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Casey Sabella

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Spiritual Abuse: How To Identify and Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith Kindle Edition

by Casey Sabella (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 27 ratings

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Worried your church’s leadership has lost its way? Discover simple steps to evaluate your congregation’s health and protect your faith. Struggling to cope with the corruption in your church? Is remaining a part of the same ministry testing your faith? Author and pastor Casey M. Sabella dedicated 15 years of his life to a church he believed in with his whole heart. But when repeated unethical choices by the ministry’s leaders led to its catastrophic collapse, Casey turned to God to ask if there was anything he should’ve done differently. This is his story…Spiritual Abuse: How to Identify and Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith is a personal testimony and handbook for evaluating the state of your religious community. With over four decades of ministry experience and as the host of a popular podcast, Casey has condensed his teaching into a guide that will help you find honesty and truth in your church experience. Through a collection of stories and exercises, you’ll learn how to assess and transform your place of worship from the top down. In Spiritual Abuse, you’ll discover: - Scriptural principles to help you worship with confidence- Steps to protect yourself from abuse and recognize the differences between false doctrine and the truth- Simple worksheets that let you organize your concerns and allow God to shine a light on them- Additional audio content to help you identify the seeds of destruction and root them out- Methods for transforming criticism into a positive life message, and much, much more! Spiritual Abuse is an inspirational testimony and religious guidebook. If you like biblical parables, easy-to-follow steps, and straight talk from a man of God, then you’ll love Casey M. Sabella’s insightful resource. Buy Spiritual Abuse to take an honest look behind the pulpit today!

**This book comes with an additional online audio course and workbook designed to guide the reader through a step-by-step process of both identifying and breaking free from toxic churches. Also available in audiobooks.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Casey is brutally honest with the church and with himself as he shares a season of brokenness in his life's journey. A must-read story of redemption and hope for all those who have been hurt by the church." - Dennis Ritchie, Pastor

From the Author

I first wrote this book in 1992, five years after leaving the church that played a major role in shaping my Christian life. I joined the church shortly after giving my life to Christ as a teenager and witnessed the power of God in many unique ways as the ministry grew exponentially.
Over fifteen years, I became a full-time pastor, met my wife and started a family in this amazing ministry, but our church went off track. Like the proverbial frog in the kettle, small compromises eventually changed our mission until we no longer resembled a legitimate New Testament Church. I share my journey and reveal patterns that affect more churches than we care to realize. I also share solutions along with a free audio course and worksheets you can access online.

From the Back Cover

Casey Sabella offers expert insight and a transparent evaluation in this book. With years of healthy involvement with that which is right in the body of Christ, he can speak to both the personal and systematic issues that cause bad environments to develop. The church landscape is littered with people who have been hurt in churches. This book will help clean things up. --Howard Renker, Senior Pastor, Bethel Christian Church, Bristol, CT. Bethelcc.org

"Seldom, if ever, have I read a book that was so refreshingly personal and real, yet delivered material that put you in a position to navigate the difficult and damaging challenges, of being part of a degenerating church. I was moved to tears and then lifted to a place of hope, by the pain and abuse that this family faced and their incredible testimony and journey of recovery. All glory to the power of His love for us." -- Jan Nel, Bateleur Ministries, asianapostolicadventure.com

"Casey Sabella offers a real-world view on how following your spiritual calling is not always easy but completely worth the journey. His down to earth approach allows the reader to process and be encouraged by his personal story, insight, and commitment to faith." Sarah Carabetta, Executive Director, ACTS4 Ministry, Inc. Acts4.org

"Casey Sabella has been a pastor over 40 years. I have known him personally for many of those years. This book is a case study of how trust can be abused. Casey handles this difficult issue with a good balance of honest introspection and critical analysis of leadership structures and practices. This book is a must-read." --Daniel T. Wynne, ApologeticsMinion.com

About the Author

Casey has served in ministry for nearly four decades as a pastor and leader. He speaks from experience having grown up in a powerful church that showed amazing promise but eventually closed by abandoning biblical principles.
Rather than an expose to attack the faith, Casey leads the reader back to a place of spiritual health and passion by sharing his journey and pointing to the red flags which can ruin any ministry. He is a prolific writer and communicator, hosting a weekly podcast to leaders.Casey and Patti continue to serve on the leadership team of their local church. Their children together with their spouses all serve in ministry.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07MTRF7ZR
Publisher ‏ : ‎ MTP (January 21, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 21, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1854 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 153 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #309,915 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #34 in Christian Institutions & Organizations (Kindle Store)
- #34 in Christian Church Administration (Kindle Store)
- #60 in Christian Church Growth (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 27 ratings

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Casey Sabella

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Casey Sabella has served in ministry all of his adult life. After inviting Christ into his life as a teenager, he began sharing his faith at his Catholic high school wherever he went. Just before college, he received a profound call to serve in the ministry, as God empowered to teach and preach. He was ordained into the ministry in 1981.

Along with way, God blessed him with a wonderful wife. Casey and Patti raised four children while serving as a pastor and teacher in several cities and towns. All love God and together with their spouses serve in ministry.

