Deb Is Taking an Indefinite Leave From the Blog Due to Personal Issues

Well, the title says it all and it makes me very sad. Deb is my best friend and I will miss her input very much. Let me reassure you that she is not ill and nothing really is wrong. Life can get complicated at times.

I doubt readers will see much of a change on the blog. I would ask everyone to bear with me as I get used to handling things completely on my own. This has been coming over a long period of time and I have been assuming more responsibility for the direction of the blog so I think I am prepared.

Please keep me in your prayers.

Dee

Comments

Deb Is Taking an Indefinite Leave From the Blog Due to Personal Issues — 41 Comments

  1. You’ve got my prayers Dee. If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know. There may be something you can share with someone else.

  2. I’ve been wondering where Deb was…

    Deb, my prayers are with you as your personal issues require your attention.

    Dee, my prayers are with you as you assume full responsibility for the blog.

    Please know how very much this blog has blessed so many and your ministry has helped to heal so many.

  3. Hang in there and don’t be afraid to cut back in any ways you need for your personal health or peace of mind.

  4. “If God is in it, then it will happen.” -Advice from a mentor

    God is truly in TWW, and I believe God will see it through this transition in leadership with Deb’s sabbatical. I am so thankful for you both and the service TWW is providing to the true Church.

    Blessing on Deb and you, Dee, as this new chapter unfolds!

  5. I concur with these sentiments! What a blessing you both are and will continue to be to the Body of Christ. I’m grateful for all both of you have done! You have had a significant impact on my thinking and I love the commentors on this site! Even if we are carnal…

  6. Prayers for both daughters of Stan.

    I’m a long-time lurker, sometimes commenter, and this blog has helped me tremendously in processing some of the crud that’s been showing up in evangelical churches–and in my head as a result. My church has not been immune to the trends.

    May God bless you both.

  7. Praying for both of you. What you do is SO important. You are a help and encouragement to many.

  8. Upvoting all of the above comments – I’m a longtime lurker (as I am sure 1000s of others are out there) who have benefited greatly from reading this site – it’s good (but sad) to know that it’s not just my own church that has many of the same problems as have been discussed here.

    I will keep you both in my prayers as well. We live in interesting times, and speaking for myself it seems like there is a great spiritual darkness descending upon the land. But maybe this is just me getting older and wiser, and becoming more aware of the evil that is in the world and always has been.

  9. redmondjp:
    Upvoting all of the above comments – I’m a longtime lurker (as I am sure 1000s of others are out there) who have benefited greatly from reading this site – it’s good (but sad) to know that it’s not just my own church that has many of the same problems as have been discussed here.

    I will keep you both in my prayers as well.We live in interesting times, and speaking for myself it seems like there is a great spiritual darkness descending upon the land.But maybe this is just me getting older and wiser, and becoming more aware of the evil that is in the world and always has been.

    Deb, May God Bless.Your work has enlightened me. Ecclesiastes 3:1 /22 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than a man should rejoice in his own works”

  10. Deb has been an encourager with the right word at the right time more than once. You two were the only truly empathetic ears around several years ago for those damaged by the church and I will never forget that, or the wonderful strangeness of genuine compassion and wisdom and community that arrives on a screen late at night. May God hold Deb in a soft and warm place, full of rest and peace and kindness. And may she allow herself to receive the gratitude of many hearts, including God’s. Thanks, friend.

  11. Sorry to hear this about Deb. I hope things work out. Sometimes one needs to take a break.

    I heard a statement the other day “Abuse thrives in silence.” It is a saying used when talking about domestic abuse but then again spiritual abuse at many times can be quite similar in some ways to spiritual abuse. Both domestic abuse and spiritual abuse thrive with silence.

    My thought was to think about this statement when hear various leaders or groups (especially those being exposed for alleged spiritual abuse) trying to silence people using all kind of tactics like calling it “gossip” or “slander” or some of the new ploys.

    I am glad both of you have not been silent and thus not allowing abuse to thrive.

  12. Wishing both of you the best with this transition and whatever life stuff is ongoing. Take care of yourselves.

  13. Deb and Dee,

    I’m sad to see Deb step back, but totally understand that she needs to do that. We all make adjustments to our lives as we journey along.

    I’m praying that all goes well for Deb and that Dee is wise in her commitments as well. It would be great if Dee could get additional help.

    Also hopeful that Deb continues to comment when she can.

  14. Thank you Deb and Dee for the untold hours you’ve put into the lives of others. Helping enlighten us all and encouraging us to take a stand against abuse in all its ugly forms, particularly in the household of faith.

  15. The TWW team has been an awesome source of support, encouragement, and insight. Thank you Deb for your integral role through the years, and to Dee and Guy Behind The Curtain for all you will be doing in going forward. Rock on, on the Rock!

