Does The ‘Let Us Prey’ Docuseries Go Too Far?

The four-episode docuseries, Let Us Pray: A Ministry of Scandals, came out on Discovery+ in November of 2023. I hesitated to watch it because I find the content difficult to stomach, and I suspected it would act as a cudgel against healthy Bible-believing churches across the country. As it turns out, I was correct across the board. It was terrible to watch, and it went too far with its conclusions about independent fundamental Baptist (IFB) churches as whole.

Warning: The content in this post is not appropriate for children and discusses sexual assault involving minors.

The Overview

Let Us Prey: Episode 1

The first episode introduces us to a destructive and toxic church culture. We hear a young woman, Ruthy Heiler, share the story of her father’s incarceration for domestic violence. She recounts her church’s response to the event, and it sounds like an awful ordeal to live through.

The church, in general, believed members should never call the police on one another. Instead, Heiler’s mom was “supposed” to go to the pastor about being battered by her husband in order to handle the marital issue. The pastor’s behavior was egregious in response to the wife’s actions after the domestic violence. From the pulpit, he shamed her for calling the police and called her a “snake in the grass.” This story immediately gives the audience a clear picture of Heiler’s religious upbringing, but it only gets worse from there.

New Church, New Sins

Heiler’s mother moved the family to a new church and Christian school for a fresh start after her separation from her husband. Heiler eventually became one of her teacher’s favorite students. Ruthy Heiler was twelve years old when that male teacher first molested her.

Heiler had been groomed over time by this man who was also her volleyball coach and friend to her single mother. Eventually, Heiler had even become a regular babysitter for her teacher. Through standard targeting and grooming tactics, he was able to sexually abuse young Ruthy without anyone finding out.

A Complicit Pastor

As an adult, Heiler found out that her pastor had caught this teacher abusing another girl, but he did not take legal action. He chose to let the man finish his school year and simply not renew his contract. The teacher was able to molest Heiler in the time between being caught with the other girl and the end of his contract. Then, he moved to a new state, Washington, for a new job with zero consequences for his crimes thanks to the pastor’s inaction.

Two years after Heiler’s abuser moved, he contacted her mother asking for Heiler to stay the summer with his family to help care for his children because his wife was pregnant. The mother, having no knowledge of his crimes, agreed and sent her daughter to what would be continual molestation and eventual rape committed by her former Bible teacher.

One Crime, Two Daughters

After returning home from her nightmare summer, Heiler’s older sister confronted their mother about how dangerous their former teacher and coach was. It was at this time that Heiler’s older sister confessed he had raped her when he was her teacher. Ruthy also told her mom everything that happened to her. Their mother talked to the pastor about what had occurred under his watch, but he blew them off. So, their mother contacted the police herself.

Heiler’s abuser received four sentences amounting to five years each for what happened in Washington. He was able to serve them concurrently, therefore his twenty-year sentence was really just five. After two years and ten months, he was let out for good behavior.

Let Us Prey: Episode 2

The second episode introduces us to Kathy Durbin. Her home life was one defined by emotional neglect, divorces, and punishment – making her an enticing target for a predator. Her assistant pastor and his family invested in getting to know her, and they became the family she wished she had. He took her vulnerability to his advantage and groomed her. Ultimately, Kathy endured being raped on a weekly basis in the church bus.

Finally, she mustered the courage to tell on him. Her family wasn’t a safe or supportive community, so she reported the abuse to her pastor. The pastor told his assistant he wouldn’t call the police, but the assistant pastor needed to move in twenty-four hours. He moved, and it was at the church’s expense. Meanwhile, Durbin kept the secret because the pastor and his wife explained that the truth could hurt the church and school. Later, Durbin was forced to write an apology to her rapist’s wife. Adding insult to injury, church members knew the assistant pastor left for some reason involving Durbin, and they were mad at her for it. She instantly became an outcast.

Keeping It In The Family

Durbin’s brother-in-law took over the assistant pastor position, and he used that position to molest and rape girls for decades. In fact, he told his victims that they would be ostracized and treated differently just like Durbin if they spoke out.

One victim ended up telling her father who went to the pastor about the abuse. The pastor did nothing in response. Neither did the father.

Let Us Prey: Episode 3

The third episode focuses primarily on Amanda Householder. Her parents owned Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School in Missouri. The girls, including Householder herself, suffered severe punishment and abuse. As I write this, Householder’s parents are facing approximately one hundred counts of abuse, neglect, and sexual misconduct.

Let Us Prey: Episode 4

The fourth episode focuses a great deal on these women’s fight for justice through the Blind Eye Movement (BEM). They formed this group to create a safe place for women who have experienced abuse in a religious setting.

Several of the women pursue legal justice in this episode, and most of them see their abusers receive time behind bars. It’s encouraging to see victims step out and demand justice.

Let Us Prey Has 2 Sides

Overall, this docuseries falls into two categories. For one, it’s women’s stories of abuse – the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of girls in the hands of wicked men who abused their power to fulfill their own sick fantasies. Concerning the women’s experiences, Let Us Prey is heart wrenching.

