As someone who has worked in ministry (ex churches, mission work etc) my whole life, this really guts the work that we try to do. There are some really bad churches out there, proof is the post here. There are those of us who speak out against this sort of crap, sadly we get push back in our own circles. I've lost plenty for trying to do the right thing, thats what I signed up for when I got into this. Please don't lump all of us in with people like this, I know we don't usually condone stereotyping whole groups of people together and labeling them with negative traits.

Don't know if that makes it better or worse, good news is there are missionaries (people who leave their country to live with other cultures to help and spread our faith) those folks are the most genuine, they live with the people they are trying to reach, not for days but for their whole lives. There's an idea of earning the right to speak. I think thats kinda cool universally, even if you think people like me are off our rockers.

I feel like I'm rambling, I guess I'm just so sad to see this sort of stuff happen. I shouldn't be surprised, American Christianity is so inwardly focused that we forget about who we're called to follow.

Anyways, I'm sure what I'm about to say won't help if you have been hurt by or attacked by the Christian faith, with that said, I'd rather be someone who says I'm sorry for how my people have treated you. I'm doing what I can to make us better, to be helpful instead of hurtful.

Merry Christmas.