TRLP 057: Christa Cordova talks about Church Hurt, Healing, and the Art of Kintsugi

In this powerful and honest conversation, Paul sits down with Christa Cordova, a mental health educator and fellow doctoral student, to talk about something many believers quietly carry — spiritual hurt and church trauma.

Christa has walked the road herself, serving in both church and parachurch roles that left deep scars. Now, she uses her experience and training in Critical Incident Stress Management to help others heal, discern what they’ve experienced, and rebuild a healthy, whole faith.

Together, Paul and Christa unpack what spiritual abuse really means (and doesn’t mean), how to spot the difference between being hurt by church and being abused by church, and how pastors and leaders can cultivate safe, trauma-sensitive spaces that honor both truth and healing.

They also talk about:

• Why awareness and self-reflection are vital for healthy leadership
• The concept of the “bell sheep” — a beautiful image of spiritual leadership that follows the Shepherd closely
• The Japanese art of Kintsugi and how it pictures God’s work of turning brokenness into beauty
• How churches can take practical steps toward being places of refuge rather than harm
• The courage it takes to come back to church after being wounded

Christa offers tangible advice for pastors and church leaders, including the value of the 988 Crisis Hotline, why every church would benefit from having a trauma-trained leader, and how building a network of local therapists can transform pastoral care.

Whether you’re a pastor trying to lead with compassion, or someone still healing from spiritual wounds, this conversation will remind you that Jesus meets us in our scars — not in our perfection.

Resources Mentioned:

• A Church Called Tov by Scot McKnight & Laura Barringer
• When the Church Harms God’s People by Diane Langberg
• The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
• National Crisis Hotline: 988

Connect with Christa:
👉 christacordova.com

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