Any woman who has felt intimidated by a man’s leer, been touched inappropriately without her permission, felt minimized to only her sexual features, or experienced sexual abuse won’t be able to watch Let Us Prey without an ache in her heart that reminds her of her own pain. For those who have escaped these scenarios, they’ll be shocked and pained by the pure evil some men can commit under the protection of Christianity.

The second category Let Us Prey falls into is misrepresentation at best, slander at worst. I spent quite a long time going over these women’s stories because they deserve to be heard. I believe these women, and for the record, so did the justice system. No disagreements I have moving forward are meant to disregard the abuse they endured. However, Let Us Prey lays the blame for the abuse and scandals at the feet of what the docuseries calls “the IFB.” I think we should comb through some of the accusations, set emotions aside, and tease out the truth.

Incorrect Conclusions From Let Us Prey

There’s a lot to unpack from the Let Us Prey docuseries, but I want to focus on the issues that jumped out at me as I watched. Therefore, understand that this is not an exhaustive list of the problematic and false accusations that people made in Let Us Prey. Rather, these are the things that I personally couldn’t ignore.

1. Let Us Prey continually refers to “the IFB.”

As a reminder, IFB stands for independent fundamental Baptist. The “I” should be a quick giveaway that there is no “the” involved. Saying “the IFB” suggests a unifying governance of some sort, but when IFB churches say they are independent, they mean it.

Frankly, I’d like to see more fellowship and a little less separation from other like-minded churches. My current church belongs to a state-wide fellowship, but sadly, that’s a rare occurrence. We mingle, encourage, and attend retreats together, but each church is still quite independent. No one tells our church how to function, dress, worship, etc. We are an autonomous Baptist church that believes in upholding the fundamentals of the faith. There’s no oversight by the bigwigs at the IFB headquarters.

When one interviewee said, “You’re exposing an empire,” she was not correctly describing IFB churches. She was more accurately referring to Jack Hyles.

2. Jack Hyles is considered the founder of IFB churches.

I could write a book on Jack Hyles and probably not even scratch the surface. His church, First Baptist of Hammond in Indiana, did become an influential ministry among many independent Baptist churches. A woman interviewed for Let Us Prey called his church “the mothership for the IFB.” For some, that was likely true, but many IFB churches do not adhere to Hyles fandom. Not to mention, IFB congregations didn’t begin with Hyles.

IFB Beginnings

Jack Hyles became the pastor at First Baptist of Hammond in 1959, but IFB churches were forming in the late 19th century in response to Baptist churches moving away from the inerrancy of the Bible and other conservative and fundamental beliefs. There are some who believe that, although no one was called “Baptist,” there have been Baptists in practice dating back to the Early Church. I’m not going to pretend to be a church historian, but I can recognize that IFB certainly didn’t begin with a man names Jack Hyles in 1959.

What Is IFB?

As with the founding of IFB churches, there are disagreements about what IFB really means. Unfortunately, IFB churches have come to be known for rules, extreme separation, and what they don’t do…which is a Hyles influence. This throws IFB, as a whole, into the Hyles category by default by those who don’t know better. Many IFB churches, however, do not agree with or even condone many of Hyles’ teachings. Even among independent fundamental Baptists, there is a differentiation between Hyles followers and the rest of us. Not everything is a disagreement, though. There are foundational beliefs all IFB churches agree to.

The five independent fundamental Baptist distinctives that hold true from church to church include:

The New Testament is the authority in matters of faith and practice.

Doctrine comes from the Word of God. IFB churches don’t practice adherence to creeds, confessions, councils, etc.

Church membership is for saved and baptized believers.

Also note that baptism is by immersion as an act of obedience and declaration of one’s faith. Therefore, sprinklings and baby baptisms are not considered valid baptisms in IFB churches.

IFB churches believe in a separation of church and state.

The government has no authority over church operations in this view.

All believers are priests.

This is called the priesthood of believers, and it means that all Christians can interact with God without a middleman.

IFB churches believe in the autonomy of the local church.

These churches are self-governing. They reject the idea of a higher authority overseeing them such as a council, synod, etc.

What Is Fundamentalist?

Calling a Christian a fundamentalist has become derogatory, but shouldn’t every Christian seek to know and adopt the fundamentals (the core principals upon which Christianity is built)?

Fundamentalists believe:

The Bible is inerrant and true…literally.

This means the Bible contains no contradictions and should be understood with a literal interpretation. Literal interpretation means we read the Bible with the historical and grammatical context in mind. For instance, poetry is read and understood differently than historical writing. Both are present in the Scriptures.

Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus, and He was fully human and fully divine while on Earth.

Substitutionary atonement

Christ died for our sins on the cross. It is by faith in Jesus through grace that we can be saved.

Jesus’ bodily resurrection

The Lord didn’t stay dead. He rose on the third day and now sits on the right side of God the Father. Jesus defeated death so we can have eternal life.

Jesus’ miracles recorded in God’s Word are true, and He is coming again.

