A Mega Church Took My Daughter | Mom On Mute Podcast

What happens when a place you trusted to keep your child safe becomes the reason you lose them?

In this episode of Mom on Mute, Sandy Rusk shares how her daughter first got involved with a mega church at just 14 years old and how that relationship slowly replaced their own. What started as a safe environment turned into years of distance, influence, and control that ultimately led to complete estrangement.

Sandy walks through the progression step by step. From early involvement and deepening commitment, to being encouraged to leave college and move into a controlled environment, to the moment everything changed. A sudden shift, a protective order, and a relationship that hasn’t recovered in years.

This episode explores what happens when family bonds are challenged by outside influence, how estrangement can develop gradually, and the emotional reality of losing a child who is still alive.

“It’s the death of a child that’s still living.”

If you are navigating family estrangement, going no contact, or trying to understand why adult children cut off their parents, this conversation offers a raw and deeply personal perspective.

In 2011, Sandy Rusk was a single mom raising her 14 year old daughter alone. When her daughter asked if she could attend Itown Church with her friend that weekend, she said yes. What better place for her daughter while she was working on the weekends as a Realtor. From day one her daughter was sucked into the cool church environment. It was geared towards young people with it's dark auditorium, laser light shows, trendy music and a charismatic pastor. It was founded and ran by Dave and Kate Sumrall. He was the grandson of the late infamous Lester Sumrall. Sandy thought it was a good safe environment for her teenage daughter to be in. Little did she know that behind her back her daughter was being groomed and manipulated while she unknowingly attended the services on Sundays. After her daughter turned 18 years old, the church totally separated her daughter from her. Sandy Rusk had blindly trusted Dave and Kate Sumrall with her daughter and they betrayed her in the worst possible way. That decision was the worst mistake of her life. 15 years later her daughter is still under their control 100%.