Wounded Hearts Wounded Churches

Prince E. Moon
  • 4.2 (5)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

In this wide world, there are so many opportunities to be hurt or misused. Our podcast has served as a platform to express these wounded hearts, as well as provide helpful information and testimonies from those experiencing personal and church losses. We invite you to join us in our efforts to promote healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the hearts of individuals who were impacted by church disenfranchisement and personal wounds.

  1. 2d ago

    Episode 262 | Family Unity After Dis-Unity - Group Discussion (Part II)

    Some church experiences do not just disappoint you, they break trust, split families, and leave you questioning whether God is safe. We name that reality head-on and talk with men who have been through spiritual abuse, control, and the kind of legalism that turns “church” into a system of fear. The goal is not to stir up drama, but to help wounded people separate what people did from who God is and to show a path forward that is rooted in Jesus Christ, not in a personality or a power structure. We dig into how man rule actually happens in a cult-like church: it usually starts with small concessions driven by a need to belong, then grows into endless rules, twisted Bible quotes, and pressure to treat leaders as your conscience. We also talk about the cost of that system, including trauma, isolation, and the devastation of shunning. Along the way, we keep coming back to a simple question you can ask yourself anytime: who am I following right now, man or God? From there, we get practical about recovery and spiritual discernment: being born again, staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit, testing teachings against Scripture, and finding a gathering that truly preaches salvation rather than control. We also address family division with honesty, including why reconciliation is not always possible without surrendering conviction. If you need hope after church hurt, this is a clear, compassionate conversation that points back to the Word, the Spirit, and a sincere prayer life. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review, what part of this conversation hit closest to home? Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  2. Jul 18

    Episode 261 | Family Unity After Dis-Unity (Part I)

    “We are it.” Three words that can sound confident from a pulpit and feel like a cage in the pew. Tonight we dig into how that mindset turns a church name, a leader, or a rulebook into an idol and how it quietly rewrites the gospel into “Jesus plus our group.” We talk about the difference between a man built church with layers of control and the Church Jesus builds, the one made up of every blood washed believer whose name is recorded in Heaven, not on a man made roll.  We connect the dots between spiritual abuse, twisted Scripture taken out of context, and the pressure to prove you belong by complying with extra rules. We also ground the conversation in Jesus’ words to the woman at the well: true worship is not locked to a location, a denomination, or a brand, but happens in spirit and truth. If you’ve ever felt pushed out, labeled “Babylon,” or told your salvation was “incomplete” without joining a specific group, you’ll hear language for what happened and a clearer picture of what biblical unity actually looks like.  We end with the hard, practical work of healing: humility from the one who harmed, forgiveness from the one harmed, and the kind of reconciliation that looks like honesty and even restitution, not “forgive and forget” pressure. If church hurt has made you wary of faith communities, this conversation offers a path back to Jesus without surrendering your conscience to man made control. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review telling us what unity should look like in real life. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  3. Jul 11

    Episode 260 | Unity Rejuvenation - Bro. Cranston (Part III)

    Division does not just break relationships, it breaks momentum. We sit down with Brother Steve Cranston, a young pastor serving at Rodburn Church of God in Moorhead, Kentucky, to talk about what it really takes to rebuild church unity when people are tired, suspicious, and worn down by years of conflict. Along the way, we share how simple tools like a congregation directory and updated contact spreadsheet can help believers find fellowship when they move, travel, or feel isolated. We also raise a burden that hits hard: some places appear to have few known congregations, including Utah. That is not a reason to despair, it is a call to connect, pray, and reach out. If we want a stronger holiness witness and healthier Christian community outreach, we have to know where people are and make it easier for seekers and saints to find each other. Then we get to the heart of it: forgiveness, reconciliation, and holiness. We talk about how unforgiveness can get passed down to the next generation, how misconceptions thrive when we never sit down for real dialogue, and why “sheep stealing” creates the illusion of church growth while starving evangelism. We speak directly to young adults who feel crushed by church politics and drama, and we end with a practical challenge that applies to every age: be willing to do hard things, make apologies, and remember this truth, you’re never gonna be wrong for treating somebody right. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find it. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  4. Jul 4

    Episode 259 | Unity Rejuvenation - Bro. Cranston (Part II)

    Whole parts of the country can go untouched by a clear gospel witness, and it’s not always because people are closed off. Sometimes it’s because we are. We sit down with Pastor Steve Cranston to talk honestly about church unity, disunity, and why the blank spaces on the map should trouble every believer who cares about outreach, evangelism, and soul winning. We trace how fractured fellowships and “working with them” conditions can quietly train us to look inward instead of outward. From the sobering example of Utah with no Church of God presence, to the hard truth that disunity can discourage the unsaved, we wrestle with what our public witness communicates. Steve also names a pattern many of us recognize: when conflict rises, we start “digging up dead men’s bones” and using history as a club instead of honoring the past and obeying God in the present. Then we get practical and personal. What should a young person do when they feel hurt by church issues? How do prayer, Bible study, fasting, and steady discipline keep wounds from turning into bitterness? We talk about discouragement, the slow slide that happens when you stop seeking God, and why healing is still available right now. The finish is a simple charge: don’t drop out of the race, because someone else is running beside you. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people looking for Christian unity and spiritual healing can find it. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  5. Jun 24

