When Church Hurts: Finding Jesus Again with Natalie Runion [Summer Throwback]

Have you ever been hurt by the Church and wondered if you should stay or walk away?

In this powerful Summer Throwback episode of Priorities on Purpose, Melissa Batt sits down with author and founder of the Raised to Stay movement, Natalie Runion, for an unfiltered conversation about navigating church hurt, rediscovering Jesus through the pain, and learning what it truly means to “stay.”

Natalie shares her personal story of disappointment, deconstruction, and healing—offering hope to anyone who’s felt let down by spiritual leadership or disillusioned by church culture. Together, Melissa and Natalie talk about what healthy churches actually look like, what to do when leaders fall, and how to stay rooted in Jesus even when you're wrestling with His people.

Whether you’ve left the church, feel like an outsider, or are cautiously finding your way back, this episode reminds you that you’re not alone—and God still has a purpose for you in His Church.

✨ Want more? Continue the conversation in Part 2: Healing the Orphan Spirit & Being Seen in the Church as Melissa and Natalie go deeper into identity, rejection, and what it means to be truly known by God.

Key Takeaways:

• [00:02] – A Divine Connection Melissa shares how she discovered Natalie’s account and why their messages aligned—even from opposite church experiences.

• [04:18] – Natalie’s Background & Burnout Growing up in ministry, Natalie opens up about her family’s church wounds and what pulled her back into leading others toward Jesus.

• [06:42] – What It Means to Be 'Raised to Stay' The moment God gave Natalie this phrase, what it means, and how it birthed a movement of believers staying grounded in Christ.

• [10:01] – Discernment vs. Criticism Learn the difference between inspecting spiritual fruit and nitpicking preferences—and why it matters for those seeking healthy churches.

• [16:12] – Staying or Leaving? Ask This First. How to know when you're called to bring change to a ministry—or released to grow somewhere new.

• [20:38] – Is Church Membership Biblical or Just a Numbers Game? Natalie breaks down how denominations handle membership, why it’s fading, and what spiritual commitment really looks like.

• [24:19] – Refocusing on Jesus, Not Just Church Culture Melissa and Natalie talk about how church messaging can shift away from Jesus and how to bring it back to what really matters.

• [28:37] – You Don’t Need a Title to Make an Impact The story of one woman, a quiet act of obedience, and a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be on staff to serve well.

📚 Pre-Order Natalie’s Newest Book! If this conversation spoke to you, don’t miss Natalie Runion’s upcoming release: I Don’t Even Like Women: And Other Lies That Get in the Way of Sacred Sisterhood This book tackles the lies, wounds, and walls that keep women isolated and invites us back into real, healing sisterhood rooted in grace and truth. 👉 Pre-order your copy here

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