofit ministry that produces rich resources, offers comprehensive training, and provides specialized care for women in crisis in Christian organizations. She works to ensure that women receive compassionate, informed, and scripturally sound care. She holds a Doctor of Ministry with a counseling emphasis and is trained in domestic abuse (CTPM:Called to Peace Ministries) and trauma care (GTRI: Global Trauma Recovery Institute). She is also an author and teacher, and has served as an expert advisor to the PCA’s (Presbyterian Church in America) Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault (DASA) Ad Interim Study Committee.  Help[H]er Ministry website [https://helpher.help] Help[H]er Substack [https://helpher.substack.com] Help[H]er Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/help.h.er/] Help[H]er Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Helpherresources] Safe to Hope Apple podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/safe-to-hope/id1643769999] Safe to Hope Spotify podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/146CdBoHLttq1nkPgQwCtZ?si=8e142b7caf934e2e] Called to Peace Ministry for those affected by domestic abuse [https://calledtopeace.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSVC6dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKR0hoVHdwSFh6RFVoS3ZCc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHipvTBDeYdySWRt-lVpZSmmEh1SAB-zmiO58VJCqC4yHrxNF4h_ld1_MACf6_aem_WQI7puV-Xwq33ZeR7q0XyQ] Global Trauma Recovery Institute [https://globaltraumarecovery.org] How to leave your church when it resists [https://thewartburgwatch.com/permpage-how-to-resign-from-a-church-whether-or-not-you-are-under-church-discipline/] DASA Committee Report [https://dasacommittee.org] Advocacy from the PCA Pew: resources for members [https://presbyterianpew.org] The Faithful Project: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulwomensworship] We welcome all feedback. You can reach us at the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com

Guest Interview: Stephanie Chernyavskiy & Abuse in the OPC | Part 3

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2299097/fan_mail/new] In this episode I continue my conversation with Stephanie Chernyavskiy, a woman who grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and suffered under its abuses. She has also told her story on this podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sons-of-patriarchy/id1772141068?i=1000680939601] which would be a good preview to our interview. Here are all the links we discuss in the interview: Full report of her case by the Presbytery of Southeast, OPC [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQy_bMXb1uPC5l-oaT298zSOoc5-lx3O/view?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Statement to the Presbytery of the Southeast, September 2025 [https://docs.google.com/document/d/12c50ZEA9G0aLAhfpfhtQUPCrw91YWthCC-eTO9nMXNY/edit?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Supporting Witnesses list [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_SVh6f3IMB9ioNk7LdAXlBKoGTqETTt8cbft-2uimyA/edit?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Dad's email to her fiance [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1upxgiLryj8bDnnGOKLivOt87I3xGFfgZ/view?usp=sharing] Admission of OPC heresy that they are able to absolve of guilt [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hgEUC0kfrbIJr2akbjvuTyJKS1HP0dCQ/view?usp=sharing] OPC admitting a Catholic cannot have true faith [https://drive.google.com/file/d/16O0U_YARwZrQDKlQsSYdtNYFRwYmvF2_/view?usp=sharing] Letter from OPC falsely stating Stephanie and fiance cohabitating [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zjTkYixcKmUF7RyDrtt8h_dOwl6lX5_1/view?usp=sharing] Letter from the OPC stating that they will not allow Stephanie to leave the denomination per her request to be removed from membership [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pWfmVVnfmUlQlD47oR_NYv99fMZE82qi/view?usp=sharing] Are you in the OPC, and need help? Contact: Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition. [https://presbyterianadvocacy.org] As always, we welcome all feedback. You can reach us at the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com [the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com]

