‘We are crying for you': Hundreds mourn at funeral of 15-day-old baby terror victim Ravid Haim
Baby Ravid was born via emergency C-section after prolonged resuscitation efforts failed to save his 30-year-old mother, Tzeela Gez.
Hundreds of mourners gathered on Thursday to say their goodbyes to Ravid Haim, a 15-day-old baby whose mother was gunned down by a terrorist as she traveled to hospital to give birth to him.
Baby Ravid was born via emergency C-section after prolonged resuscitation efforts failed to save his 30-year-old mother,Tzeela Gez. Gez's husband, Hananel Haim, sustained minor injuries during the attack.
Haim addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the funeral, telling him: 'Stop listening to the whole world—we elected you to protect us.'
The bereaved father noted that he invited Netanyahu to the shiva (Jewish mourning) and to the NICU before baby Ravid's death to 'look him in the eyes and tell him: this will never happen again.'
'Can we now say with certainty that there will be no more terror attacks? Or will there be another one tomorrow? Another family like mine? This has become normal, hasn't it?' he said. 'We live in an upside-down world, where we pity terrorists who murder us.
'You, Netanyahu, must take command. Don't listen to the EU. Don't listen to the world. Even Trump, no country in the world allows such animals to live, those who murder a pregnant woman on her way to the delivery room. They murdered her and her son—a woman who did only good in the world, for hundreds and thousands of people. They murdered a baby who didn't even sin for one day—he lived 15 days. What? A full angel, a complete woman, full of strength, love, and life.'
Eulogizing the murdered mother and son, Haim said: "My Ravid, I stand here and my heart is broken twice. What can I say? There's nothing to say. Tzeela, my dear, I miss you and love you every day. It's so hard for me without you. I can't believe that someone so good—that this is what you got in the end. It's so hard. Our hearts are broken. But no one will break us.
'I was privileged to see Ravid Haim yesterday in the NICU. He was my sweet boy—he even opened his eyes for a few seconds, like an angel. I couldn't believe I got to see such a face.
'We're here for a very simple reason: because we allow people who want to murder us to continue living here. That's the simple reason. You don't need a lot of brains to understand: if someone comes to kill you, they shouldn't be here.
'Nation of Israel, we need to unite—left and right, religious and secular, Sephardi and Ashkenazi—we are one people. Why are we fighting each other? The whole world already wants to kill us. The Arabs who support terrorism, who incite against us, who hand out candies when we are attacked—you, today, start packing. All of you. This is not a request, it's a demand—and you will do it.
'We are a people who respect all nations. We welcome everyone: Christians, Arabs, Muslims—all religions. All are welcome. We are a people who respect all nations. We welcome everyone: Christians, Arabs, Muslims—all religions. All are welcome. But if you murder us, you have no place here. We will not accept it.'
Haim stressed his belief that 'We need to keep building the Land of Israel. Every centimeter. Every border belongs to us. There's no Area A, B, or C. It's A to Z—Israel. Only Jewish Israel.'
In memory of baby Ravid and Gez, the head of the Samaria Regional Counci Yossi Daganl, declared: 'We promise you, Tzeela and Ravid—we will build more settlements.'
'We will establish a new settlement in your name—Ravid Chaim and Tzala—so that your light not only won't go out, but will shine even brighter—through settlement, through love, through goodness. And light will always overcome darkness," he promised.
Baby Ravid's aunt, and the sister of Gez, shared: 'Our Ravid, a beautiful child, a pure angel. We waited so long for you. Ravid, you know, little angel—this is not how life is supposed to be. Usually, when you're born, there's blinding light and for a moment you don't feel safe. Suddenly, the umbilical cord doesn't feed you anymore. But there's a touch, a softness, the warmth of a mother that makes everything possible, that makes things less scary and painful.
'But you didn't get that. A mother to protect you, to kiss you and hug you. Mom is waiting for you among the angels, with open arms.'
Naomi Gez, grandmother of baby Ravid, spoke to her grandson, telling him, 'We were so happy when your mom became pregnant. We prayed so hard that this difficult pregnancy would end in an easy birth. You had your bris in a cemetery. Dear Ravid, your mother chose your name—Ravid, a precious jewel. And you truly are a jewel for the entire Jewish people. You entered the hearts of all of Israel.
