I TRUSTED MY CHURCH WITH MY LIFE — UNTIL I REALISED I WAS JUST A PROJECT — MAN ANONYMOUSLY SHARES HEARTBREAKING STORY

When my life was falling apart, church was the first place I ran to.

I had just lost my job. Rent was overdue. Friends had stopped picking my calls. Every night, I prayed for help, and every morning, I forced myself to believe things would get better.

That was when the church noticed me.

They called me “a testimony in progress.” They prayed for me publicly. They asked me to share my struggles during service. At first, I felt seen. Supported. Loved.

People gave me small money. Food. Encouragement.

I thought God had finally remembered me.

But slowly, things changed.

My problems became announcements. My pain became content. Each service, I was asked to come forward again to cry again, to explain again, to remind people how bad things were so they could “pray harder.”

When I tried to stay back one Sunday, I was told, “Your testimony is helping others.”

Helping who?

Anytime I started getting back on my feet, the attention reduced. When I smiled too much, they asked what was wrong. When I dressed better, people whispered that pride was entering my life.

I realised something painful.

They didn’t want me healed.

They wanted me broken visibly broken.

Because my suffering attracted sympathy.

And sympathy attracted donations.

And donations filled envelopes.

The final straw came when I got a new job.

Instead of celebrating me, the church leaders advised me to “stay humble” and continue sharing my struggles so the miracle could be “completed.” One even suggested I delay moving out of my situation so people wouldn’t think God had finished with me.

That night, I cried harder than I had ever cried before.

I had confused help with control.

Support with exploitation.

Faith with performance.

I stopped attending quietly.

Today, my life is better. Not perfect but peaceful. I still believe in God, but I no longer believe everyone who speaks in His name has good intentions.

Some places don’t want to heal you.

They want to use you.