Part 2: NBC Focuses on Amy Smith and Me: It Was Worth It But I Found It Challenging.

Posted on by May 30, 2025avatar

pic

Photo by Pixabay: on Pexels

“There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

The video at the end of the post is about Amy Smith and me. NBC spent two days with me in Raleigh and two days with Amy in Southlake, TX. This particular video, which focuses on me, was challenging to make since I do not want the focus to be on me. When I started this blog 16 years ago, my emphasis was on sexual abuse victims and the perps in churches.

My faith has been a vital part of my life. When I became a Christian at 17, I not only devoured books that helped me understand the faith, along with the Bible, but I also read voraciously on subjects such as church history and the current state of the wider Christian and evangelical church. I focused on the Protestant faith, as opposed to the Roman Catholic or Orthodox faith, because that was my area of expertise. I have been a member of various evangelical churches throughout the years. These include nondenominational, Baptist, Episcopal, and now Lutheran (LCMS). I dabbled with an Anglican church, but that did not go well since the now-removed pastor was a friend of my Baptist pastor, and he wanted me to apologize to my former church.

As many know, my blogging began soon after I left an SBC church (Providence) in which a student volunteer from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary molested a large number of teen boys. I felt a profound concern for the boys, along with confusion about the role of pastors in this situation. In the beginning, I was hurt when the pastors went after me (and a group of others), claiming we were the problem. Once the blog started, that hurt dissipated as I came to believe that God had provided me with a learning laboratory of sorts that would help me understand the pain of many who have confronted church leadership.

When a victim contacts me, my brain and heart laser focus on the victims, the perps, and those who support them. I have, from time to time, printed the insults that have come my way. I say the following with all sincerity. I don’t care, and I often see the humor in those barbs. So when NBC wanted to focus on me, I found myself at a loss since I rarely concentrate on myself. Some friends encouraged me to go forward, reminding me that I might be able to help some victims. This happened and resulted in this. There will be more to come in this story as things develop.

For two days, I answered questions about myself. It was probably one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I was frustrated. I am not the most interesting person in private, and I lead a relatively quiet life. As an aside,  I recently got Invisalign braces, and my orthodontist remarked that I had a small mouth. I asked if he would be willing to sign an affidavit so I can show it to those who think otherwise.

Most people are unaware of what I do. The most challenging question to answer is “What do you do?”  I can’t tell you the number of raised eyebrows that I get. But then something like this happens. When I was visiting some of the victims in Tulsa, the documentary crew( I spent another day with them in February)  wanted to come up to my hotel room to film me “leaving for my meeting.”  (I thought “Huh?” but went along with it.) As we rode the elevator up (one NBC person was wearing one of those large travel cameras), a woman on the elevator asked what we were filming. I held my breath and said, “We are filming some people who were sexually abused as children and have come forward 40 years later.” As she stepped off the elevator, she turned to me and said, “It happened to me. I’m glad you are doing this.” At that moment, I wanted to stop and sit with her, but I couldn’t. Many people have been wounded in this way, and I believe God was sending me a message of encouragement to continue blogging.

The documentary folks were enjoyable to work with. I told them I wanted to emphasize my faith, and they were helpful, as you will see. I couldn’t have imagined a more positive crew to work with as I worked out my part in this with “fear and trembling.” As you will see, they did pick up on my sense of humor.

I hired a videographer and filmed a two-hour discussion of the folks in the Joe Campbell situation, along with Cindy Cleminshire and Melissa Hobson, as they discussed coming forward decades after their abuse. I will be getting some help to post that on TWW as well as YouTube. I have been contacted by additional victims who wish to share their stories, and I will continue with my “Words” series. I have come to believe that the problem of sexual abuse in the church is far worse than I ever anticipated. The problem is how to deal with it.

Comments

Part 2: NBC Focuses on Amy Smith and Me: It Was Worth It But I Found It Challenging. — 48 Comments

  3. Dee and Amy (and others) you are doing the work of the Lord and I cannot imagine the impact you have made, are making and will make in the lives of the abused. I commit to pray for you daily and hold you up before the Lord. May God increase His covering over you and strengthen you in this Holy fight!

