CFCtoo, 3662 County Road 14, Madrid, NY (2026)

10/22/2026

Outsiders listening to Carson’s sermon would likely hear a preacher praising generous hospitality. Survivors who know the CFC context will recognize something quite different: a full-throated defense of controlling and predatory housing arrangements.

09/17/2026

Although churches, synagogues, temples and other places of worship are increasingly implementing policies to protect children from abuse, the policies adopted are often inadequate and of limited value. This article includes ten concrete suggestions for faith institutions that will aid in developing and implementing policies more likely to keep children safe.

Although churches, synagogues, temples and other places of worship are increasingly implementing policies to protect children from abuse, the policies adopted are often inadequate and of limited value. This article includes ten concrete suggestions for faith institutions that will aid in developing

09/16/2026

People, the proverbial *they,* rank trauma. They look for the positive, for the “at least it wasn’t,” and the “someone always has it worse.”

They never think someone could have the same feelings, reactions, and painful memories associated with being a war veteran from something like, say, spiritual abuse.

One of the many parts of abuse of any kind is the betrayal. The trust broken. The belief of safety shattered. Even if what happened was a stranger there was still a trust that you were safe. You no longer trust safety. You no longer trust people. People you know or people you don’t.

09/15/2026

The role of the surface apology is not repentance or restitution. The purpose of a surface apology is twofold: to make the person you hurt go away and to absolve you of your own guilt.

The role of the surface apology is not repentance or restitution. The purpose of a surface apology is twofold: to make the person you hurt go away and to absolve you of your own guilt. So how do you issue a sincere apology and work towards restitution if you have wronged someone? And conversely, w

09/15/2026

Multiple independent testimonies matter because courts recognize corroborating evidence. From my own experience conducting military investigations and working in law enforcement, investigators look for independent witnesses, consistent patterns, independent descriptions, and behavioral consistency. The more of these elements available, the stronger and more credible each testimony becomes.

Current CFC members should consider that if even some of the published accounts accurately describe what occurred, the issue extends far beyond individual misconduct. It becomes a question of institutional culture: whether leadership structures encouraged transparency and accountability, or whethe

08/21/2026

For me, a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and abstaining from drugs and alcohol didn’t stop cancer. It didn’t stop sudden and unexplained chronic illness. The trauma I endured was making me very sick, and the longer I stayed within the church the sicker I grew.

It is projected that people who have experienced trauma are up to seven times more likely to develop chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. Trauma is more likely to cause health complications even in people who maintain a healthy diet, stay

08/20/2026

When we deny the truth that survivors were harmed, we deny the complexity of the human experience. When we dehumanize people by casting them as villains or heroes with no shades of grey in between, we dehumanize ourselves.

Listening to survivors tell their stories can be uncomfortable, especially if they name abuse that does not seem to align with what you have experienced.

08/20/2026

At CFCtoo, our first priority is abuse survivors. While we seek to educate people as part of our advocacy, that is secondary to our main work of caring for survivors. Centering on survivors means that our approach is different than if we were just trying to educate churches or push for policy reform.

At CFCtoo, our first priority is abuse survivors. While we seek to educate people as part of our advocacy, that is secondary to our main work of caring for survivors.

08/17/2026

Christian Fellowship Center is running several programs aimed at children for Summer 2026, including Vacation Bible School, a soccer clinic, and music theater classes and Shakespeare camp through The Arts Program of Northern New York. Parents considering these programs should listen to the experiences of children who grew up at CFC and ask careful questions.

CFC is running several programs aimed at children for Summer 2026, including Vacation Bible School, a soccer clinic, and music theater classes and Shakespeare camp through The Arts Program of Northern New York. Parents considering these programs should listen to the experiences of children who grew

08/16/2026

“The ax forgets; the tree remembers.” I didn’t know this old African proverb until I was much older, but it has grounded me on many occasions when I’ve been told I’m not remembering things correctly or it wasn’t that bad and I should just get over it. The abuser has the luxury of forgetting, but I still carry the ax’s scars as reminders.

“The ax forgets; the tree remembers.” I didn’t know this old African proverb until I was much older, but it has grounded me on many occasions when I’ve been told I’m not remembering things correctly or it wasn’t that bad and I should just get over it. The abuser has the luxury of forgett...