Calling Out Abuse in the Evangelical Church: A Review of “For Our Daughters”
In September 2024, Kristen Kobes Du Mez, author of bestseller Jesus and John Wayne, debuted a thirty-minute film, “For Our Daughters”, which addresses issues that women of faith encounter in the United States, particularly spiritual and sexual abuse. As you watch this film, a few key themes will surface, which are especially important for viewers to hear during an election season: use your voice, use your vote, and pursue a better world for the daughters in your life.
Use Your Voice
One of the most important themes in this film is using your voice. In the film, Jules Woodson, a nationally-recognized survivor advocate (and survivor herself) tells her story of being sexually abused by megachurch pastor Andy Savage. Jules’ story of advocating for herself, telling her story, and holding her abuser accountable made waves across the United States when it surfaced in 2018, and continues to be foundational in the ongoing work of survivor advocacy and justice.
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Jules’ story will undoubtedly compel you to use your voice, especially when reporting situations of spiritual and sexual abuse. The film chillingly highlights how many high-level cases of sexual and spiritual abuse (especially sexual abuse) were hidden, particularly in the Southern Baptist church. These stories of long-hidden, now-revealed abuse will motivate you to speak up and use your voice to advocate for and support others who deserve justice.
Use Your Vote
In the film, the creators draw a clear line from sexual abuse in the evangelical church to the quest of Christian nationalists to deprive women of their basic democratic rights. The film highlights many recent, discouraging cases of pastors and other public figures voicing their opinion that women should no longer have the right to vote, and that they (the husband/father) have the right to control all aspects of their family’s schedules, down to when they eat or use the bathroom.
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If you’re anything like me, these examples will have your jaw nearly on the floor in shock. They are chilling realities of what could happen depending on the results of the 2024 election (and those to follow). Within thirty minutes, this film not only compels you to use your voice, but to also use your vote well. Before voting, do your best to research the candidates–both at a local and national level–and issues they support so you can make an informed decision.
Pursue a Better World for Your Daughters
Above all, I love the heart behind this film. It’s not simply a message to use your voice and use your vote in the present, but to do so looking to the future, seeking to create a better world for “our daughters”: the sisters, nieces, granddaughters, goddaughters, and other women in your life. By making informed, bold decisions to use your voice and vote, you are helping pursue a better world not just for yourself, but for those to come after you. That better world, the film contends, is one where voices are heard, abuse is addressed with justice at all levels, and your vote results in women not losing their basic democratic rights.
Much is on the line, both in this election and in the ones to come.
Here’s a few tips to get started on using your voice and vote “for our daughters”:
Watch the film on YouTube! It’s 30 minutes and totally free.
Host a virtual watch party - Tears of Eden Editorial Board member Cait West has a fantastic article on how to do this well!
Host an in-person watch party - work with a local theater, organization, or church to host a screening and panel discussion. These are especially common in West Michigan (where many of the film’s participants reside) right now, and will undoubtedly continue to be a popular way of engaging with the film.
Make sure you’re registered to vote! Each state will have a page with information on criteria and information on how to ensure you’re registered.
Research your ballot, which includes people, issues, and proposals. Do this at a local and national level!
Educate yourself on spiritual and sexual abuse by reading survivor stories, listening to podcasts, reading books, and other material. Our blog has tons of resources to get you started!
Share your story – Tears of Eden would love to help you share your story! Contact us to learn more about our guidelines and publishing process.
Leah Jolly is a graduate of Wheaton College where she studied international relations and Spanish. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband, Logan, and is pursuing her MDiv at Calvin Theological Seminary. After finishing her MDiv, Leah hopes to pursue a PhD and work as an editor and professor. In her free time, Leah enjoys spending time with family and friends, writing, traveling, and reading.
