I grew as a missionary child to a family in the Rock of Ages and attended Dogwood Valley Baptist Church. I have seen corruption and manipulation like you wouldn’t believe. The biggest problem with the IFB world in my perspective is that it is narcissistic abuse in all areas of your life. Especially as a woman. That life trained me to be a victim to a narcissist. It’s only by God’s glory that I’m not. He had other plans for me. I have personally been abused by and in the church in multiple ways. I’m just so happy God pulled me from that.
JC! I didn’t realize y’all had left fundamentalism until I found you on TikTok. I’m Derick Root’s wife. I don’t know if you remember me. We spent a little time at AoH helping a little in the youth group. We are in Memphis now and attend a strong evangelical church. But anyways, I wanted to reach out because I have so many stories derick and I could share with you about how I grew up as a missionary kid DEEP in the IFB world. I have heard and seen some truly horrifying things. One of my brothers has completely left the church, all churches and my other brother is still deep in it. It breaks my heart. Josh left completely because of the narcissistic abuse that runs rampant in all aspects of that world.
Brian, my daughter Jessica sent me your podcast where you told your story. I am thrilled that God showed you HIS TRUTH from HIS WORD. I remember sitting in your dads office with Randy arguing with him about “woman wearing pants” because I had dared to wear jeans to a church picnic. I remember telling him that he was trying to take over the holy spirits job. Needless to say, I got a “tongue lashing” from Randy and a message preached from the pulpit in response. I think back about all of the “sin” behind the scenes because no one was genuine. I hated church as a young mother and wife. For this reason, I volunteered to work in the nursery, Awanas, and childrens church every chance I could get. God would later use all of this experience in my life. One day I just said “I’ve had enough!” And I left. (Long story)I eventually came back with my two kids but I came back to awful gossip that I had run away with a man. I finally gave in and put my plastic face on like everyone else and went they the motions. Until God started to reveal to Randy and I TRUTH and slowly moved us.
My heart breaks when I think of the marriages and families that were broken (including mine) through the years. The addictions that were going on behind the scenes that were never dealt with. But I’m thankful that God is the ONE WHO RESTORES. Randy and I both were restored before he passed. We later served together in a church in Lexington. But it left a lot of brokenness and abuse in its path, including in my children’s lives. I am still praying for restoration in their stories.
Jesus said, “I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life…” It’s ALL HIM and when we truly follow…then we will LOOK, ACT, LOVE and SOUND like HIM.
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