Safe to Hope

Carya & Dan Allender Bonus 2

In this bonus and final episode of Safe to Hope Season 6, Dr. Dan Allender joins our storyteller, Carya, for a profoundly moving conversation about trauma, faith, and the goodness of God. Together, they explore what it means to bear the image of God after unthinkable evil—and to rediscover delight, gentleness, and hope along the way.

As Ann Maree closes the Bearing Witness series, she reflects on how this season revealed not only the depth of human suffering but also the depth of God’s mercy and presence. Evil is real—but not final.

Carya’s Story – Part 6

In her final story episode, Carya reflects on what it means for God to be with her—not only through rescue, but in the long, quiet ache that follows. Through Scripture, images, and honest wrestling, she shares how comfort can coexist with agony, and how the Word that once felt distant has become both balm and challenge. Explore what healing looks like when it isn’t finished yet—when faith must hold steady between lament and hope.

The Rescue Story

Carya’s rescue didn’t begin with a manual—it began with love, prayer, and a community willing to bear witness. In this conversation, “Lynn,” the trusted friend who helped orchestrate Carya’s exit from harm, shares how faith, patience, wise counsel, and practical safeguards came together to make safety possible. This is not a how-to guide; it’s a testimony of God’s steady care through ordinary people who chose to stay.

Carya’s Story – Part 5

In this pivotal chapter of her story, Carya shares how her long nightmare began to shift—when the years of abuse finally gave way to rescue. Yet safety was not something she could walk into alone. This episode highlights the crucial role of people-helpers—those who step in, stand beside, and walk with survivors through the fear, uncertainty, and fragile beginnings of healing.

Dr. Heather Gingrich – Expert Contributor

This week on Safe to Hope, Dr. Heather Davediuk Gingrich joins us for a conversation that blends deep clinical insight with years of walking alongside survivors of extreme abuse. From dissociative identity disorder (DID) to ritual abuse, she helps us understand how evil distorts, how the church can cause further harm—even unintentionally—and how to become truly safe people for those who are healing. This is a sobering yet hope-filled episode, equipping us to listen well, care wisely, and respond with both truth and compassion.

Carya’s Story – Part 4

Through language rarely spoken in Christian spaces, Carya explains the difference between grooming and training, and how dissociation became the means of survival when life became unbearable. Carya invites listeners to see not only the trauma, but the mercy that allowed her to endure it. Her words call us, the Church to deeper understanding, and to become a place where stories like hers can be known and safely held.

Carya’s Story – Part 3

In Story 3, Carya begins to tell how her abuse continued even after she left home. She exposes the hidden lives of men in ministry who used their power for evil while cloaked in Christian leadership. With courage and sorrow, she shares a part of her story she’s never spoken aloud—her children.

Sheila Gregoire – Book Release

What does healthy intimacy look like in Christian marriage? And what happens when biblical language gets tangled with cultural stereotypes? In this powerful and hope-filled episode, we welcome Sheila Wray Gregoire—author, researcher, and founder of BareMarriage.com—to discuss her latest book The Marriage You Want. With wisdom grounded in Scripture and backed by extensive research, Sheila offers a compelling call to mutuality, emotional connection, and healthy sexuality within marriage.

This conversation gently acknowledges that these insights may not apply to relationships marked by coercion or abuse. If that's your story, we hope this episode offers language to describe what’s not of God—and affirms your worth, safety, and dignity.

Whether you’re rebuilding your marriage or simply curious about God's design for intimacy, this episode brings both practical insight and compassionate encouragement.

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New!

Festivals of Remembrance Journal Series!

Volume I:

Remember My Affliction

Finding language for suffering, and courage to lament before the God who remembers.

Volume II:

Remember His Benefits

A sacred rhythm of remembering, reframing, and requesting — anchoring your heart in God’s truth.

Looking Forward
  • Upgraded client management system and added security
  • Safe to Hope 2026 Season: Spiritual Abuse
  • Your Story Matters: Theology of Story I self-paced course