What happens when a ministry that once felt meaningful slowly becomes controlling and manipulative?

In this episode of Protecting Pearls, Liz Green sits down with Justin Nalimu to discuss his experience inside an unhealthy ministry environment. Justin shares how blurred boundaries, spiritual manipulation, gaslighting, people-pleasing, and controlling leadership gradually affected his identity and faith.

Together, they explore the warning signs Justin initially overlooked, the difficult process of walking away, and how God used healthy community, biblical truth, and His grace to help him begin healing.

This conversation is for anyone who has experienced spiritual abuse, questioned unhealthy church leadership, or struggled to separate the actions of people from the true heart of Jesus. Leaving may be messy and costly—but healing, clarity, and freedom are possible.

In this episode:

• Recognizing manipulation and control within ministry
• How unhealthy leadership gradually crosses boundaries
• Gaslighting, grooming, and attacks on someone’s character
• The cost of ignoring red flags and continually people-pleasing
• Walking away from a toxic spiritual environment
• Rebuilding your identity after spiritual abuse
• Healing through faith, truth, and healthy community

Connect with Justin Nalimu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jus_sounds
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jus_sounds

Connect with Liz and The Pearl Perspective

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepearlperspective
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepearlperspective
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepearlperspective1
Facebook: The Pearl Perspective
Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/church-abuse-pearl-perspective-1441/about

Protecting Pearls is a space for honest conversations, biblical clarity, and healing—a place to work through the hurt, separate unhealthy experiences from the heart of Jesus, and discover more of who Jesus truly is.