Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism Andrew Pledger

In this episode, we delve into the life of Mary Hubbard, who shares her experiences growing up at Dyer Baptist Church in the IFB movement. Dyer Baptist is an offshoot of FBC Hammond Baptist Church. She also shares her experiences attending BJU. She discusses the controversial events that led to her expulsion from BJU, including a relationship with a staff member and the aftermath, which involved counseling programs and harsh judgments. Mary also discusses her move to Lynchburg, VA, her marriage, and her experiences at Liberty University. Her journey of deconstructing evangelical Christianity, her current husband's struggle with mental health in the church, and their subsequent departure from organized religion provide a powerful perspective on faith and individualism. Listen to Mary's inspiring journey to freedom and self-discovery.

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This four-part series features a former staff member of The Wilds Christian camp in Brevard, NC. The camp is affiliated with Bob Jones University. The former staff sheds light on its inner workings. We'll delve into the camp's origins, organizational structure, daily routines, counseling methods, teachings, practices, and more. The series starts with the survivor's childhood experiences at Bethany Baptist in Brevard, an Independent Fundamental Baptist church/cult affiliated with The Wilds camp. She recalls the abuse endured at the church’s Christian school and the church's controlling nature, describing the pervasive influence of The Wilds staff over the church and the cult-ure they fostered.
In the second installment, the survivor unveils her experiences working at The Wilds. She outlines the staff hierarchy, roles, and training, revealing the organization's intricate inner workings and demanding schedules. She discloses the counseling techniques employed on campers, sharing haunting stories and instances of heavy indoctrination through sleep deprivation, substandard meals, fear tactics, information control, time management, intense physical activity, and more.
In the third section, she shares more specific accounts and concerns about the camp and discusses her healing journey.
In the final episode, she reviews a counseling booklet produced by The Wilds, detailing their counseling methods and their impacts. A big part of the counseling is The Tree Model which the survivor exposes and unpacks.- Coming August 2024

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Ashley Easter is a cult survivor turned survivor advocate. She is the founder of Courage 365, a non-profit for abuse survivors (especially those abused in faith contexts) and a television producer focused on highlighting stories of meaning and mission. She is also an intuition life coach specializing in helping women take back their power and confidently make decisions for themselves. (description from The Desert Sanctuary podcast)
Sign up for a Courage Club (FREE Online Peer Support Group): https://www.courage365.org/clubs
Courage 365: https://www.courage365.org/
Ashley Easter’s Website: https://www.ashleyeaster.com/
Ashley's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDvhN7rSLK4&t=11s
Rift by Cait West: https://a.co/d/gz9Q7qk

Andrew Pledger’s Links
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Today, we're joined by Dan Parsons, a former student and staff of Bob Jones University. Before BJU he attended North Love Baptist Church. A church with its own scandals. This church also started the Christian IFB addiction program called Reformers Unanimous (RU). I highly recommend listening to the Preacher Boys Podcast as he covers this church extensively. (scroll to the bottom for links)
In this episode, Dan offers us a intimate look into his experiences within these high-control religious environments. He recounts the extreme, fear-based tactics used to ensure compliance and conversion, including a shocking staged event at North Love Baptist Church.
Dan also discusses the challenges he faced while working at Bob Jones University, revealing the authoritarian culture that permeated the institution and deeply affected his professional and personal life. He also shares a tragic story involving his daughter at a SBC church.
Join us as we explore these critical themes, aiming to understand better the profound impact of fundamentalist indoctrination and the path towards recovery.

Preacher Boys Episodes on North Love
North Love Baptist Church + Reformers Unanimous | 24 Victims Come Forward: https://youtu.be/KOWomiok-Bo?si=YiGyIQ9IAxjOd1Lc
Pastor Paul Kingsbury – Director of Reformers Unanimous – Resigns From North Love Baptist Church: https://youtu.be/5N4OJycs6dc?si=ymfKMYFu8OsJDDBQ


-Andrew's Links
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My Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/
Social Media: https://andrewpledger.mypixieset.com/links
-Music: [https://www.purple-planet.com](https://www.purple-planet.com/)

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Listen to the full episode on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/4ndrewpledger - I wonder if Bob Jones University purposely traumatized us? To make us feel isolated and be controllable. What if cults in general purposely do this or it’s built into the system by the founder and is passed down without question? Other leaders using the same methods without question. I explore this question in this Patreon exclusive episode through Dr. Stein's book, Terror, Love, and Brainwashing.

-Andrew Pledger's Links
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My Substack: https://speakingupandrewpledger.substack.com/
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