Our Stories - Leaving the Message

William Branham Historical Research
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Leaving the Message: Our Stories is a collection of firsthand testimonies from people who have left high-control religious groups, authoritarian churches, and spiritually abusive environments. These conversations focus on lived experience — what it was like inside, what leaving cost, and what recovery looks like afterward. Guests share their stories in their own words, exploring themes of control, fear, identity, faith, family, and healing. This podcast exists to preserve voices that are often ignored or misunderstood, and to provide understanding, validation, and hope for those navigating life after high-demand religion. Full conversations and additional context can be found on the main Leaving the Message YouTube channel. Views expressed by guests or co-hosts are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Derby Media Group LLC. Website: https://william-branham.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeavingtheMessage Legal: https://william-branham.org/legal

  1. 2d ago

    Former NAR Insiders Expose the System From the Inside

    John talks with Vincent and Judith Desjardins about their journey through the Jesus Movement, shepherding structures, Word of Faith circles, prophetic networks, and later New Apostolic Reformation influences. They describe how end-times excitement, promises of spiritual significance, and teachings on authority drew them into controlling ministries that reshaped family life, church culture, and their understanding of Christian faith. Together they explore themes including fear-based leadership, healing culture, platform-building, prophetic celebrity, Brian Simmons, Lance Wallnau, Lou Engle, Todd Bentley, and the recurring pattern of rebranded revival movements. The conversation also examines how charisma, ambition, and extra-biblical claims can flourish where there is little accountability, while offering encouragement to listeners processing similar experiences. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    59 min

  2. May 29

    From Word Of Faith To Reality: When Healing Claims Fall Apart

    John sits down with Jordan Roberts, a former Word of Faith member, to examine how healing claims, signs-and-wonders culture, and emotionally driven church environments shaped his faith and family life. Jordan traces his path through Kenneth Hagin influence, Pentecostalism, Vineyard, Foursquare, Brownsville-era revival culture, and prosperity-style teaching, explaining what first drew him in and what finally caused him to question it. The conversation explores failed healing expectations, the human cost of spiritual pressure, the contrast between hype-centered religion and compassionate church life, and the difficult process of separating biblical truth from religious fiction. Along the way, John and Jordan discuss Kenneth Hagin, John Wimber, revival culture, the New Apostolic Reformation, and why asking hard questions can be the first step toward spiritual clarity and healing. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    55 min

  3. May 22

    Charismatic Worship, False Gospels, And The Music That Shapes Belief

    John Collins sits down with John and Barbara Morton to trace how modern charismatic worship culture shapes belief, emotion, and church life. Drawing from their years on a worship team, they describe how music from movements tied to Bethel, Hillsong, Elevation, Vineyard, and related streams can carry theological assumptions that many listeners never notice at first. The discussion explores worship as doctrine, the emotional power of repetition, spiritual warfare culture, personal revelation, prophetic influence, and the shift from performance-driven worship to Scripture-centered church life. Along the way, they reflect on leaving a charismatic environment, reevaluating familiar songs, and rebuilding a more grounded understanding of worship, theology, and the Christian life. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    56 min

  4. May 16

    From Amish Shunning to Pentecostal Excommunication

    John talks with Harvey, a former Amish man who describes growing up in a closed religious community, milking cows by hand, singing centuries-old hymns in German, and believing that leaving the Amish meant eternal danger. Harvey explains how reading Scripture in context led him to question inherited rules, man-made traditions, thought blocking, and the fear-based identity built around separation from the outside world. The conversation follows Harvey's journey from Amish life into Pentecostalism, his later disillusionment with another system of man-made doctrine, and the emotional cost of shunning, family loss, and rebuilding life afterward. John and Harvey also discuss the similarities between Amish separation, Branhamite isolation, Pentecostal control structures, personality suppression, and the difficult process of learning to see people clearly after leaving high-control religion. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    52 min