  16. Hey Deb,
    I appreciate all you have done and accomplished. I am honored to have met you and consider you a friend. I will miss your writings here but know you will be here in spirit. I’ll be praying for you and hope you will also pray for me from time to time. I hope we can all get together in the future.

    Kind Regards,
    Todd

    https://youtu.be/OkxVxox–Io

  17. I commend both of you for a job well done. I am glad you were there with this blog when I needed help to process troubles with a fouled up church.

  18. i’ll miss you, Deb. Your posts and words in interaction have been so good and helpful. I understand about the need to make some changes in life — i have my own changes i need to make… not sure yet exactly how.

    Dee, if i can help, let me know. research, writing,…?

    Deebs, your blog provides the opportunity to figure out long-held tensions in my faith — it it’s been absolutely liberating and healing to face it all honestly. the community on this blog is a big part of my day. thank you both so much for all your time, energy, resoures, & labors of love.

    speaking of change, christian culture is in need of it (as we can all see) — i believe you are a significant influence in turning the ship around (a long and slow process).

  19. TWW is the first place I check every day when I first get online. Deb, you will be missed–take care of yourself. Dee, thank you for all that you do. Take care of yourself as well, even if that means fewer posts in a given week than in years past. I can ditto what others have said about this blog helping me figure stuff out and process things from my years of church experience. That comes from both the posts and the community interaction in the comment threads, which I enjoy even if I don’t always directly participate. Although we may never meet in person, I really appreciate all you guys.

  20. Contrary to the site’s wee tag-line, I’m not sure Wartburg is primarily about dissecting christian trends; I think it is, firstly, a community of friends.

    I know that, for Deebs (now Dee) and GBTC, it is also a tremendous amount of work, because it does also fearlessly address some very uncomfortable truths about church life. That it has, nevertheless, become a community of friends is – IMHO – one of the great achievements of the blogsphere.

    I hope all is as well as may be, with all of you.

  21. Dearest Deb and Dee,

    I don’t post here often but I read whenever I get the chance.

    I found TWW after SGM Survivors shuttered it’s doors and I was bereft for information on what was happening in Christiandom and in particular the Reformed community.

    After 22 years in a SGM Church our family called ourselves The Walking Wounded. After leaving our local SGM church we didn’t think we would ever be able to worship in a local church building with a local church body ever again.

    Each evening (I had opportunity) I would read at the Survivors blog (at both SGM blogs—I’ve forgotten the name of the first one) and later here.

    At first I read the blogs with such fury and unforgiviness in my heart. I didn’t think I could despise a group of men and women as much as I despised the SGM leadership.

    I then discovered that church abuse and the cover-up of abuses were happening everywhere and “The Walking Wounded” were everywhere.

    So much pain. So much suffering. So many cover-ups.

    Almost three years ago my fury and sadness became unbearable. I thought that ending my life was a solution.

    I am so thankful that God in His mercy preserved my life and allowed me to get the psychiatric and medical help I so desperately needed.

    For the first time in all the years we had attended a SGM church we learned that mental illness, depression, sadness, PTSD, etc., is treatable. We learned that there is NO SHAME in mental illness or depression. We learned that taking antidepressants is not a sin.

    So much of what we learned (how to interpret things) I learned reading here. So much wisdom found here, dear Deb and Dee.

    I will miss you (have missed you Deb) but I understand maybe more than some how difficult it can be on your mental health to stay in a prolonged and nasty fight.

    Please know how much my family appreciates the sacrifices you both have made for this community of people.

    I am praying for you both tonight and I commit to praying for you whenever you cross my mind.

    You are heroines of the Faith.

    Much love,
    Trace and family

    “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

  22. Janet:
    Deb has been an encourager with the right word at the right time more than once. You two were the only truly empathetic ears around several years ago for those damaged by the church and I will never forget that, or the wonderful strangeness of genuine compassion and wisdom and community that arrives on a screen late at night. May God hold Deb in a soft and warm place, full of rest and peace and kindness. And may she allow herself to receive the gratitude of many hearts, including God’s. Thanks, friend.

    I couldn’t say it better. A thousand thankyou’s to you Deb. And to you Dee.

  23. A thousand Thankyou’s Deb for all your work. And for you Dee as well. You rescued my faith in God sort of, years ago, when i became a casualty of wolves in the pulpit. And have stood tall for truth in God’s churches, and kindness to the wounded. God bless and keep you each one.

  24. Deb, you will be missed. Thank you for all the work you have put in here. Your articles have been of great encouragement to me. Take it easy and be well.

  25. Thank you for all the work you have done Deb and prayers for whatever crazy situations life is throwing your way.

    Dee, praying for you too as you move forward. It was so nice to meet you and Julie Anne at the courage conference and interview you both. I hope to put that up soon.