Escapes and Rescues: A Call for Stories

For our next open series, we invite homeschool alumni to share their stories about leaving cults and controlling households.

Call For Help: Sarah’s Story

“My fear of hell and demonic possession drove me to pray for hours, forego food and sleep and pace for hours in the middle of the night. My family treated my OCD like silliness or sin that could be rationalized or prayed away. Worse, while they disregarded my obvious need for mental health assistance, they treated me as though I was already possessed by demons.”

Hope For A Better Tomorrow: Matthew Gorzik’s Story

“The internet found me, so to speak. I had been online for a few years at this point. I had made friends — good friends. Friends that still stick with me to this day. They helped me realize that life wasn’t meant to be full of fear, and they helped me find a voice for myself. They helped me find my own personality.”

Call For Help: A Quiverfull / Patriarchy Rescue

“There was really only one option, and so she and her husband put in 28 hours of driving in three days and went to rescue Jennifer. They got her out after a confrontation with her parents that required police backup, and cost Jennifer her three pets, her graduation gift iPad, her computer, her art supplies, her summer clothes, and her life savings.”