If you’ve ever been hurt by the church, you’re not alone—and you’re not wrong for feeling it. Church Hurts And exists to help you move forward—not by ignoring the pain, but by facing it honestly. We talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of church, faith, and spirituality, with a dose of real-life recovery along the way. Your story isn’t over. There is still a vibrant spiritual life ahead of you.
About John
Dr. John Bash brings decades of ministry experience—and a deeply personal journey of pain, loss, and renewal—to this work. John faced questions about faith, suffering, and purpose in a way he never had before.
In the midst of that season, he wrestled honestly with God, with the church, and with himself. That journey led him back—not to easy answers, but to a deeper, more grounded faith. Today, John helps others navigate their own stories of pain and rediscover what comes after “and?”
CHURCH HURTS AND?
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.
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
