Welcome to Church Candor, where we talk about faith like true friends.

Today's reading is called Fear to Love No. 1. You can find the full script and post at https://www.churchcandor.com/blog/from-fear-to-love-no-1

EXCERPT:
As a little girl sitting alone in my acolyte robe on the front pew of my small-town church, my legs too short to touch the floor, I remember being terrified of the pastor. Dressed in his robe of all black, towering over me from the pulpit, he yelled, a lot. Of course, my small, undeveloped brain from nearly 40 years ago does not remember the actual words he used, but the feelings persist.

ABOUT CHURCH CANDOR:
Greetings Friend, You belong here. Pause. Breathe. Bring all of who you are to this space. A space for moving faith from fear to love. A space for deweaponizing scripture. A space for devotions, prayers, scripture reflections, and stories that make God the subject of the verb. Writings that deconstruct a faith life based on fear as the motivator so that no one else questions if they are loved by God. Here we talk about faith with candor. Candor is a quality of being open and honest in expressing frankness. Candor implies equality. It’s how true friends talk. 

Let’s talk about faith like true friends. 

Church Candor is a passion project by me, Mitzie Schafer, a Deacon in the ELCA.  Writings include devotions, prayers, reflections, and stories. Mitzie serves full-time as a nonprofit consultant for GSB Fundraising.

Learn more at www.churchcandor.com

ABOUT THE FEAR TO LOVE PROJECT:
The Fear to Love Project is an effort to collect the stories of those who were hurt by the church (or a person/family member in the church) because fear was used as a motivator or sin scale. This is a place for exvangelicals and those hurt because scripture was used as a weapon against them. I’ve witnessed the power of a simple honest story. I have a long history with trauma-informed work. I believe it is the work of the Holy Spirit through candid stories of truth that will help us move faith from fear to love. 

The Goals: 

• Provide a place of healing 
• Provide a place to speak with candor about your experience
• Provide stories from which the church can learn

SHARE YOUR STORY AT: https://www.churchcandor.com/fear-to-love-project

Welcome to Church Candor, where we talk about faith like true friends.

Today's reading is called Learn Prayer Breathing. You can find the full script and post at https://www.churchcandor.com/blog/learn-prayer-breathing

ABOUT CHURCH CANDOR: 
Here you will find a candid view of a reformed(ing) evangelical's faith journey from fear to love so that no one else questions if they are loved and claimed by God. Church Candor is a passion project by me, Mitzie Schafer, a Deacon in the ELCA.  Writings include devotions, prayers, reflections, and stories. Mitzie serves full-time as a nonprofit consultant for GSB Fundraising.

Learn more at www.churchcandor.com

Welcome to Church Candor, where we talk about faith like true friends.

Today's reading is called The Anxiety Prayer. You can find the script and post at https://www.churchcandor.com/blog/anxiety-prayer

ABOUT CHURCH CANDOR: 
Here you will find a candid view of a reformed(ing) evangelical's faith journey from fear to love so that no one else questions if they are loved and claimed by God. Church Candor is a passion project by me, Mitzie Schafer, a Deacon in the ELCA.  Writings include devotions, prayers, reflections, and stories. Mitzie serves full-time as a nonprofit consultant for GSB Fundraising.

Learn more at www.churchcandor.com

SEEKING HELP:

This prayer is not a replacement for seeking professional help when you are struggling with anxiety and depression. You are not alone. You don’t have to fight alone. It is appropriate to seek help for anxiety and depression. It does not mean that you trust God any less. Instead, it shows that you trust in the Doctors and medicine who are gifts from God to help you cope. You can learn more about how to do find help at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America by clicking here. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255 or chat with them here.