Frequently Asked Questions
We know that reaching out can feel uncertain. These questions are ones we hear often, and we hope they help you take a next step.
My Mission is to Empower Your Life
About Valued Voices
Valued Voices is a Christian ministry dedicated to supporting survivors of church abuse — sexual, physical, and spiritual. We provide a safe community, biblical and trauma-informed resources, and connections to trusted support. Our heart is to ensure that no one who has been hurt by the church is left without a voice or a place to heal.
Valued Voices is for anyone who has experienced abuse within a church setting and is looking for a safe place to be heard, supported, and pointed toward healing. You do not need to have a fully formed story or be at any particular stage of your journey. You are welcome here exactly as you are.
We are not. Valued Voices is a ministry, not a crisis hotline or legal service. If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services. If you need legal counsel or law enforcement support, we encourage you to seek that out, and we can help connect you to resources. What we offer is community, care, and connection to healing.
No. While our founders and board members come from various church backgrounds, Valued Voices is not affiliated with any single denomination. We welcome survivors from all church traditions and are committed to serving anyone who has been hurt within a faith community.
Sharing Your Story
Absolutely not. Your story belongs to you, and you get to decide if, when, and how much of it you share. Many survivors find healing in sharing, but there is no pressure or expectation here. Our community is a safe place, and your boundaries are honored and respected.
Many survivors spend years questioning whether their experience was “bad enough” to name. If you were hurt, if you were silenced, if you were made to feel responsible for something done to you — that matters. You do not need anyone else’s permission to call it what it was. We encourage you to speak with a trauma-informed counselor who can walk with you through that process.
Sadly, that experience is far more common than it should be. Being dismissed, disbelieved, or blamed for abuse you suffered is itself a form of harm — often called spiritual abuse or institutional betrayal. It is not a reflection of your worth or the validity of your experience. Valued Voices exists precisely because too many survivors have been silenced by the communities that should have protected them. Here, you will be believed.
Healing and Resources
We do not provide direct counseling services. However, we can connect you with trusted, trauma-informed counselors and ministries who specialize in abuse recovery, including our advisory board partner Crystal Sutherland of Journey to Heal Ministries.
Yes. Many survivors of church abuse find that the hardest part of the journey is not just the abuse itself, but the damage it does to their faith. We believe Jesus is not the source of that harm — but He is the source of healing from it. Valued Voices is a Christ-centered ministry, and we gently hold space for wherever you are in your relationship with God. You do not need to have it figured out. You are welcome here.
You are still welcome here. While Valued Voices is a ministry rooted in faith in Jesus Christ, we do not require any particular belief to access our community or resources. Our heart is for people who have been hurt, and we will not turn anyone away.
Getting Involved
You can support us through prayer, financial giving, and by spreading the word to those who may need this community. If you are a pastor, counselor, or church leader who wants to learn more about how to respond well to abuse disclosures, we would love to connect with you as well.
Yes. Many of the people who serve with Valued Voices are themselves survivors. Your story, your perspective, and your compassion are some of the most powerful gifts this community has to offer. Reach out and let us know your heart — we would love to hear from you.
