“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” – Ephesians 5:11
In the heart of Manila, along the busy strip of Taft Avenue where universities, dormitories, and student communities thrive, churches offer a place of refuge. Many young women, far from home and longing for community, find solace in serving at these churches. They sing in the choir, volunteer in outreach programs, lead Bible studies, and assist pastors in various capacities. For them, the church becomes a second family and a spiritual home.
But behind some stained-glass windows and softly lit pulpits, disturbing whispers are beginning to rise. Several women have come forward with stories that are hard to ignore. These are not baseless rumors meant to bring shame to any congregation or attack the body of Christ. This is about awareness—about protecting the very heart of the church: its people. We are not here to point fingers or take sides. We are here to sound the alarm so that no more daughters of faith are deceived by wolves dressed as shepherds.
In many of these accounts, the pattern is eerily familiar. A pastor singles out a young woman with words like, “God told me you have a calling,” or “You’re chosen to walk closely with me in ministry.” These words, cloaked in spiritual authority, feel flattering and divine. Who wouldn’t want to believe that God sees them, chooses them, and appoints them for something greater?
From there, it becomes personal. The pastor starts calling late at night, sending messages that blur the lines between spiritual mentorship and romantic pursuit. He may offer special attention or mentorship and soon begins inviting her to his office for private conversations, prayer, or spiritual guidance. What seems harmless at first slowly becomes a trap. Some women were touched inappropriately. Others were coerced into silence through guilt, shame, or manipulation. Some ended up pregnant. When the truth surfaced, the same pastor who once proclaimed God’s plan over their lives disappeared—resigning quietly or transferring to another church. Others were left with heartbreak, trauma, and the devastating weight of spiritual betrayal.
While not every church is guilty and not every leader is corrupt, these stories are not isolated. And they are not new. Abuse of authority within religious spaces has been documented globally, across denominations. But the hurt feels sharper when it is hidden under the name of God.
In Taft, the vulnerability is magnified by the student population. Many of these young women are first-time city dwellers, navigating adulthood away from their families. They turn to churches for guidance and mentorship. Predators recognize this. They know these volunteers are eager to serve, to be seen, to belong. They know the language of prophecy, destiny, and calling. And so they speak it fluently—luring their prey not with force, but with flattery wrapped in scripture.
But what does the law say about this? Abuse in church is not just a spiritual issue—it’s a legal one. In the Philippines, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA 7877) protects individuals from unwanted advances by someone in authority or moral ascendancy. That includes pastors. If a church leader uses their role to solicit or coerce sexual favors, it is punishable by law.
The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262) also covers emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse in relationships where one party holds power over the other. Even without a formal relationship, if a woman experiences trauma, coercion, or manipulation at the hands of someone who has authority over her, the law recognizes her right to justice. The Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353) further redefines rape as a crime that can occur even when there is no physical force, if consent was manipulated through fear, deception, or authority.
Churches are not above the law. The pulpit is not a shield against justice. And silence, especially in the name of protecting “the ministry,” becomes complicity.
If you are someone who has experienced this kind of abuse, you need to know this: you are not alone, and it is not your fault. You have the right to speak. You have the right to be heard. You have the right to heal. Contact the PNP Women and Children Protection Desk. Report the incident to your local barangay and file a blotter. Reach out to organizations like the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau or the Public Attorney’s Office. You do not need permission from your church to protect yourself. The Lord loves justice (Isaiah 61:8), and so must we.
The church must also take responsibility. This is not a matter to be “handled internally” with a quiet conversation or a private prayer. When a shepherd harms the sheep, he forfeits his right to the pulpit. Churches must be bold enough to investigate, suspend, and report. Protecting the image of the church should never come before protecting its people.
Policies need to be written and enforced. Pastors should never counsel women alone behind closed doors. Rooms should have glass panels or open visibility. Chaperones must be present. There should be clear, accessible reporting channels where complaints are taken seriously and not brushed aside.
Women in ministry must also be equipped with discernment. Some warning signs are easy to miss in the beginning: private invitations, spiritual flattery, secret favors, or discouragement from involving others. If a pastor consistently finds ways to isolate you or convince you that your closeness to him is tied to your calling, be cautious. God calls His people to serve in community, not secrecy. If you feel confused, unsafe, or pressured, listen to that inner voice. Seek counsel from trusted female leaders or mentors. Document your interactions. And remember, the Holy Spirit is never manipulative or coercive. He brings peace, not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
To those who have survived this betrayal: you are more than your trauma. God sees you, not as a victim, but as a daughter dearly loved. He binds up the brokenhearted and defends the oppressed. He is not silent about injustice, and neither should you be. Healing may take time, but your voice is powerful. You can report. You can speak. You can rebuild. You can even help protect others by breaking the silence.
To the churches who have failed to act, this is your wake-up call. Covering sin for the sake of your image is not biblical leadership—it is spiritual corruption. Repent. Investigate. Restore what was broken. God will not bless a house built on silence and shame.
To those pastors who have abused their position, know this: God is not blind. You may have escaped human accountability for now, but divine justice never sleeps. Matthew 18:6 says it clearly: “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Repent before the Lord calls your name into the light.
And to those who enable, overlook, or justify abuse for the sake of “unity”—the time for silence is over. Unity without truth is not biblical unity. It’s denial. The body of Christ must be healed, not hidden.
Let us pray.
Prayer for Protection:
Heavenly Father, we pray for every woman serving faithfully in ministry. Place a hedge of protection around her. Give her eyes to see red flags, and boldness to walk away from deception. Let her not be swayed by false words or manipulated by flattery. Strengthen her boundaries. Surround her with safe mentors, wise friends, and churches that value her dignity. Guard her heart, her mind, and her body, in Jesus’ name.
Prayer for the Victims:
Lord Jesus, You see every tear that has been shed behind closed doors. For every woman who was used, discarded, or made to feel that abuse was somehow her fault—bring healing. Bind up every emotional wound. Silence every lie whispered in shame. Let her rise again, not as damaged goods, but as a beloved daughter—restored, redeemed, and free. Raise up a community that will walk with her, fight for her, and speak truth on her behalf.
Prayer for the Church and Its Leaders:
God of justice, expose what has been hidden in darkness. Reveal every lie cloaked in spiritual authority. Bring accountability to every leader who has abused power. And bring conviction to those who have stood by in silence. Let Your house be a house of holiness, where truth is spoken, justice is upheld, and Your name is not used to wound but to heal. If a leader refuses to repent, remove him. Raise up pastors after Your heart—shepherds who protect, not prey.
Let us be the generation that says “no more.” No more silence. No more secrets. No more blind loyalty to titles over truth. The church is not a stage for the self-righteous; it is a sanctuary for the broken. And that sanctuary must be safe.
This blog is not meant to tear down the church—it is meant to cleanse it. It is not here to condemn leaders—but to call them to holiness. And it is not here to stir up gossip—but to awaken accountability, restore dignity, and give voice to the silenced.
If you or someone you know is suffering from spiritual or sexual abuse, speak up. There is help. There is hope. There is healing. And justice, both earthly and eternal, is never far from the hand of God.