Casey has been the featured speaker at several conventions on four continents. His passion centers on developing and encouraging leaders. Towards that end, he hosts a weekly podcast called, Minister's Toolbox. You can also access it on iTunes and Google Play @ministerstoolbox.com.

The church Christ founded has increased exponentially in recent days through information, technology, and preaching. Unfortunately, very few leaders teach in ways that bring life-change. Casey is tasked to train people to become disciples, develop into leaders and serve God's purposes in this generation.

His first book, Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith, shares both his testimony and insights about how churches can lose their way. For those trying to discern whether they attend a church with problems or a problem church, Spiritual Abuse: How To Break Free From Toxic Churches Without Losing Your Faith provides practical answers. The book comes with an additional online course for those interested in delving deeper and finding healing and restoration. Also available in Audiobooks.

Casey's second book, Titanic Warning, examines the historic voyage of the Titanic through the lens of church leadership. Four captains played key roles in the eventual outcome that evening. A book for history buffs, but more importantly for those who genuinely want to become leaders who honor Christ properly.

You can reach him at ministerstoolbox@gmail.com.

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4.5 out of 5

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D. Blewitt

Very encouraging Book

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

This book carefully goes through the steps in identifying the situation you may be facing and walks you through the process to recognize spiritual abuse and how to deal with, change, or escape from it. Very well written...

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

I can appreciate a man who learns from life's lessons, and chooses to reverse the curse from carried down deceptions and decisions.

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2019

Casey's book is riveting, honest and quite frankly impossible to put down. It was my intention to read a chapter or two to see if I was interested in what he was saying, but the story and his life captured me due to some similarities in my own life. One of the biggest problems I face in sharing the Gospel message on the streets is running into people who have been hurt by the CHURCH! I say that because I know the church does not hurt people; people in the church hurt other people in the church. This book is a good source to help anyone who is trying to navigate their way back to God from being hurt or rejected by those in the church. Casey does a good job of helping to explain how to get back to your first love, Jesus Christ. As he admits, no one book is all encompassing, but this book is a good start. God bless you!

Helpful

Patti Dahl

simple and easy to understand

Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2016

Sabella's book has strengths in many areas. His style of writing is quite suitable for his target audience. He has written it in first person narrative and makes the whole experience of this book, personal, simple and easy to understand. There is a crescendo that builds toward the middle of his experience in a cult that stirs great emotion in the reader. It's hard to put the book down, especially when reading about the restrictions that came from this pastor that squeezed the breath out of Casey's own life in terms of freedom in Christ Jesus! Sabella not only paints us the picture of his own failings, but gives a detailed account of the rise and decline of the pastor in this horrendous model of abuse and tyranny. The author's struggle over the years in this cult perhaps shakes the very core of all readers in the church! There are fine lines that go on today between spiritual abuse vs. great honor given to the 'office' of pastor. Casey provides comfort and solutions in the back of the book to those who desire the 'checks and balances' in their own church experiences. He helps all levels of Christians identify abuse problems that realistically can happen to any 'good' body! It's debatable if this church was really good in the first place due to the demonic underlying 'wiring' of the pastor. What is quite evident however, is the godly underlying 'wiring' of Sabella.

Helpful

Sgt Slov

Spiritual abuse is as damaging as all other abuses. Power corrupts. But there is restoration.

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019

I read through this book in one night. I found the author's approach to be real and personable. As a person who has lived through the misuse of unaccountable authority, the stories were at times a mirror onto myself. Yet at no time did I feel any tone of judgement or threatened. On the contrary, Casey's writing shows restoration and healing through forgiveness. The tools given in this book are necessary for not just leaders. It is useful to bring about a more restored Body of Christ. The Father has work to do, and this book can assist.

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019

Casey has done a wonderful job of taking us through the journey of a great church that denigrated into a very bad situation. As he told his story I felt like I was walking through it with him. Although I have never personally encountered this situation it was very helpful to see how it could happen and how to have checks and balances in place to keep it from happening in your church. I highly recommend this book!

Helpful

Rob Nichols

Heart felt truth & insight from an amazing, genuine friend who loves Jesus & all people.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2016

An amazing read Casey. Very genuine and written with passion, conviction and understanding. I have many take a ways. I remember many of our talks over the years and value the conversations we have had. Would love to sit down and talk about so much more. You have helped in many ways and I will never forget. Through Christ & compassion you and Pat have touched so many lives including mine in a positive & meaningful way. Know that! Miss and Love you guys.
*For anyone reading this and wondering if this might be a good book to read... It is not only good, it is Great! It comes from a man (who I have known my whole life) who loves the Lord with all of his heart and truly has vision and insight and is guided by the Holy Spirit. You will find that this book will help and guide you no matter what your circumstance or level in your church. A must read! You will be glad you did.

Helpful

John J Prendergast Jr

Why humility and courage must go hand in hand.

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2019

I found this book very honest and challenging. Throughout the story of this church and the experience that Casey lived, one can see how important it is to truly have a spirit of humility and courage to be a healthy leader in the Body of Christ. It is good to be reminded that the people of God belong to Him and as leaders how we are to minister to His children.

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