Why I Stayed So Long | Shawn Bolz Follow-Up (Part 2)

Описание: Thank you so much for the overwhelming support on Part 1.

I truly did not expect the response I received. Never in my life have I had so many people reach out with kindness, care, prayers, and encouragement. To everyone who listened, who shared your own story, and who treated me with dignity, thank you.

This is a follow-up video to “I Was a Victim of Shawn Bolz | My Full Story.”

In this video, I want to address some of the most common questions people asked after Part 1, and I want to provide more clarity for those who are still processing everything.

Why did I stay?

One of the hardest things for people to understand is that trauma does not always produce clear decision-making.

When someone is in a trauma loop, boundaries are blurred slowly over time. Grooming is often meticulous, gradual, and built around the power dynamic between the victim and the perpetrator.

I lived based on what I might lose, what punishment might come, and how overwhelming the spiritual and relational authority felt.

I also own that I stayed for practical reasons:
• I was supporting my family
• I believed promises that were made
• I genuinely feared the team would lose their jobs if I left
• I felt responsible for keeping things afloat

And when leaders use the full weight of spiritual authority Who wants to feel like they’re going against God?

Why did I wait so long to speak?

At first, I thought it was just me.

I didn’t know what to do. There was no clear process. No safe system outside the control of the perpetrator.

Help eventually found me through trusted connections, former victims, and advocates. When I finally left, distance gave me courage.

I completed a sworn affidavit, spoke with legal professionals, and worked with trauma-informed advocates in hopes that enough evidence and enough victims would come forward for real action to take place.

Now, years later, Mike Winger’s video gave me the final push to speak publicly.

Believe me, I would have preferred to be known for almost anything else.

This is not fun. I don’t enjoy reopening trauma again and again. Very few victims can do that and remain whole on the other side.

Going public is not the goal. Going public is often the last resort. It means the systems are not working.


The fear of retaliation

One of the reasons people stay silent is simple: retaliation is real.

I watched Shawn villainize others long before it happened to me. I saw how relationships were severed, how people were turned against each other, and how threats of lawsuits or smear campaigns can keep victims quiet.

Truth does not automatically protect you from the emotional and financial cost of litigation.


To other victims reading this:

To those who shared your most painful stories in the comments and messages:

We see you.
We hear you.
Help is on the way.

But I also want to say clearly: I am not a licensed trauma professional. If you have experienced spiritual abuse or sexual misconduct, please seek qualified help. There are advocates and resources available.

Every victim has their own story, complexity, and process, and it takes deep grace and care to walk through these things rightly.

My prayer is that the Church will develop systems that actually protect people — processes that can be multiplied across thousands of churches.

Because redemptive work is one of the most supernatural things God can do.

Thank you again for listening.