'And now, instead of Elijah the Prophet's chair, you sit under the Throne of Glory, carrying all our prayers and hopes with you. We were with you in the NICU, we held your hands—but other than breath from your soul, we saw nothing. How I waited for you to squeeze my hand, but it didn't happen. No cry. No scream. The doctor said you never cried—not even once. So now, Ravid, we are crying for you.'
Ravid has now been laid to rest next to his mother at the Har HaMenuchot Cemetery in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem. The funeral notice read: 'Earth, do not cover their blood. And may we find comfort in the rebuilding of Zion and Jerusalem.'
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Boulder suspect's daughter dreamed of studying medicine. Now she faces deportation.
Boulder suspect's daughter dreamed of studying medicine. Now she faces deportation. Habiba Soliman moved to the U.S. hoping to study medicine. Then her father Mohamed Soliman was charged with a hate crime in an attack aimed at peaceful Jewish demonstrators. Show Caption Hide Caption Who is Boulder, Colorado, terror suspect Mohamed Soliman? Authorities say 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman attacked a pro-Israel event in Boulder. Here's what to know about the Colorado suspect . She moved to the United States with a dream of studying medicine to transform lives. Then her father was charged with attempting to take them in connection with a fiery assault on pro-Jewish protesters in Boulder, Colorado. Now Habiba Soliman, daughter of Boulder attack suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman, faces deportation along with the rest of her family. The family, originally from Egypt, moved to the U.S. from Kuwait. Habiba Soliman recently graduated from high school, but her aspirations were upended when her 45-year-old father was charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder related to the attack that left a dozen people burned, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. Two remain hospitalized. Her life had been headed in a positive direction before the attack on the weekly demonstration in support of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, which came three days after her high school graduation. A federal affidavit says the elder Soliman told investigators he planned the attack for a year and waited for his daughter to graduate before carrying out the plot. Prior to the attack, Habiba Soliman had written about her hope of accomplishing great things in the U.S. 'Coming to the USA has fundamentally changed me,' she wrote in an application for a Colorado Springs Gazette 'Best and Brightest' scholarship. 'I learned to adapt to new things even if it was hard. I learned to work under pressure and improve rapidly in a very short amount of time. Most importantly, I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support.' She won the scholarship and was profiled in the Colorado newspaper where she shared her dream of a "future medical career" in the U.S. Instead, the White House said on X on Tuesday that Mohamed Soliman's wife and five children 'could be deported by tonight.' FBI and police officials said Monday the family has cooperated with investigators. The family is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and could not be reached for comment."This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,'' Noem said on the X platform. "We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it.'' Why did she want to pursue medicine? Habiba Soliman's interest in medicine goes back to her father, according to a Colorado Springs Gazette profile celebrating her winning one of the outlet's "Best and Brightest" senior class scholarships. She told the outlet that she wanted to study medicine after seeing how her father regained the ability to walk after a difficult surgery. She described the result as 'magic.' Moving to the U.S. from Kuwait provided her new opportunities to pursue her dream. Her favorite activity was volunteering at a local hospital which would help in a 'future medical career,' she wrote in her scholarship application. Representatives at the hospital, UCHealth, did not immediately respond to requests for information on how long she volunteered or what her tasks were. 'Best and Brightest' Soliman was among 20 winners of the Best and Brightest scholarship, according to Christopher P. Reen, chair of the board of Gazette Charities. 'Recipients were selected through a highly competitive process that evaluated academic excellence, leadership, character, and a strong commitment to community service - her application and credentials met the program requirements,' Reen said to USA TODAY. 'However, outside of the program and the criteria, we cannot speak on behalf of specific scholars.' The scholarship affords winners a chance to have their academic excellence and future aspirations recognized in the local paper. Soliman was part of the 34th class of winners, according to the Gazette. Applicants need to have a minimum 2.5 GPA, display a commitment to community and have a vision for their future, according to the 2025 application. She was the only winner from her high school, the Thomas MacLaren School, an award-winning charter school founded in 2009. Nearly 950 students attend the Kindergarten through 12th grade school, according to the website. Overcoming challenges Among essay questions Best and Brightest applicants answer is a 'defining moment' prompt: 'What obstacle(s) have you faced and what did you learn from that experience?' Habiba Soliman wrote about how difficult it was to move to the U.S. from Kuwait. According to federal officials, Mohamed Soliman entered the United States in late 2022 on a tourist visa, and later requested asylum. It's unclear if they entered the country together. According to the Gazette, she at least joined MacLaren as a sophomore, a year which she described as a disaster where she had no friends as she struggled to learn English. Later she went on to start an Arabic club at the school and also made an effort to welcome new students, according to the Gazette. Madalyn Rilling, a MacLaren teacher who wrote a letter of recommendation for Soliman, said the immigrant student had quickly grown into a class leader through her thoughtful questions. '(Habiba's) English skills have improved to a fluent level and she has become an even more advanced student,' Rilling wrote. Rilling and other MacLaren representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Facing deportation The White House has taken to X to highlight the potential repercussions Mohamed Soliman's wife and five children potentially face for his actions. 'Six One-Way Tickets for Mohamed's Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon,' the White House said in a post on the Elon Musk platform. The family is not the first connected to a suspected criminal to face deportation under the administration of President Donald Trump. Three Venezuelans tied to the man who killed 22-year-old University of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley were also arrested and slated to be deported after Trump came into office in 2025. Jose Antonio Ibarra was convicted in 2024 of murdering Riley and sentenced to life in prison. His brothers Diego Jose and Argenis as well as his former roommate Rosbeli Flores-Bello were all imprisoned in 2024 for possessing false immigration documents. But shortly after coming into office, Trump's Department of Justice announced that they would be deported. Argenis Ibarra and Flores-Bello were immediately placed into Immigrations and Customs Enforcement custody following the March 19 announcement. Diego Ibarra is expected to be turned over to immigration officials following completion of a 48-month federal prison sentence. Contributing: Trevor Hughes, John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hydrogen's Chicken-and-Egg Problem Persists as Buyers Hesitate
The conversation about low-carbon hydrogen continued last week at the annual World Utilities Congress, hosted by the multinational energy and water company TAQA in Abu Dhabi. While the hoped-for future trade between Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remained in focus, a shift in emphasis appeared. While national goals look increasingly dubious, progress is occurring in specific industry sectors guided by international agreements. Meanwhile, MENA countries confront the imperative to develop domestic markets for their clean hydrogen. Looking for good news Industry observers strained to find good news during a discussion called 'Low carbon and green hydrogen: navigating challenges to open opportunities.' High cost, lack of demand and regulatory uncertainty were named as the main factors holding projects back. Even the world's premier project – NEOM Green Hydrogen in Saudi Arabia – is in danger of delays. TotalEnergies will buy 70,000 tons per year in a long-term contract, about one-third of planned production, but there are no other buyers yet according to a report by Bloomberg News last week. In Europe, with EU mandates and pipelines for hydrogen under development, there is ongoing criticism of the regulatory regime being shaped by the EU, which many participants believe is too onerous. Europe's incentive schemes and contract for difference programs are producing just a small part of the green fuels required to meet EU goals. And the outlook for hydrogen in the US remains precarious, where incentives may be revoked to offset tax cuts. Chicken and egg There's a basic 'chicken and egg' problem afflicting the nascent industry, in which there's no market without demand, and no demand without a market. 'We're trying to create a market out of essentially nothing, we're at very early stages,' said Frederik Beelitz, Head of Advisory for Central Europe, Aurora Energy Research. 'Bridging the gap between the levelized cost of hydrogen and the willingness to pay is currently the big challenge, mainly on the demand side,' he said. 'Potential offtakers for green or low-carbon hydrogen are just not willing to pay the relatively high cost that it now incurs.' Producers want long-term off-take agreements, but off-takers such as industrial companies and utilities want shorter agreements in anticipation of the cost of hydrogen falling as production ramps up and technology improves. "No one can commit to a 10-year price, no one can carry that risk,' said Jan Haizmann, CEO, Zero Emissions Traders Alliance. 'But we've seen how quickly renewables scaled and hydrogen might follow the same path if the conditions are right." In Europe, the chicken and egg problem is being met with push and pull policies. On the supply side, pull factors taking the levelized cost of hydrogen down include support mechanisms for capital cost and financing. On the demand side, push factors act to raise the capacity or willingness or buyers to pay. Auction devices such as Germany's H2Global, now going into its second auction round, provide critical price information while subsidizing the difference between suppliers' long-term prices and buyers' preference for short-term contracts. However, it's unclear whether these programs will build meaningful specific At last week's conference and other recent events, there's been less use of the term 'hydrogen industry' and more emphasis on industry sectors. Hydrogen and its derivatives are now seen as high value fuels for very specific applications. In Europe, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) sets clear targets for the maritime and aviation sectors, in the form of the percentage of 'renewable fuels of non-biological origin' (RFNBO) that fuels must contain. This should create demand for derivatives and synthetic or e-fuels produced with hydrogen. Such fuels include ammonia and e-methanol in the maritime sector and e-kerosene in the aviation sector. In aviation, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) has entered Phase 1. Airlines can purchase carbon credits in the voluntary market, which must meet the high CORSIA standards, or they can purchase sustainable aviation fuel. The amount of emissions covered will expand greatly when Phase 2 starts in 2027 with the inclusion of Brazil, India, Russia and China in the scheme. In global shipping, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued draft rules mandating greenhouse gas emissions reductions for ships (5,000 gross tonnage or greater) and imposing penalties for non-compliance. These rules will effectively impose the first ever global carbon price for international shipping and create demand for green and low-carbon hydrogen derivatives and biofuels. They should compel shipowners and the fuel producers and bunkering companies supplying them to substitute renewable and low-carbon fuels, including expensive-to-produce e-methanol, in place of fossil-derived fuels. Demand for low-carbon hydrogen should also arise in the power sector, with more electrification of transport and industry and increasing demand for electricity produced from renewable energy systems. As the price of renewable power continues to decline, it will make hydrogen more competitive because much of its cost is based on electricity prices. Where seasonal power demand variations occur, it can play a critical role in seasonal storage. In fact, hydrogen production and storage could help utilities to hedge against low power prices in Europe, where renewable energy has exposed them to very low and even negative prices. Carrots and sticks for domestic markets For MENA countries, the prospects for large-scale green hydrogen exports look increasingly unlikely in the near future. Yet countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have already invested a lot and risk stranded assets. The question is critical for Saudi Arabia, where the biggest electrolyser production in the world will launch at NEOM next year, and this hydrogen will need to find 100% offtake for 600 tonnes per day produced. 'To have it all go out on ships is very ambitious,' said Jan Haizmann. 'They will have to think about what to do with the remainder, as export opportunities may not be realized.' The countries are already large consumers of hydrogen in their refining and chemicals industries. They have green hydrogen targets in place and plan to develop domestic demand for green and blue (with carbon capture) hydrogen. "Countries in the region need to build their own internal markets with clear rules and binding targets that drive demand," said Haizmann. And he emphasized that they will likely need incentives to create demand. They will need 'carrots and sticks', including binding targets that compel companies to procure certain volumes of low carbon fuels for their operations or face penalties, because a purely voluntary system that mostly relies on export scenarios is unlikely to work. As an example, he pointed to the incentives that, over time, supported the rise of renewable energy systems in many regions. 'With every new technology, there is a need to incentivize it to get to high volumes, and when high volumes are achieved, then prices come down,' he said. 'The production opportunities for hydrogen in MENA are fantastic, almost unrivalled, because of the sunshine here,' he said. 'But it doesn't remove the need to do something to realize the opportunities.' By Alan Mammoser for More Top Reads From this article on Sign in to access your portfolio
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Former Megachurch Attendees Share Why They Left
As we all know, a church and its leadership can deeply impact a person's relationship with religion, and there are many people who have become disillusioned with the "mega-churches" they once attended. These churches, which are known for their large congregations and oftentimes theatrical sermons, have drawn criticism in recent years for scandals, as well as their focus on money and politics, leading many individuals to question the very foundations of their faith... So recently, I asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share the reasons why they quit attending "mega-churches" and received hundreds of responses. Here are 19 of their most insightful stories: "I started attending a mega-church in 2010 because I was looking for answers I wasn't even sure I needed. I went with a friend whom I had grown up with and her family. For the record, they had always been 'born again Christians,' and I just put up with it. Then I started attending..." "I have always been pro-abortion rights and believe in some form of evolution, but when I attempted to sign up to teach Sunday school, I was handed a 10-page application that asked if I believed in either of those two things. If so, I had to renounce my belief in them or I wouldn't be allowed to teach. Then, when the higher-ups announced there would be classes on how to fill out your ballot for elections and who you should and shouldn't vote for, I decided to leave. It's fine to believe in God. It's okay to have beliefs that don't always align with the church, but when you want to check my ballot before I vote, I have a problem. I never stepped foot in there again."—Elena, 43, Southern California "When I was in college, the pastor for the college group told everyone that you didn't need medication if you had depression. Depression just meant you weren't praying enough. I'd been in therapy since I was a kid, sometimes with Christian therapists, and I knew that wasn't true, and medication can help." "When the daughter of a beloved couple at our church was raped, instead of praying for justice and her recovery, the pastor and leadership used her as an example of sin and why being a woman is inherently 'tempting.'" "When I was a kid, my mom attended a mega-church and took me to Sunday school there. When I was nine, they held a church summer camp for about a week, and I went because there was going to be rock climbing, archery, and other physical activities. What actually happened was they separated boys and girls into different groups and berated us girls about 'purity' and made us take part in a weird ritual where we promised our bodies and virginities to Jesus. We even had to sign a 'contract' with Jesus." "When the camp was over, they held a 'graduation' where we were given promise rings, and were supposed to be baptized afterwards. I was never comfortable with the idea of being baptized, so I didn't go. Following the camp, the counselors would make comments about me not being 'saved' because I wasn't baptized, and they started to exclude me from Sunday school activities until I was baptized. I am no longer religious."—McKenzie 27, Temecula, CA "The preacher was very vocal about the strip clubs on the edge of town, so he announced that he and fellow members would be visiting those establishments to verify the activities. A week or so later, he was describing the 'horrible' things they witnessed at the club. But interestingly, as he tried to describe one of the workers 'dancing on our tabletop,' he cracked a big smile like he was reliving the experience! His expression was disgusting." "I left my local mega-church (and organized religion altogether) when I became a mother. I was raised in an evangelical Christian setting and had been taught that Christians are called to 'love people, but not support sinful lifestyles.' That phrase was used whenever the local mega-church I attended spoke on anything LGBT-related. I accepted this for a long time, until I had children..." "I attended a mega church for eight years. I'm a single mom with a disabled child, and I was looking for a support system. In the first year, very few people spoke to me. (I should mention that I was a bartender at one of the very few bars in our formerly dry county)." "Husbands would smile at me, but they wouldn't dare say good morning, and the wives were very cliquey and mostly side-eyed me. My son even asked me, 'Why do we go if they treat us like this?' I told him, 'Because it's God's house, not theirs.' It wasn't until I started dating a man and later married him that we were welcomed into the fold. For six years, I praised reverently, volunteered on mission trips, and worked with charity, while giving $2,600 in tithes per story short, my husband became addicted to opioids and alcohol, and our marriage fell apart. I continued going to church, hoping the support system there would still help me, but the congregants quickly reverted to their old ways — husbands with smiles and wives with side eyes. Not one person offered me solace, comfort, or advice for months, so I was surprised one day when the pastor's wife reached out to me via social media. That glimmer of hope was quickly smothered because by that time, I was managing an upscale restaurant, and she was looking for reservations for one of the busiest weekends of the year. I got her the reservation and many more, but that was the extent of our relationship. Once I left that job, no one ever messaged me again, and I stopped attending the church. I'm not mad at Jesus, but I am a bit salty with how those claiming to speak for him behave."—Candace, 39, Summer Shade, KY "When my (now-ex) police officer husband told one of the elders that he was going to kill me. The elder called me up and urged me to submit to my husband, withdraw my divorce petition, and pray that God's angels would protect me and my children. I was done. That was after five years of abuse!" "An elder tried to put me under church discipline for giving feedback, which they had asked for via a church-wide survey, that was only 90% positive." "I was a commissioned pastor in a mainstream denomination. I had become a pastor late in life, having felt guilty for not doing it in my twenties. I became an associate pastor in the most progressive congregation in a fairly conservative denomination." "I was commissioned as an associate pastor, preached regularly, and subbed in for other preachers for over a year. Everything seemed fantastic, and I was lauded every when the leadership began discussing accepting gay members (we already had six quietly gay couples in the congregation) and the possibility of performing same-sex marriages, I was in support because it's what we believed! And yet…things slowly got quiet. After a year of working harder than ever, the lead pastor informed me at our annual planning meeting that I had been blackballed by the 'major donors.' The donors said that if I stayed in my position, they would withhold all donations and gifts. The sound guy, a one-time 'friend,' was the leader of a 'phone tree,' and would call and warn others when I was supposed to speak. I was abandoned without even being told. I resigned before the board, which kept the entire issue quiet. People in the congregation still occasionally visit me and are surprised I'm gone. I left and never went back. I was already redefining my understanding of what we call 'God,' though I'd kept the process internal. After three months without the unrecognized pressure of church demands, I felt more liberated than ever before. I dove into philosophy and never looked seen religion from the inside, then the outside, I have realized it is a false certainty, a vain shield against taking life at face value. I no longer need the 'certainty,' I never did, really, but I grew up with religion, so it was never questioned. Religion is my past. I'll never return,"—Anonymous, 60+, Michigan "When my mom, who had attended and volunteered with this church for about two decades, was bedridden in hospice, I emailed the leadership to see if they could send one of the pastors to meet and pray with her. I got a reply with the day/time of a support group at the church, which was unhelpful and irrelevant. They couldn't be bothered to be there for us in our time of need." "Our final straw was the church's overt pulpit celebration of the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs Wade. We have two young daughters who now have less autonomy over their bodies than I did at their age." "This situation happened about 20 years ago at a Southern Baptist church to my best friend, but it made us both leave: She developed a sex addiction (her words) and would hook up with guys at clubs and bars for one-night stands. She became pregnant. She didn't know who the father was, but she knew she didn't want an abortion, so she confided in the church elders about it." "In order for her to remain a member and be welcome within the church, the elders said she was required to go before the ENTIRE church and confess in detail what happened (how long it had been going on, where she'd gone, how many men she had sex with, etc.) She already felt ashamed, knowing she wasn't going to be able to hide a pregnancy, but she still wanted what she thought would be support from the both dipped out, and I haven't stepped foot into a church of any kind since. We're still best friends, and I have an almost 20-year-old godson who's doing brilliantly in college."—Anonymous, 39, Houston "I decided to leave after seeing two talented and educated women get passed over for ministry positions. They were dedicated and had spent at least a decade building the church, but were never going to be allowed to fully pursue something God had clearly called them to do." "I went to a non-denominational church with over 10,000 members. The services were televised, so they didn't let people sit in the back, but rather made them fill in the seats in front so it would look good for TV. I wanted to sit towards the back of an aisle so I could use the bathroom as needed due to a medical condition." "I quit attending a mega-church because I saw how finances were mismanaged. The Pastor would take 'specific' people to expensive restaurants and spend $1,000 on meals ($500 gift cards were also given to people as an appreciation). The leadership was very cliquish as well. If you were in their life group, you received special treatment." "I was a single parent with a daughter who fell on hard times financially, so I decided to swallow my pride and reach out to my church's food pantry so we could make it until my next pay day. When I called, I was told they didn't have any food available and that I should try other resources. I was dumbfounded. Just the previous Sunday, the pastor bragged in the pulpit that the church had surpassed 20,000+ registered members. I realized then the church only cared about optics, not meeting members' needs. It was a sad realization because I volunteered and was involved in the church. I changed churches soon after, but after witnessing the same kind of atmosphere, I quit going to church altogether."—Jennifer H, 55, Houston, TX "I was a member of a mega-church for 18 years. The first straw was when they let my ex become an 'alpha' leader and allowed him to publish a story about the end of our relationship in the church news, which was very one-sided and embarrassed me." "Our last straw attending a mega-church in Texas was when the pastor described coming across an unhoused individual walking around with a brown paper bag. I thought his sermon would be about helping the less fortunate, addiction, or not judging others because we are all God's children." "I was not only a congregant but also a youth pastor for a period of time. I left the church in 2016, when it became clear that they all worshipped a false idol. That idol's name is Donald Trump." "They all convinced themselves that Trump is a god, and anyone who disagreed was either possessed or under the rule of Satan. It was so sad to see, but no one can convince me that a lifelong sleazeball was anointed by God."—Matt, 38 Did any of these stories surprise you? Have you ever attended and later left a "mega-church"? Tell us your story in the comments or answer anonymously using this form! Dial 988 in the United States to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. Other international suicide helplines can be found at The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website. If you or someone you know has experienced anti-LGBTQ violence or harassment, you can contact the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs hotline at 1-212-714-1141. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here. The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.
