Dr. John Bash
Church Hurts And is the work of Dr. John Bash—a pastor, speaker, and ministry leader with decades of experience walking with individuals and churches through seasons of growth, conflict, and change.
John has served in a wide range of roles, including church planting, pastoral leadership, and ministry consulting. Throughout that work, he has seen firsthand the reality of church hurt—how deeply it can impact people’s faith, identity, and sense of belonging.
This ministry exists for two groups of people: those who have been hurt by the church, and those who are carrying the weight of leading it.
John serves as a shepherd with Standing Stone Shepherds, a ministry dedicated to caring for pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders who are discouraged, burned out, or hurting. His work is centered on listening, encouraging, and helping leaders find their footing again—so they can continue in healthy, sustainable ministry.
Whether you’re trying to rebuild your faith or carry the responsibility of leading others, you don’t have to do it alone.
If you've been hurt by the church, it's tough to live a spiritually engaged life. That's why we created Church Hurts And, a podcast that shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about church, religion, and spirituality, with a dash of recovery thrown in. Once you get real about your own story, you're free to engage the vibrant spiritual life you were created to live.
CHURCH HURTS AND...?
I come to this work through my own pain and struggles with the church and my spirituality. In 2015, my 29-year-old son dove off a boat into the Colorado River, hit a sandbar, and became a Quadriplegic. What do you do when you're in trouble? Call Dad.
Johnny went through surgery and rehabilitation and began to accept his new life in a wheelchair. I drank. It wasn't as if I hadn't struggled in my life before, but this one was it. It wasn’t as if I didn’t have the Bible and a life of prayer to back me up, but I drank. It wasn’t as if I didn’t have friends and encouragers, but I drank.
Eighteen months later, I decided to learn from Johnny. I called Dad. Actually, I think He called me, but I answered. My Heavenly Father said, “You’ve had enough to drink and I’m not done with you yet.”
In pain, I pushed back. “But Dad, the church stuff really hurts and I’m not ready for all of that again. I mean, church hurts!”
His response was very clear and powerful:
“And?”
I want to help challenge, inspire, and encourage you in your life as we discover what comes after "And?"
Dr. John Bash