01/08/2026
Dear friends,
Our hearts have been heavy as we have processed the confirmed moral failings of Philip Yancey, a past Break Forth Canada speaker, a friend, and a writer whose words shaped the faith of millions, including our own.
We did not respond quickly.
We paused to pray, to grieve, and to carefully confirm what we were hearing.
It was difficult to reconcile this news with the Philip we thought we knew. Each time he spoke at Break Forth Canada, his wife, Janet, was with him, which led us to assume that strong safeguards and accountability were in place.
Sadly, the reports are factual.
As a result, we have ensured that there are no Philip Yancey podcast episodes on our platforms. These decisions are never simple or painless. They are not acts of condemnation, but acts of stewardship and responsibility.
We ask you to pray, especially for Philip’s wife of 55 years, Janet Yancey, for their family, for the many people whose faith has been shaken by this news, and for Philip himself. God’s grace is real, and at the same time, the consequences of sin are real, particularly when leaders fall.
We are not standing in judgment, and we are grateful that Philip has stepped away from public ministry. At the same time, we know we can no longer recommend his books. The inner pain is too great.
Still, we can’t deny the profound impact his writing had on our own faith journey and on the journeys of many people we’ve walked alongside. God used Philip’s words to help us see a God who is loving, grace-filled, and strong enough to withstand our anger, our doubts, and our hardest questions.
Please don’t allow a spirit of cynicism to take over your life due to yet another leader falling. This is one of our enemies’ most powerful tools to shut us out of listening to what is true.
Some of you may be so shaken by this that you wonder whether any leader can truly be trusted. We understand that fear. We feel it too.
Scripture speaks both of mercy and warning.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” - 1 Corinthians 10:12
These moments call us not only to prayer, but to humility and accountability.
Never forget that even our heroes have feet of clay. Our true model for life and leadership is Jesus Christ alone. No author, pastor, or public figure can bear the weight of our ultimate trust, no matter how much they have blessed us or how faithful they may appear.
May God grant all of us humility, wisdom, compassion, and sustaining grace to Finish Well!
With love,
Arlen and Elsa
SOME NEXT STEPS:
For those of you who have read Philip’s books and heard him speak at Break Forth Canada, what are some next steps when your heart feels shaken?
You may be feeling unsettled, disappointed, or even grieving. You may be questioning how someone whose words shaped your faith could also cause such pain. That response is both human and understandable. When a trusted Christian voice falls, it can feel as though the ground beneath your faith has shifted.
Scripture reminds us that God is near in moments like this.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:18
Healing begins when we tell the truth about what we are feeling and resist the temptation to either excuse sin because the teaching helped us, or harden our hearts because we feel betrayed. Scripture calls us to neither denial nor despair, but to humility, repentance, and renewed dependence on God.
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” - James 4:6
Rebuilding trust does not mean pretending this did not matter, nor does it mean quickly transferring our trust to another admired leader or author.
Scripture is clear that while God uses people, our faith was never meant to rest on them.
“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” - Psalm 146:3
Instead, rebuilding trust means gently re-centering our faith where it has always belonged, in Jesus Christ alone. He is faithful when people are not. He is unchanging when leaders fail.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8
Writers and speakers can help us see truth more clearly, but they were never meant to carry the full weight of our faith. That burden belongs to Christ alone.
As we move forward together, let us commit to
1. Remaining rooted in Christ
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him.” Colossians 2:6–7
2. Valuing accountability over giftedness or insight
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 20:18
3. Walking with one another in grace and truth
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
4. Allowing time and prayer to do their healing work
“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” - Isaiah 40:31
If you are struggling to reconcile what you learned through Philip Yancey with what you are now processing, you’re not alone. Many of us are walking that same path.
God is not threatened by your questions, your grief, or your disappointment.
Let us continue to walk together, pray for one another, and keep our eyes fixed on the One who never fails.
With love,
Arlen and Elsa
