Have you experienced church hurt or know someone who has? It's become a common problem in the church that we must address. Today's guest helps us unpack our feelings and face them head-on.
Juanita McDonald is the Executive Director for Re-Discover ME Women Initiative. She holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanitarian Arts, a Master’s Degree in Change Leadership, and Minor in Human Behavior. She is registered as a Victim Service Provider for the state of South Carolina, certified as a Girl Circle Facilitator through the Department of Social Services, and author of the Mental Safety Plan.
Juanita created Re-Discover ME after going through a period of personal loss and re-establishment. During the time that she began to accomplish her own personal goals, she quickly realized the extent that women lose their identity by conforming to titles placed upon them by others or situations, which hinders them from fully developing. Therefore, their services center on Abuse, Trauma, and Mental Health Advocacy for women and teen girls.
While creating the company’s educational plan during its first year, Juanita worked with a test market of sixteen women from different underserved communities for four weeks (two groups), which resulted in four women (36%) making personal life changes:
One received her GED; one started a nonprofit ministry “Walking in Praise and Purpose” for battered and abused women; another pursued counseling and opened a daycare center; and the fourth one got a new job, apartment, and purchased her first new car.
· This does not include the online reach through social media and personal one on one consultations. Re-Discover ME is here to help women re-define their identity, re-develop the “ME” she wants to be, and re-focus her state of mind to pursue her goals.
Interview Highlights
* Dr. McDonald defines church hurt.
* "The definition centers on the pain sometimes inflicted by religions institution which is a pain that distances sufferers from the community and from God." - Dr. Juanita McDonald
* We discuss the shift in how we perceive the church when we've been hurt.
* "Am I really turning to God or am I turning to the illusion of what God is?" - Dr. Juanita McDonald
* We discuss why we don't have a straight answer regarding church hurt.
* "God is an experience." - Dr. Juanita McDonald
* We discuss why it's important for us to take responsibility for our personal relationship with God.
* Dr. McDonald shares why it's hard for us to define our spirituality.
* "We're more into the organized religion than into the spiritual connection." - Dr. Juanita McDonald
* We discuss why it's easier to blame God than man.
* "Using the phrase church hurt it actually is centered on everybody in the church but did everybody hurt you?" - Dr. Juanita McDonald
Relevant Links & Resources
* Connect with Re-Discover ME Women Initiative on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Visit their website https://www.rediscovermewi.org/ and email Juanita McDonald at rediscoverme09@gmail.com..
* Follow us on IG.
* Click here to learn more about your host Sherry Jones.
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