Have you ever felt wounded by the Church… and wondered if you could ever trust again?

In this episode of the Reason for Hope Podcast, Matt Pana and Alanis Gonzalez dive into the heavy but important topic of church hurt—how it happens, why it cuts so deeply, and how we can begin the process of healing without abandoning our faith. We discuss the difference between being hurt by the Church itself versus being hurt by broken people within the Church, and how painful experiences with priests, leaders, or communities can distort our perception of God.

This conversation also explores the importance of validating pain, allowing righteous anger, and pursuing real spiritual healing through prayer, inner healing ministry, confession, community, and accountability. We also discuss powerful tools like Unbound Ministry, spiritual direction, and learning to rebuild your relationship with Christ after betrayal or disappointment.

If you’ve struggled with religious trauma, church wounds, or feeling disconnected from God because of past experiences, this episode is for you.

🙏 You are not alone. Healing is possible. Hope is real.

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⏰Timecode⏰

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Start of Interview

06:03 Examples of Church Hurt

13:33 Separating the Individual from the Institution

18:20 Separating Anger Away from God

22:31 Rebuilding Relationship With Christ After Being Hurt

27:36 How do we promote Hope in the Church?