Guest Interview: Stephanie Chernyavskiy & Abuse in the OPC | Part 2

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2299097/fan_mail/new] In this episode I continue my conversation with Stephanie Chernyavskiy, a woman who grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and suffered under its abuses. She has also told her story on this podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sons-of-patriarchy/id1772141068?i=1000680939601] which would be a good preview to our interview. This was initially recorded in December 2025 but due to counsel she was advised not to publish until after the OPC General Assembly which was held June 5-7, 2026. She was hopeful her case would be brought before the denomination’s highest court, but it was denied a hearing.  Here are all the links we discuss in the interview: Full report of her case by the Presbytery of the Southeast, OPC [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQy_bMXb1uPC5l-oaT298zSOoc5-lx3O/view?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Statement to the Presbytery of the Southeast, September 2025 [https://docs.google.com/document/d/12c50ZEA9G0aLAhfpfhtQUPCrw91YWthCC-eTO9nMXNY/edit?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Supporting Witnesses list [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_SVh6f3IMB9ioNk7LdAXlBKoGTqETTt8cbft-2uimyA/edit?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Dad's email to her fiance [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1upxgiLryj8bDnnGOKLivOt87I3xGFfgZ/view?usp=sharing] Admission of OPC heresy that they are able to absolve of guilt [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hgEUC0kfrbIJr2akbjvuTyJKS1HP0dCQ/view?usp=sharing] OPC admitting a Catholic cannot have true faith [https://drive.google.com/file/d/16O0U_YARwZrQDKlQsSYdtNYFRwYmvF2_/view?usp=sharing] Letter from OPC falsely stating Stephanie and fiance cohabitating [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zjTkYixcKmUF7RyDrtt8h_dOwl6lX5_1/view?usp=sharing] Letter from the OPC stating that they will not allow Stephanie to leave the denomination per her request to be removed from membership [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pWfmVVnfmUlQlD47oR_NYv99fMZE82qi/view?usp=sharing] The DASA report  [https://dasacommittee.org] NAPARC Congregation Finder [https://www.naparc.org/directories-2/] Are you in the OPC, and need help? Contact: Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition. [https://presbyterianadvocacy.org] As always, we welcome all feedback. You can reach us at the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com [the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com]

Guest Interview : Stephanie Chernyavskiy and Abuse in the OPC | Part 1

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2299097/fan_mail/new] In this episode I interview Stephanie Chernyavskiy, a woman who grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and suffered under its abuses. She has also told her story on this podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sons-of-patriarchy/id1772141068?i=1000680939601] which would be a good preview to our interview. This was initially recorded in December 2025 but due to counsel she was advised not to publish until after the OPC General Assembly which was held June 5-7, 2026. She was hopeful her case would be brought before the denomination’s highest court, but it was denied a hearing.  Here are all the links we discuss in the interview: Full report of her case by the Presbytery of the Southeast, OPC [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iQy_bMXb1uPC5l-oaT298zSOoc5-lx3O/view?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Statement to the Presbytery of the Southeast, September 2025 [https://docs.google.com/document/d/12c50ZEA9G0aLAhfpfhtQUPCrw91YWthCC-eTO9nMXNY/edit?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Supporting Witnesses list [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_SVh6f3IMB9ioNk7LdAXlBKoGTqETTt8cbft-2uimyA/edit?usp=sharing] Stephanie's Dad's email to her fiance [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1upxgiLryj8bDnnGOKLivOt87I3xGFfgZ/view?usp=sharing] Admission of OPC heresy that they are able to absolve of guilt [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hgEUC0kfrbIJr2akbjvuTyJKS1HP0dCQ/view?usp=sharing] OPC admitting a Catholic cannot have true faith [https://drive.google.com/file/d/16O0U_YARwZrQDKlQsSYdtNYFRwYmvF2_/view?usp=sharing] Letter from OPC falsely stating Stephanie and fiance cohabitating [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zjTkYixcKmUF7RyDrtt8h_dOwl6lX5_1/view?usp=sharing] Letter from the OPC stating that they will not allow Stephanie to leave the denomination per her request to be removed from membership [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pWfmVVnfmUlQlD47oR_NYv99fMZE82qi/view?usp=sharing] Are you in the OPC, and need help? Contact: Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition. [https://presbyterianadvocacy.org] As always, we welcome all feedback. You can reach us at the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com [the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com]

Tithing: Our Family's Story of Regret

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2299097/fan_mail/new] She’s back! My daughter joins me again in this episode and we unpack our family’s story of regret around tithing. She gives us the perspective of a child growing up in a high control church culture, a perspective rarely if ever heard or heeded.  We welcome all feedback. You can reach us at the.rest.podcast.info@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the.rest.podcast/] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585844586125]