Well HELLO all those who have opined on this very real case. I am THE PERSON IN QUESTION. Sheri Ferber I do not go by a code name. The article was written years after the fact for good reason. I was an active participant of the Family Life Forum now defunct. People walked the journey with me. I was healing along side of others and offering myself where possible. I served GOD in and out of the church. I have nothing what so ever to hide. I wanted my then church to understand the cancer that was festering and how they were behaving like a corporation or a mob. Rick Warren was insulated from ever having to face what was happening under his leadership. I have a long list of people I knew personally, some I worked with who were part of the coverup.
Nothing about the story is fabricated, everything is provable. But this is not about that. This is about a church body who allows abuse, covers it up and hushes up the person speaking out. It was quite painful, especially given how plugged into the ministry there I had been. I started in 1993/1994, served in several ministries for which the church has proper records an I have certificates of. This isn't the point. Again the point is, there was a cancer allowed to be there but covered up. I had others contact me about their experience as well. There came a point in 2009 where I chose to let the story be told in hopes healing would begin. For the church - and perhaps give our son access to his father. Another stain on the church, being how they kept an innocent child from his father who was serving on the worship team.
in 2017 ish Tom Atkins a pastor and someone directly involved had a surprise encounter with me and my son at one of the satellite churches Laguna Hills. My son was there serving on the worship schedule singing, Tom was a lead pastor. So they met, Tom and our son took a photo together and I trusted that GOD would deal with Tom's heart for the role he played as my once small group leader, turned, judaslike by going to my husband to report that I had come to him about being assaulted. The facts of what happened have multiple witnesses, including Mark and I.
We do have a son who is now 16 years old and a stunning gift straight from heaven.
Mark and I were reunited on or about November 17/19th 6ish years ago. Angela helped make it happen. GOD is faithful and is a Redeemer. In the years after whilst speaking with Mark on the phone he put the phone over to his mother Miss Charlotte, the woman who introduced me to her son 4 years prior to our marriage.
By the grace of GOD Mark and I are co parenting.
When the article was written it was in part because the church was protecting themselves and hiding Mark (who was not a member but did begin serving in ministry there after our separation) He and I both feel that what the church did and did not do in our case still needs to be accounted for. I wanted the church to CLEAN ITSELF UP and I wanted my son to have access to his father and their blood line.
Kathryn was not the only person to write an article. There are 2 articles written. Diane Sawyer was in touch with the 2nd author and was asking me to give her an interview. I have all of the correspondence for this.
Mark and I did not have an abusive relationship. We had a train wreck tragedy hit us, and hit us hard.
The church did not help us fix it, as much as I wanted, needed, begged and pleaded. They wanted to be protected and I was censored.
The real story is STILL exists.
The church = Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest California under the leadership if Rick Warren.
The church has a position on physical abuse in a marriage that is not GODLY
The church has not taken steps to correct this position
The church still has time to fix it and I still hold out hope that they will reach out to me to learn the facts.
For all those here who opined, judged, doubted - that is your right and duty. I invite you to go to the source. I am a real person, with a real faith, and real experience that really needs to be looked into so it stops.
