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Post by knowledgeseeker on Jan 21, 2015 15:10:49 GMT
Let me start by stating I am not currently or have ever been a member of the PR church. I do however know a small amount of people who were former members or are current members. I must say people I know still in the church seem to be content (I do not know what struggles they currently may have but do see by the posts they would seem to have a lot struggles if they left). To any extent, I feel everyone should have the support and knowledge of how to leave an organization if they would choose to do such. As I read the posts, I can see there have been a lot of a people hurt from their past involvement. I also see the difficulties of leaving such an organization. I would like to send my deepest and sincere thoughts to you all! May I offer a suggestion? It may be helpful to create a forum that has resources for people who may be interested in leaving the church. A “how to”, as one might say, to officially leave the church if one so desires (step by step instructions to gain their freedom and support after they leave). Along with the step by step instructions here are some links that could be helpful. I assume someone might need if they were to leave and felt helpless and alone. Financial Assistance www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-9253---F,00.html (Please copy entire link to your browser) www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/help www.benefits.gov/benefits/browse-by-state/state/UT Housing portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/rental_assistance www.state.nj.us/nj/community/assistance/ Crisis Hotline www.crisiscallcenter.org/crisisservices.html Food Banks and Emergency Shelter www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-persons/ I wish you all love, peace and happiness.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 23:42:06 GMT
How considerate of you to post this information here. Thank you.
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Post by transcend on Jan 22, 2015 2:31:59 GMT
That's awesome, knowledgeseeker. Thanks so much!
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Post by knowledgeseeker on Jan 22, 2015 3:00:09 GMT
You are welcome.
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Post by transcend on Jan 27, 2015 22:33:04 GMT
I just wanted to put it out there that I have battled some super crazy stuff in my life that was at least partially due to my PR experiences, I'm talking over a decade lost out of my life. I am not ready to disclose my entire personal story on here yet, even as anonymous as it is, but if anyone would like to send me a PM I would be happy to talk anytime, over the phone too. I think there are other members on here who are equally willing to help out and have a private discussion, so feel free to reach out!! There is another thread on here about Christian counseling, but it's in the "Classis" room, so I'm not sure if everyone can view it yet, but here it is: exprc.freeforums.net/thread/7. As one of the users on that thread pointed out, it is difficult to find a good counselor, and I would agree with him that a Christian counselor might not be a good idea as s/he might only get you "out of one frying pan but put you in another". It's also difficult to get help from a secular therapist, as they may not have had the same PR experiences and simply can't comprehend the deep damage incurred. It is quite the conundrum. I would suggest reaching out to other groups on the web too. I know from experience that the therapist guide on www.psychologytoday.com/ is a good resource. You can narrow down your search to include only those who have experience with fundamentalist religions, for example. In the thread exprc.freeforums.net/thread/47/raising-children-form-child-abuse, some of the effects are listed, and also the condition "Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS)" is discussed. The doctor (Marlene Winell) who coined it has published some great articles on the topic, which are available online. She also authored a book called Leaving the Fold, which looks interesting, although I haven't read it yet. Sending virtual hugs!
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Post by KristianWrights on Jan 28, 2015 1:03:59 GMT
I am an ex-pr and have had many counseling sessions with quite a few good counselors. I do have one that I recommend highly. Not only for his great skill in knowing all religions but also the fact that he has handled personal and family issues as well. Such as abandonment, suicide, and yes the pr treatment of shunning. If anyone wants to PM me I would be free to share the information so you can get the help that I so desperately needed.
There is one such Christian Counselor that gave me about a year of counseling, and I found was some what helpful. Tends to be the counselor that all the PRC Pastors and School officials are passing out his business card like candy's.
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Post by freefromprc on Jan 29, 2015 2:30:30 GMT
I am an ex-pr and have had many counseling sessions with quite a few good counselors. I do have one that I recommend highly. Not only for his great skill in knowing all religions but also the fact that he has handled personal and family issues as well. Such as abandonment, suicide, and yes the pr treatment of shunning. If anyone wants to PM me I would be free to share the information so you can get the help that I so desperately needed. There is one such Christian Counselor that gave me about a year of counseling, and I found was some what helpful. Tends to be the counselor that all the PRC Pastors and School officials are passing out his business card like candy's. Good for you! I wonder if you would be willing to post a few of the helpful things counseling has taught you?
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Post by KristianWrights on Jan 29, 2015 3:33:29 GMT
One thing that counciling taught me is that if I never stood up for what I believed in and if I kept it all bundled inside I would end up being a horribly depressed person.