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  5. DEE

    this was great. so well done. i’m glad you were highlighted – it’s merited, rightfully so.

    but i understand you humbly want the focus on victims, perpetrators, & their supporters.

    nevertheless, i have to say,

    you look so beautiful
    and you are so cute

    (i had never really seen you before, just one picture, maybe)

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  6. Check the comment thread over at YouTube.
    Lots of pious Defenders of the Faith (and Pastor Superapostle) doing drive-bys.
    Here’s the current drive-bys:

    1) “So you highlighted these women and their accusations; did you get the other side of the story too? Unbalanced story.”

    2) “God sees everything ” (this one could go either way)

    3) “Evil Women”

    4) “Stop lying women”

    3 & 4 are getting pushback in the replies.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  7. “In the beginning, I was hurt when the pastors went after me (and a group of others), claiming we were the problem. Once the blog started, that hurt dissipated as I came to believe that God had provided me with a learning laboratory of sorts that would help me understand the pain of many who have confronted church leadership.” (Dee)

    I firmly believe that God allows us to walk through valleys so He can teach us valuable lessons that will eventually help others. As Christians, we live not only for ourselves but for others as well. Thank you, Dee, for not wasting your valley.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  9. dee,
    I know that you do not do what you do for recognition, fame, etc. You do it out of heartfelt conviction.
    But, I am glad that you and Amy have gotten some recognition. You both deserve recognition and a lot of respect and appreciation for what you do.
    May your appearance on a prime time, widely recognized news show make many more people aware of what has happened and has the potential to happen in churches and church related organizations……. and make churches less fertile ground for abusers.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  11. Bravo! It takes courage and fortitude to place yourself in the public sphere by daylighting these outrages. You are guaranteed criticism from the yet-to-be-enlightened or the malignant. Carrying on with the support of the Holy Spirit is the courageous and faithful thing to do. Many thanks to all those, most particularly Dee, who do this work.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  21. I liked it. Saw it last night on YouTube. My algorithm brought it up. Funny when you said you’d probably die at your computer…. Though I can’t do church watchdog work full time , I know the feeling. You’ll never stop and you’re not concerned what others think (such as former pastors).

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  25. Thanks, Dee, for answering the Holy Spirit and doing your work as called. We are also ever grateful to Amy Smith.

    I’ve always felt that standing up for those violated in church settings is the litmus test for anyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto Me.”

    Judas, a Jesus disciple, betrayed the Son of God for a few coins. Today, those who betray the violated and their supporters are the Judas followers in the Church. It takes a village.

    Recently, TWW had the story of a church leader predator who violated children while they were sleeping. The ultimate betrayal.

    I write about this in the novel, “Legal Grounds.” Being a child is being vulnerable. How churches handle this vulnerability is the litmus test of each church.

    Keep doing good work, Dee and Amy. God bless you.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  26. Thank you for everything you and Amy are doing to expose abuse in churches. I am a survivor of clergy abuse from my ex-spouse. What I suffered included severe economic, psychological, spiritual, and some physical abuse. There was also evidence I found pertaining to my spouse’s conduct with a minor. After I reported the abuse to the church, my life became a living hell. The church case has been stalled for over a year. My ex is preaching in a Baptist church now, while engaging in horrific post-separation abuse. What I could write here about what he did to me and my future would blow your mind. Never mind the possibility that there may be other victims.

    The people who promised spiritual and financial support, partially to ensure that I reported my ex-spouse to a ministry group he directed, disappeared as soon as I did. I’ve been told to “move on” and to go “back to (my country).” (I am a legal permanent resident of this country.) They didn’t even assist me in paying for therapy. People I had known for 10-20 years.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  27. dee: There is no question that the Holy Spirit is involved. That is Who compels me to keep going.

    Think of how many survivors have yearned for and prayed for – over years, decades, centuries – advocacy for those violated “in the name of god.”

    In “Chasing Cosby,” Nicole Egan writes that America’s Dad first drugged and violated a woman, on record, in 1965. Cosby was actively doing this for 50 YEARS!!! It took 50 years of reporting to break through and expose the myth of Cosby’s image of a Golden Boy
    of Hollywood and America’s Dad. 50 YEARS!!!

