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Imagine having a lead pastor — as far back as you can remember — who faithfully preached God's Word three times a week, but who also showed up. He visited you when you were sick. He was there when you needed encouragement. He came to your high school football game. He sat with your father on Christmas Day, near the end of his life. He mentored you, and he loved you enough to tell you the truth, life on life.

Tune in to GraceWorks as Shawn and Christian remember a man who lived out the abundant Christian life — faithfully, fully — into his upper 80s.

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Has a religious leader or spiritual authority figure ever threatened your welfare, wellbeing, or eternal security? Did they predict God would punish you for not listening to them? Maybe they enacted what they believed was God's justice—shaming you, urging your spouse to leave, even inserting themselves into your children's lives. Did they tie your salvation to staying in their good graces?

If you've experienced religious abuse or spiritual manipulation—or know someone who has—this episode is for you. Hosts Shawn Saunders and Christian Meachem know firsthand the fear, guilt, and shame so many Christians carry from those they called pastor or elder. Tune in to this episode of GraceWorks to learn how to stop the hurt and begin healing.

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Shawn and Christian were both born into the Baptist faith and spent over thirty years on the hamster wheel of "performance Christianity."

They followed the prescribed regimen for staying right with God: attend church, tithe, read your Bible, pray, witness, and—of course—don’t smoke, drink, chew, or run with those who do. They checked all the boxes and earned their way into full-time ministry. But both of them wanted something more than formulas.

Tune in to discover how these two church brats stepped off the treadmill and became grace handlers.