After Church Hurt
In After Church Hurt, Tim St. John provides a path to healing in the care of the Good Shepherd. He defines church hurt as any unrepentant sin that is minimized, normalized, or promoted by a church culture and its leadership, and he makes it clear that he writes this book out of love for the bride of Christ.
By the mercy of God, I have not experienced church hurt in the way that St. John defines it. But I have experienced being sinned against by pastors as well as a lack of shepherd leadership – and it still stings. I also know and have heard stories from those who have experienced church hurt. This needed book shows compassion and care to these situations.
Christ is Faithful to His Flock
St. John reminds readers that the story of the gospel is greater than our stories of suffering. This does not diminish our pain, but it does place it within a larger, redemptive context. From the first chapter, he addresses the reality of church hurt with honesty, emphasizing that it must not be minimized, hidden, or overlooked. Scripture itself shows that God’s shepherds are also sinners. By brilliantly expositing the imagery of pastures—places where sheep should feel safe to rest and roam—he ultimately points us to the Good Shepherd who remains faithful to his flock.
I was most challenged in chapter 2, where St. John helps readers understand and name the pain of church hurt. He gave language to my own experiences, encouraging me not to minimize them in comparison to others, but to acknowledge them and the consequences they carry. While church cultures are meant to orient us toward Christ, he shows readers how unspoken expectations can lead to deep hurt. This led me to reflect upon my own Asian American church context and the potential dangers within it.
As a church leader, this book prompted me to examine my own heart and consider whether I have contributed to the hurt of others. As someone who has been on the "inside" of the church for a long time, it humbled me and challenged me not to ignore or downplay the pain people carry. St. John also includes sections directed toward pastors who have been hurt by their churches, whether by fellow leaders or congregants.
Care for the Bride of Christ
Chapter 3 calls readers to embrace God’s grace while dealing with anger, anxiety, and shame. Drawing from Scripture, St. John encourages a posture of forgiveness and a deeper reflection on Christ’s response to suffering.
Chapter 4 closes on a realistic yet hopeful note, offering guidance on when it may be appropriate to leave a church and how to approach difficult conversations with leaders. I found it helpful in providing the proper perspective on my own experience as he distinguishes between direct relational sin, characteristic or patterned sin, clearly disqualifying sins, and illegal or criminal activity. He encourages those who have been hurt to continue shining their light, looking forward to the day when the bride of Christ will no longer be fractured by sin but fully restored.
Written with sensitivity and practical clarity, After Church Hurt equips and comforts. It helped me with my own hurts, something that I have kept hidden, but am now better healing from. I am also more deeply resolved to care for Christ’s sheep. Although the book is written for after church hurt, it can help leaders be proactive before church hurt begins. The book provides a path to cherish and care for the Bride of Christ.
I received a media copy of After Church Hurt (Amazon, 35% off Westminster Bookstore and use code DIVEINDIGDEEP to save an extra 5% off your entire order always) and this is my honest review. This book review was edited by the team at SOLA Network. Full disclosure: Tim St. John is a member of the SOLA Editorial Board. Jee St. John is on our SOLA Staff as Content Editor.
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