    When you followed the Holy Spirit, the reality is that God cares about those violated and God is in NO way associated with predators no matter their title, such as megapastor Robert Morris.

    On TikTok Amy Smith writes, “This is our story.” It is. When you began blogging about church predators, you discovered (as survivors know) that the aftermath is equally as traumatic as the event. Reporting brings a whole new violation of trust. A whole new barrage of litigation, threats, insults, offenses, accusations, labeling, isolation, and danger to health, home, employment, social standing, safety, and family. It is dangerous to report. Reporting invites, again, violation, even violence.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  30. No more comment action on the linked video, but when I just checked the Sacred Algorithm popped this one up on the sidebar:

    The Children’s Pastor: The 40-year mission to stop a preacher accused of raping children
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7RNEaoVzZ8
    Bud/BFF of Jim Bakker (of Jim & Tammy/PTL, Armageddon Food Bucket, and Quack COVID Cure fame).

    Only took FORTY YEARS.
    Touch Not Mine Anointed, remember.

    So far, NO Pious Defender of the Faith drive-bys in the comment thread. All comments appear to be on the side of the victims and in English, NOT Christianese.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  31. Jeffrey Chalmers,

    Muff Potter,

    Definitely a great idea, Jeffrey! I’m a big coffee drinker.

    Gimme 2 standard coffee mugs and 2 insulated travel mugs that say “daughter of Stan”, plus 2 short-sleeve t-shirts and 2 long sleeve t-shirts that say “Jael is my hero!”
    …. maybe with a pitchfork, or horns, or flames on each of the mugs….. and a hammers and spikes on the t-shirts?

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  32. Ava Aaronson: It took 50 years of reporting to break through … When you followed the Holy Spirit, the reality is that God cares about those violated

    With all due respect, 50 years is way too long, if we really believe that this is God’s plan for justice and healing.
    It goes without saying that most predators — in all of church history!—are never caught.
    Most victims never hear so much as a peep from God, frankly.
    Many are abused again.

    I am a bit of a specialist on the Catholic altar boy situation.
    Most abused altar boys knew nothing but silence by way of justice, or of relief of any kind.
    Meanwhile the abuser remains in glory at the altar, the object of veneration as Christ’s avatar, the giver of sacraments. Which are no longer sacraments.
    It seems that the boy and the predatory priest were BOTH (often) praying furiously for help—in the moment, in the moments after, and to this day. But, crickets.
    Same as it ever was.

    I believe in God.
    I know Christ.
    I also know that our theology is just plain wrong.
    I am not afraid to look at God and call foul.
    I have my own theology, as should everyone I think.

    I do believe that TWW is God’s work.
    But it is way too late for millions of us, many of whom have withered in despair.

    May God’s love be with you.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  34. Sandy: With all due respect, 50 years is way too long,

    Agreed.

    But the problem had nothing to do with God. Cosby was a Golden Boy and America’s Dad.

    No one wanted to believe the women … the same mob behavior that chose Barabbas over Jesus.

    Nicole Egan admits herself great adoration for America’s Dad until she thoroughly researched the cases and vetted the victim survivors. Then when she wrote up reports or articles, no publication would publish. She said they were terrified of the very litigious Cosby and of his very loyal following – which was global and pretty much everyone.

    Myths can surpass and be stronger than truth.

    The documentary on Netflix about Vince McMahon has the mobs on film … the same mob that shows up for political rallies and fills megachurches.

    Do predators using the church have grand followings and powerful lawyers? Do the predators control the narrative? Yessireee, Bob. They do.

    The classic memoir, “Night”, by Elie Weisel, begins with a very humble local synagogue teacher sent to a holocaust camp but then returned home. No one in the village would believe him. He just didn’t impress anyone in that town. Tne problem.

    When Coach or Youth Pastor Joe Blow from Schmow violates little Suzie, quiet and cute, who will believe her? “Joe is such a good guy. Very cool. Fun. Generous. Never hurt my child. Comes from a perfect family.” And then, “Suzie, you are just making things up and wrecking everything. Go away, Suzie.”

