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About the Episode

In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Tim St. John about his book, After Church Hurt: Healing in the Care of the Good Shepherd. During the conversation, Tim discusses the complex issue of church hurt, how to identify it, and how helpers can compassionately support those affected. He shares practical insights from his book and biblical perspectives to guide counselors and discipleship leaders.

Key Topics:

  • Definition of church hurt and its biblical basis
  • Identifying signs of church hurt in counseling sessions
  • The importance of slow, compassionate listening before problem-solving
  • Common mistakes helpers make when addressing church hurt
  • Practical tools for triaging and understanding suffering
  • The role of Christ as the ultimate shepherd in healing
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

About the Guest

Tim St. John MDiv, ThM, serves as the counseling pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, CA. His passion is to see the grace of gospel-centered counseling grow and thrive in local churches. Tim also serves on the council board for the Biblical Counseling Coalition, the editorial board for the SOLA network, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and retreats. He is the author of After Church Hurt and the minibook Uncovering Domestic Abuse. Connect with Tim at timstjohn.com.

 

About the Book

The local church is meant to function as a healing and helping community that cares for God’s people. But what if, instead of grace and care, someone experienced harm and hurt? When the church becomes a place of abuse and silence, the pain leaves people spiritually disoriented and alone. These individuals may wonder if they will ever feel safe around God’s people again. Instead of running to God and his people, they run as far away as possible.

Tim St. John defines church hurt as any unrepentant sin that is minimized, normalized, or promoted by a church culture and its leadership. In After Church Hurt, he invites sufferers into the gentle care of their Good Shepherd, offering hope, clarity, and guidance for healing in his grace. Through real-life stories, biblical insights, and practical tools, this book provides a path to understanding church hurt, embracing grace, and courageously moving toward a healthy community.

About the Host
Christine M. Chappell
Christine is a certified biblical counselor and host of the Hope + Help Podcast for the Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship. She is the author of several books and minibooks, including Lament: Crying Out in Faith, Midnight Mercies: Walking with God through Depression in Motherhood, and Postpartum Depression: Hope for a Hard Season. She currently serves as a council member for the Biblical Counseling Coalition and is a regular speaker at women’s events and conferences. Christine lives in South Carolina with her husband and three children, and is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Easley.
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