Second my councilor allowed my dad to attend my meeting. And at that time I was allowed to tell my father exactly how I felt. He didn't realize what kind of stress I was under. He cried. I have only seen my father cry twice, once during my great aunts a coma and second when my grandma died. I never thought my father and I would ever get through me leaving the Prc but counciling helped us.
The list can go on, and on. But if you find the right councilor (I went through 5 councilors over a 9 year span) you can find some great healing and be able to move on and find PEACE. Still to this day however, sometimes I will catch myself thinking some of the Prc views about how I'm not good enough to be in heaven that I am a "reched sinner" and that "I can not do any good" but because I had counciling I am able to turn those thoughts into. I'm doing my best and christ loves me.
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Post by Admin on Jan 29, 2015 3:35:44 GMT
One thing that counciling taught me is that if I never stood up for what I believed in and if I kept it all bundled inside I would end up being a horribly depressed person. Second my councilor allowed my dad to attend my meeting. And at that time I was allowed to tell my father exactly how I felt. He didn't realize what kind of stress I was under. He cried. I have only seen my father cry twice, once during my great aunts a coma and second when my grandma died. I never thought my father and I would ever get through me leaving the Prc but counciling helped us. The list can go on, and on. But if you find the right councilor (I went through 5 councilors over a 9 year span) you can find some great healing and be able to move on and find PEACE. Still to this day however, sometimes I will catch myself thinking some of the Prc views about how I'm not good enough to be in heaven that I am a "reched sinner" and that "I can not do any good" but because I had counciling I am able to turn those thoughts into. I'm doing my best and christ loves me. This is really great...feel free to start your own thread in this forum. This might be really helpful for people who are simply browsing this forum and may not be reading in the threads too deeply. Thanks much! Admin Team
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Post by crusader on Feb 1, 2015 22:08:21 GMT
One thing that counciling taught me is that if I never stood up for what I believed in and if I kept it all bundled inside I would end up being a horribly depressed person. Second my councilor allowed my dad to attend my meeting. And at that time I was allowed to tell my father exactly how I felt. He didn't realize what kind of stress I was under. He cried. I have only seen my father cry twice, once during my great aunts a coma and second when my grandma died. I never thought my father and I would ever get through me leaving the Prc but counciling helped us. The list can go on, and on. But if you find the right councilor (I went through 5 councilors over a 9 year span) you can find some great healing and be able to move on and find PEACE. Still to this day however, sometimes I will catch myself thinking some of the Prc views about how I'm not good enough to be in heaven that I am a "reched sinner" and that "I can not do any good" but because I had counciling I am able to turn those thoughts into. I'm doing my best and christ loves me. I have seen depression itself called sinful. Anything the elders can deal with they just label as sin
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Post by KristianWrights on Feb 1, 2015 22:37:12 GMT
Yeh one pastor told my friend... If your depressed just stop what your doing... Lol come on! His family was disowning him because he was leaving "the church"
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Post by cannalily on Feb 2, 2015 3:02:24 GMT
Yeh one pastor told my friend... If your depressed just stop what your doing... Lol come on! His family was disowning him because he was leaving "the church" Aside from my minister being a head case all by himself (as well as the previous one), I'm not sure these people are really qualified to deal with depression. Anyone who's been depressed knows that you can't "snap out of it". This is the sad state for someone who is truly depressed. And if anything, these so called pastors actually damaged the person even more by telling them they're sinning, etc. That does nothing for that person. I'd like to see more threads in here about how to truly help people in need. It's been my personal experience that they will need REAL professional help. It makes things a lot easier long term.
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Post by KristianWrights on Feb 2, 2015 3:10:22 GMT
they really need to have a real qualified therapist for not only depression, but for a lot of other things such as death, accidents, illnesses, miscarriages, infertility... And the list goes on.
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Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2015 3:14:48 GMT
Please feel free to share some links in a new thread in your areas if you know of any. Of course, make sure you don't give yourself away if you think you live in a sensitive area.
Thanks, The Admin Team
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Post by guard.yourheart on Feb 25, 2015 18:57:26 GMT
Hi I do not feel spiritually feed by the PR church and in the past I have felt like I was spiritually dying there because I was getting so confused about the Bible and what being Christian is all about. There are just so many contradictions and twisting of Scripture and picking and choosing Scripture, at least I think so anyways (or am I just the one misinterpreting scripture? haha can you tell I am confused?)...But I am afraid to leave the PR church because what if I go somewhere else and I still feel like I am spiritually dying, then that means there is something wrong with me and not just the church I go to.
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