    “Dee Parsons and Amy Smith are wrecking everything! Go away, ladies!” Or “Go away, girls. Let the boys have their way, do their play.”

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  35. Muff Potter,

    And don’t forget the hats!! (Baseball cap style-bright red, Daughters of Stan written in black on the front, and yellow flames all around the sides and the back).

    Seriously, Dee, I admire your work, especially after watching two of my supporting churches (while I was an overseas missionary) go up in flames because of pastoral infidelity. In both cases, what was left of the leadership did not want to deal with it. One church got a new, strong pastor and it’s doing well; the other continues to stumble along.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  36. Ava Aaronson: Then when she wrote up reports or articles, no publication would publish. She said they were terrified of the very litigious Cosby and of his very loyal following – which was global and pretty much everyone.

    Likewise Christian publishing and Christian media, the Gatekeepers of what is allowed to be read and said in Christendom. And thus, they create their following – their mob – that supports with loyalty what the curated Christian media puts out there.

    How long ago did Dobson, a Christian psychologist, begin his Talk Show and build his Media Empire? Interviewing hundreds if not thousands of women over decades, about personal experiences, relationships, issues, and challenges?

    Never a peep about what religious predators do in church families and institutions. Missed opportunities, as the Dobson Empire looked away. Maybe the predators are Dobson’s bro-boys or contributors. Maybe he is a predator. Who knows since he didn’t do diligence like TWW. If he interviewed victims, it was highly selective.

    Same with print media like “Christianity Today.” They know and are loyal to their constituencies, never mind truth. CT could have done what Ronan Farrow or Dee Parsons or Amy Smith or Julie K. Brown or Nicole Egan or Jeff Anderson have done.

    You have to wonder why all of the bigshot leaders in Christendom don’t demonstrate LEADERSHIP in this very real and ginormous current and ancient situation in church families and institutions: the violation of vulnerables by bonafide church predators. The predators may even be our beloved higher-ups in the blessed ranks of our holy church hierarchies.

    At the very least the predators are protected by their bro-boys and girls in leadership or the predators would be outed and dealt with.

    Leaders control the narrative in both old and new media.

    With the exception of a few humble but bold blog-watchers. Far too few. But the few are courageous and faithful. Thank God, and thank God for the internet – the ultimate disrupter.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  38. LInn: Seriously, Dee, I admire your work, especially after watching two of my supporting churches (while I was an overseas missionary) go up in flames because of pastoral infidelity.

    Much has been written about the agony that ‘direct’ victims go through when this happens (and we should indeed rally around them) … but there is also a multitude of ‘indirect’ victims who are impacted as well (church staff, church members, communities, etc.).

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  42. Ava Aaronson: In “Chasing Cosby,” Nicole Egan writes that America’s Dad first drugged and violated a woman, on record, in 1965. Cosby was actively doing this for 50 YEARS!!! It took 50 years of reporting to break through and expose the myth of Cosby’s image of a Golden Boy

    Back in school, I remember a Scholastic Book Services biography of Cosby circa 1970 titled Cool Cos. One of the minor things I remember about it were quotes from Cos about what he called “conmanship” (persuasion skill?) during his school days as class clown and in his performances.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  46. Dee, I still remember meeting you and Deb down in Fairfax back in the day. You guys helped in my healing from being in Covenant Life Church and all the subsequent scandals there. My faith will never be the same after being in the church and then seeing all the hidden garbage come out. Thanks for continuing to expose things that need exposing.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

  47. Speaking of Robert Morris, looks like other “Christian” leaders knew of his penchant for molesting and abuse young girls a good 20 years ago (despite they so-called shock at the recent news).

    https://julieroys.com/documents-jimmy-evans-new-life-elders-knew-robert-morris-abused-12-year-old-decades-ago/

    If there is an evil cabal of sex abuse and grooming, it is more likely in the American Church than in the basement of a Washington DC pizza restaurant controlled by the “Deep State”.

      (Reply & quote selected text)  (Reply to this comment)

Leave a comment - Click here for our commenting rules

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *