Outside of Sunday

Apologies for the not perfect audio... (we had an audio system failure during the recording). Thanks for your understanding! 

Rosie Overcomer is back on the podcast! It’s always such a joy to catch up with Rosie. Thirteen years ago, she and her family fled Gloriavale, and since then, Rosie has continued to advocate for those still inside and those rebuilding their lives outside.
In this episode, Rosie shares a personal update, from running the Sydney Half Marathon to writing her upcoming book, before filling us in on the latest developments with the Gloriavale school, young people leaving, and the Howard Temple trial and sentencing appeal. We also talk about the ongoing fight for justice for victims, the challenges facing those affected by Gloriavale, and what gives Rosie hope for the future.
Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.

00:00 - Coming up
00:56 - Welcome & Introduction
01:38 - Who Is Rosanna Overcomer? 
03:36 - Back Surgery, Recovery & Running the Sydney Half Marathon
06:11 - Healing from Spiritual Trauma and False Beliefs About Faith
08:51 - Did Rosanna Overcomer Win the Sydney Half Marathon?
11:16 - Documentary Success, Legal Fatigue & Emotional Overwhelm
14:01 - Why Rosanna Keeps Advocating for Gloriavale Leavers
16:55 - Rosanna’s Connection to Gloriavale Today
19:26 - Have More Members of Rosanna’s Family Left Gloriavale?
20:32 - Teenagers Leaving Gloriavale: The Challenges of Starting Over
24:18 - Why Rosanna Decided to Write a Book
26:08 - Writing Her Story After Leaving Gloriavale
28:15 - What to Expect from Rosanna’s Upcoming Book
30:04 - God in the Book-Writing Process?
31:16 - What Rosanna Hopes Readers Will Take Away from Her Book
33:30 - Gloriavale School Closure: What Is Happening?
37:06 - Why Was the Gloriavale School Shut Down?
39:19 - Rosanna’s Response to the Gloriavale School Closure
40:37 - Could the School Closure Lead to Change at Gloriavale?
41:35 - Gloriavale School Reopening: What Happens Next?
44:15 - The Howard Temple Trial: Justice for Victims of Abuse
53:07 - Howard Temple’s Sentence Appeal Explained
56:01 - Rosanna’s Message to New Zealand’s Justice System
58:37 - Holding on to God’s Justice When the Legal System Disappoints
01:00:39 - Update on the Gloriavale Women in India
01:03:44 - What Gives Rosanna Hope for Gloriavale’s Future?
01:05:46 - How Can We Help Gloriavale Leavers?
01:09:13 - Living Out Faith Beyond Sunday
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

We kick things off today with a blind reaction to the new Narnia trailer (we have thoughts), before getting into some more serious questions about spiritual abuse and biblical discernment. Reflecting on our conversation with Liz Gregory from the Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust, Laura and I chat about red flags in Christian communities, how Scripture can be twisted or used to control people, and why asking questions doesn’t automatically mean you have a “critical spirit.”

We also talk about the responsibility of church leaders, why we need to know God’s Word for ourselves, and how to recognise when something isn’t quite right. The goal isn’t to become suspicious of every church or pick apart every Sunday service, but to grow in discernment, test what we’re taught against Scripture, and keep our eyes on Jesus. A little Narnia, a little serious conversation, and plenty to think about!

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.

00:00 - Coming up
00:53 - Welcome & Introduction
01:20 - Blind Reaction to the New Narnia Trailer
10:35 - Outsider Retreat Update
11:31 - Recapping Our Conversation with Liz Gregory
12:02 - Leaving Gloriavale: Laura's Initial Thoughts
15:31 - Recognising Spiritual Abuse in Christian Communities
17:32 - Red Flags of Cults and Controlling Churches
22:27 - How Scripture Gets Misused: Ephesians 5:22
28:01 - God's Care for Gloriavale Leavers
29:10 - The Higher Calling and Responsibility of Church Leaders
32:09 - Questioning Leaders vs. Having a Critical Spirit
34:23 - Are We Seeking Truth or Just What We Want to Hear?
35:43 - How to Recognise Counterfeit Christianity
36:37 - Should We Critique Our Sunday Church Services?
37:51 - Honouring Pastors While Holding to Scripture
38:55 - Sexual Abuse and the Misuse of Religious Authority
44:30 - Infertility, Faith and Trusting God
46:48 - Should Churches Be as Intentional About Reaching People as Cults Are?
47:53 - The Church Is More Than a Sunday Gathering
50:15 - Go to Jesus: Keeping Our Eyes on Him
51:53 - Live Your Faith Outside of Sunday
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

What does it take to help someone leave Gloriavale - and what happens once they’re out?

In this episode, we’re joined by Liz Gregory from the Gloriavale Leavers Trust, who shares the remarkable story of a network of Christians working behind the scenes to help people leave the religious fundamentalist NZ cult: Gloriavale. Through secret phones, late-night conversations and a commitment to sharing the gospel, this network has helped people find a way out and a new beginning. Since the Trust began, they have supported more than 300 people leaving Gloriavale - but leaving is only the beginning.

We talk about the challenges of starting again, learning to make decisions, rebuilding relationships and discovering what healthy Christian community looks like. Liz also shares why it’s so important to understand the difference between genuine biblical faith and spiritual control, alongside her own journey through infertility and the experiences that have shaped her work.

This is a fascinating, moving conversation about freedom, faith and walking alongside people as they rebuild their lives. ❤️

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube. 

0:00 - Introducing Liz Gregory & the Gloriavale Leavers Trust
1:53 - What Is Gloriavale? Understanding Life Inside the Community
4:50 - Leaving Gloriavale: Liz’s Journey to Helping Members Escape
14:20 - Helping Gloriavale Members: Night Raids, Phones & Evangelism
18:40 - Why More Third-Generation Members Are Leaving Gloriavale
21:40 - Life Inside Gloriavale: Love, Control & Claims of Being the One True Church
26:01 - Life After Gloriavale: Rebuilding Identity, Making Decisions & Finding Freedom
33:33 - How Do People Escape Gloriavale?
36:55 - Has Helping Gloriavale Leavers Challenged Liz’s Faith?
38:30 - Cult Chat, Understanding the Gospel & Recognising Spiritual Abuse
46:08 - Healthy Biblical Community vs Spiritual Abuse: How to Recognise the Difference
48:33 - Church Tribalism, Cults in New Zealand & Warning Signs of a Cult
57:13 - What Encourages Liz? Her Infertility Journey & Working for the Leavers Trust
1:13:42 - The One That Got Away
1:15:13 - Why Do Some Gloriavale Leavers Return?
1:17:12 - What Does Liz Hope Will Change at Gloriavale?
1:21:30 - Deprogramming After a Cult: Helping Gloriavale Leavers Rebuild Their Lives
1:23:20 - How to Help Yourself or Your Child Leave a Cult
1:27:33 - Supporting the Gloriavale Leavers Trust
1:29:10 - How Do You Live Your Faith Outside of Sunday?
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

In this Insights episode, Laura and I reflect on Part 2 of our conversation with Bob McCoskrie, chatting about everything from Christian perspectives on politics and voting to independent media, social media algorithms, and whether our faith is shaping our worldview or the other way around.

We also get into what it means to endure through difficult seasons, stand firm in our convictions, and raise children who will hold on to their faith even when it’s not the popular choice. Whether it’s politics, the media we consume, or the pressures of living out our faith, we hope this conversation encourages you to think biblically, practise discernment, and keep following Jesus through it all!

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.

00:00 Introduction
04:11 Should Christians Watch LDS Films? Faith, Discernment & Entertainment
09:02 Recapping Part 2 of Our Conversation with Bob McCoskrie
09:42 Value Your Vote: A Christian Voting Resource
11:27 Should Christians Split Their Vote?
11:42 Political Fatigue: Are We Over Politics?
13:26 Independent Media & Finding New Ways to Get Information
15:21 Is Christian Bias a Good Thing?
15:44 Is Your Faith or Your Algorithm Shaping Your Worldview?
16:42 Should Christians Stay Out of Politics?
19:49 Bob McCoskrie on Enduring Through the Fire
20:12 What Is the Baptism of Fire?
22:00 How Do We Endure in Our Christian Faith?
25:19 Is Being Cancelled a Badge of Honour?
26:22 Should Churches Talk About Politics?
29:38 Christian Parenting: Preparing Our Children to Stand Firm
34:39 New Zealand's Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s
38:24 The Six O'Clock News & Media Influence
39:30 Laura's Final Thoughts: The Importance of Discernment
40:13 Christa's Final Thoughts: Endure
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.

In Part 2 of our chat with Bob McCoskrie from Family First, Bob has a warning for Christians in New Zealand: “The culture is turning up the heat on Christianity.” We chat about the growing challenges facing Christians, why speaking up about our faith matters, and what it looks like to stand firm in biblical truth when it’s not always popular. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, click here to catch up!
We get into some big topics, from the nuclear family and gender ideology to immigration, multiculturalism, cancel culture and how the media has changed. Should Christians get involved in politics? How do we make informed decisions when it comes to voting? And what does Bob think about the under-16s social media ban? There’s plenty to unpack!
But it’s not all about the challenges. We also ask Bob what gives him hope for New Zealand and, of course, how he lives out his faith outside of Sunday. We hope this conversation gets you thinking, encourages you to stand firm in your faith, and reminds you that we all have a part to play in the world around us.
Click here to watch this episode on YouTube.
0:00 - Coming up 
0:39 - Is New Zealand Woke? Politicians, Culture & Christian Values
4:37 - Is Becoming a Minority Christian Nation a Good Thing?
6:07 - “The Culture Is Turning Up the Heat on Christians”
9:39 - Why Christians Shouldn’t Back Down from Their Faith
13:08 - “It’s an Attack on the Nuclear Family”
14:04 - Is Gender Ideology on the Decline?
16:47 - Bob McCoskrie on Immigration in New Zealand
17:27 - Is Multiculturalism a Myth?
23:10 - Should Christians Get Involved in Politics?
32:07 - Cancel Culture: Are Christians Being Targeted?
32:43 - How the Media Has Changed in New Zealand
36:32 - Bob McCoskrie on the Under-16s Social Media Ban
44:27 - How Should Christians Decide Who to Vote For?
49:47 - What Gives Bob McCoskrie Hope for New Zealand?
50:35 - How to Live Out Your Christian Faith Outside of Sunday
Support the show
Outside of Sunday is part of the Outsider Network and is made with the help of Inspirational Media.