  5. May 15

    Under the Umbrella Of Authority: How Control Culture Works

    John and Ava talk through Ava Dawson's journey from Colorado Springs charismatic networks into NAR-adjacent circles, including IHOPKC influence, high-control leadership dynamics, and the fear-based spirituality that frames outsiders as threats and insiders as the spiritual elite. They unpack "umbrella of authority" language, fivefold ministry claims, and how scandals get minimized through silence, spiritual warfare framing, and protection of leaders. They also examine how prosperity doctrine and Word of Faith assumptions reshape families, money, and conscience, plus how worship culture and conference ecosystems spread ideas across churches, missions, and training schools. The conversation ends with practical exit advice: leave the system, detox from fear, and return to Scripture without extra-biblical authority structures. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    55 min

  6. May 9

    Leaving Pentecostalism: A Former Minister Explains Why He Walked Away

    John speaks with Steve Eisenhauer, host of The Exodus Project and a former Pentecostal minister, about his upbringing in the UPC, his years in ministry, and the intellectual path that led him out of Pentecostalism. They examine divisions within Pentecostal circles, spiritual abuse, music-driven emotionalism, five-fold ministry culture, and the pressure to submit to unchecked religious authority. John and Steve also explore how weak theological training, personality-driven leadership, and anti-intellectual church culture can shape belief and silence questions. Along the way, Steve explains why deeper study of Hebrew, the Torah, and Jewish interpretation changed his views, while John reflects on how similar patterns appeared in Branhamism and the broader charismatic world. The Exodus Project: https://www.youtube.com/@Exodus_Project ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    59 min

  7. May 1

    YWAM & Boot Camp Christianity? A Former Insider Speaks Out

    John and Paul explore the history, theology, and culture of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), examining its Pentecostal roots, Discipleship Training School model, and long-term impact on young adults. Drawing from firsthand experience, Paul reflects on inner healing practices, financial faith models, Seven Mountains influence, and how mission culture intersects with modern Pentecostalism. This conversation also addresses broader themes within charismatic Christianity — including the legacy of the Latter Rain movement, the Assemblies of God response, miracle culture, leadership dynamics, and the tension between spiritual enthusiasm and critical thinking. Whether you are researching YWAM, Pentecostal history, or the New Apostolic Reformation, this discussion provides thoughtful insight without sensationalism. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    55 min

  8. Apr 27

    Escaping The Cave: Pia Hugo On Harvest Rock, and Spiritual Abuse

    John and Pia Hugo discuss Pia's experiences in Harvest Rock Church, her reflections on New Apostolic Reformation culture, and the long-term effects of spiritual abuse, authoritarian leadership, and enforced submission. The conversation explores how control can shape a person's thinking, how fear and loyalty keep people inside harmful systems, and why listening to conscience matters when something feels wrong. They also examine spiritual covering, apostolic authority, charismatic culture, YWAM, deconstruction, and recovery after religious harm. Pia connects her personal journey to her present work serving abused women and children in the Philippines, while John adds historical context about Pentecostal and charismatic movements, religious control, and the patterns that repeat across generations. ______________________ Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K  ______________________ - Support the channel: https://www.patreon.com/branham  - Visit the website: https://william-branham.org

    58 min
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About

Leaving the Message: Our Stories is a collection of firsthand testimonies from people who have left high-control religious groups, authoritarian churches, and spiritually abusive environments. These conversations focus on lived experience — what it was like inside, what leaving cost, and what recovery looks like afterward. Guests share their stories in their own words, exploring themes of control, fear, identity, faith, family, and healing. This podcast exists to preserve voices that are often ignored or misunderstood, and to provide understanding, validation, and hope for those navigating life after high-demand religion. Full conversations and additional context can be found on the main Leaving the Message YouTube channel. Views expressed by guests or co-hosts are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Derby Media Group LLC. Website: https://william-branham.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LeavingtheMessage Legal: https://william-branham.org/legal

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