    Episode 258| Unity Rejuvenation - Bro. Cranston

    Church division leaves receipts: smaller congregations, locked doors, discouraged young people, and outsiders who cannot square our songs about victory with the conflict they see up close. We sit down with Pastor Steve Cranston to talk plainly about church unity, forgiveness, and reconciliation across the conservative Church of God world, and why healing starts with a decision to actually talk to each other. Steve shares his story of growing up in the Church of God holiness movement, walking away, and finding his way back to the Lord. That return sparks a question that many believers quietly carry: if there are sincere congregations scattered across the country, why do we live like strangers? His response is surprisingly practical. He builds detailed charts and a nationwide map of conservative Church of God congregations so we can visualize where God’s people are, how fellowships formed, and why connection has become so hard. The goal is not to shame anyone or declare winners, but to create clarity and open doors for fellowship. We also dig into what division does to the next generation and why discouragement is one of the enemy’s strongest tools. Steve offers a hopeful challenge: we may inherit the mess, but we do not have to repeat it. If you care about Christian unity, church restoration, and real spiritual healing, this conversation will give you language, perspective, and a next step. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels discouraged, and leave a review with your biggest question about unity so we can keep the conversation going. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  6. Jun 20

    Episode 257 | Difficulties in Reconciliation - James DeGraffenried (Part II)

    Church hurt is not just painful, it can be spiritually disorienting. We sit down with Brother James DeGraffenreid, a longtime Church of God minister focused on reaching people who have been wounded, and we name the problem many listeners have lived through: when pastors and leaders stop serving and start ruling, division follows and real people get crushed under it. We dig into why power is hard to handle, how “follow the pastor” can replace “follow Jesus,” and why that shift can happen in ordinary churches as well as overtly controlling groups.  From there, we move into the practical heart of healing: reconciliation and forgiveness. We read and reflect on Jesus’ instructions about making things right with a brother before worship, and we take seriously the warning that unforgiveness blocks our own forgiveness. That leads to a bigger question with real-world consequences: why do churches split so often? We connect the dots between offense, bitterness, a lack of charity, and the slow breakdown of unity, while still holding out hope that God can restore what people have damaged.  We also speak directly to anyone who feels discouraged or spiritually distant after being hurt. The encouragement is simple and weighty: remember what Christ has done, return to prayer when the Holy Spirit draws you, ask God to forgive you, and ask Him to help you forgive others. If you care about spiritual abuse recovery, Christian discipleship, church unity, and forgiveness in the Bible, this conversation will meet you where you are. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with one takeaway you want to live out this week. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  7. Jun 17

    Episode 256 | Difficulties in Reconciliation - James DeGraffenried

    Reconciliation is easy to talk about and brutal to live out. We sit down with Church of God minister James DeGraffenreid to get honest about what happens when believers are hurt, churches split, and “unity” becomes a slogan instead of a practice. If you’ve ever asked why some conflicts never seem to heal, or why apologies feel rare, this conversation brings both scripture and plain talk to the table. We start with definitions and go deeper than vibes. James pulls from Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary to show reconciliation as action: calling people back into union after estrangement, settling quarrels, and even accepting God’s providence in affliction. From there, we ground it in key Bible passages on Christian reconciliation, including Matthew 5:24 and 2 Corinthians 5, where we’re reminded that God reconciles us to Himself through Jesus Christ and then gives us the ministry of reconciliation. That framework changes how we approach church conflict, forgiveness, and accountability. Then we tackle the question everyone feels but few say out loud: what if you want reconciliation and the other person doesn’t? We draw a clear line between forgiveness and reconciliation, talk about repentance, and discuss why restored relationship can’t be forced when someone refuses to humble themselves. We also address willful sin, 1 John 5, and the serious responsibility pastors carry, including how bad leadership can deepen division and create lasting church hurt. If church experiences have wounded you and pulled you away from a close walk with God, we end with practical, hopeful counsel: seek the Lord with all your heart, return to prayer and the Word, and trust that the gospel works anywhere in the world. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs healing, and leave a review telling us what reconciliation has looked like in your life. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

  8. Jun 13

    Episode 253 | Torn Asunder - Bernie Tocholke (Part III)

    Church hurt can make you question everything, including God, your calling, and whether you can ever trust a church again. We sit down with author Bernie Tocholke to talk about what happens when faith gets tested by painful church situations, and how healing is still possible without pretending the damage never happened. Bernie’s book Torn Asunder is honest about the shock, grief, and even the unexpected moments of laughter that can show up in a hard story, and he shares why he wrote it for people carrying wounds they rarely say out loud.  We also talk about the practical, spiritual work of battling bitterness. Bernie describes crying out to God with real seriousness, not polished words, and watching bitterness slowly lose its grip. Along the way, we unpack a simple “penny, nickel, dime” listening illustration that exposes how easy it is to follow a voice, get distracted, and miss what’s actually true. From there, the conversation turns to leadership failures: what accountability can look like when a minister sins, why it creates a ripple effect, and why some people backslide when their anchor was placed in a person or a system instead of Jesus Christ.  The heart of the message is clear: don’t settle for being “churchy.” Go deep, build a real relationship with Christ, and choose the long road of forgiveness and integrity. We close with a powerful story of family reconciliation that shows how love can rebuild what pain tried to destroy. If you’ve been searching for help with church hurt, spiritual abuse recovery, or Christian healing after division, you’ll find language, perspective, and hope here. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more wounded hearts can find their way toward healing. Send us Fan Mail Visit us online: https://woundedheartswoundedchurches.com

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4.2
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5 Ratings

About

In this wide world, there are so many opportunities to be hurt or misused. Our podcast has served as a platform to express these wounded hearts, as well as provide helpful information and testimonies from those experiencing personal and church losses. We invite you to join us in our efforts to promote healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the hearts of individuals who were impacted by church disenfranchisement and personal wounds.

Information

  • Creator
    Prince E. Moon
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    145
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Wounded Hearts Wounded Churches
  • Show Website
    Wounded Hearts Wounded Churches