A Final Note On Jack Hyles As The IFB Founder

Jack Hyles weaponized and perverted the Bible and IFB beliefs in order to grow his legacy, gain power, and accumulate wealth. A man who used the name of Jesus to perpetuate a culture of control and abuse may be a terrible example of Christ, but he isn’t a realistic representation of the millions of IFB church members across America. He neither founded IFB churches or correctly represented them.

Below are few clips of Jack Hyles being a bully from the pulpit, spectacularly misapplying Scripture, and speaking like a misogynist.

3. Let Us Prey Accuses IFB Churches Of Controlling All Aspects Of A Member’s Life

The first episode of Let Us Prey was particularly focused on how controlling IFB churches are. One individual claimed that members could not even buy a car without the pastor’s permission. I’m not willing to say that can’t happen in churches. In fact, I’m certain there are churches led by men who control more than just the members’ purchases. And I am also sure they aren’t all exclusively leading IFB churches. People have been twisting God’s Word since the very beginning. Does this kind of control represent IFB distinctives, though?

The priesthood of believers would certainly invalidate a pastor who attempted to lord himself over his flock. They can decide for themselves what is best for their families and turn to God in prayer. If they believe their pastor’s advice is incorrect, they have the freedom to choose their own way.

A related statement from an interviewee in Let Us Prey was that “All of the information that you’re getting as a Christian is coming from your pastor.” What?!

Again, believer priests have full access to the Word and are indwelled with the Holy Spirit to guide them in their study of the Bible. Not to mention, in Acts we can see believers checking on the teachings they received from Paul and Silas.

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Acts 17:10-11 (ESV)

The Bereans didn’t listen to preaching and accept it without using their heads. No! They heard the teaching and then did what we call fact checking today. Christians in churches that teach the pastor is the ultimate authority may as well be going to a Catholic church. Baptists, IFB included, believe in the need to study the Word, memorize Scripture, and understand God’s character. As believer priests, they can do that without the pastor looking over their shoulder.

4. According To Let Us Prey, IFB churches are a cult.

We’re right back to ignoring the independent part of IFB. For this claim to be true, then IFB churches would have to be part of a unified group with one leader. They would, in fact, have to be a true movement as many people in the docuseries called it. “The IFB movement.” “The IFB.” Really, folks if anything, it would benefit IFB churches to be less separated and come together in fellowship more if the goal was to form a cult. As it stands, they can’t stand together for hardly anything, even when they agree.

Maybe you’re thinking of cultish examples from an IFB church right now with which you’d like to eviscerate my argument. Hear this. I’m not saying that there are no cultish IFB churches. Rather, I’m saying being an IFB church does not make it cultish. Independent churches will all be different. I’ve never even been to two IFB churches that were similar enough to feel like they shared one mind regarding church culture and tradition. How in the world could they be in a cult together?

The ladies in Let Us Prey may have attended cultish churches, but that isn’t a defining characteristic of an IFB church.

5. Let Us Prey Claims IFB Churches Have A Low View Of Children

The stories in Let Us Prey are about the manipulation and sexual violence these girls experienced. No one who would harm a child has a high view of children. It’s sounds a bit dramatic, but any person who would sexually violate a child is a real life villain, in my opinion. Is that how IFB churches see kids, though, or are these stories about particular individuals who used their church to hide their predatory behavior?

The first episode featured a quote that I found disturbing. One of the abuse survivors, Kathy Durbin, said, “The adult is always right even when they’re wrong.” She continued, “And that’s literally written in our church booklet.”

That’s one of the most messed up things I’ve heard about a church printing for anyone to see. It’s a dangerous and incorrect statement, but I think the most surprising part is how bold that church is to share that belief publicly. As abhorrent a statement as that is, it isn’t how IFB churches, in general, function.

IFB Churches Prioritize Children

IFB churches spend a significant portion of their income and energy on serving children. As a personal example, we belonged to a church for a while that only had our children in it. I think we had three at the time. Suddenly, the members were concerned about having a nursery, Sunday School classes, and a children’s church available for them. They saw my kids as a blessing. Children are meant to be cherished, protected, and taught about Jesus Christ.

Children in an IFB church are more likely to be overprotected than seen as less than. Kids at IFB churches are more likely to have more ministries and dollars for them than the adults in the church. Why? Because they are the next generation who can lead others to the Lord when we are gone.

The Scandal Of A Bus Ministry

Bus ministry. Until Let Us Prey, I didn’t realize it was a danger to kids. One of the interviewees said, “Every single independent fundamental Baptist church has at least one bus that they run out into the community.” I’m guessing he doesn’t realize, because of his focus on Jack Hyles and larger churches, that many IFB churches can’t afford to buy a bus, let alone maintain it and keep it gassed up.

More importantly, the insinuation is that churches have devious schemes to gather up all the local children like some sort of fundie Pied Piper. Bus ministries are meant to help children who can’t get to church have a way to attend and hear the gospel. It acts as a ministry to both the children and their families. Often the children who benefit most from the bus ministry come from homes with limited financial means, and church is a welcome addition to their week.

I understand IFB scandals exist, but not everything an IFB church does is scandalous.

Boarding Schools

Another quote from the same man who spoke out about IFB bus ministries contained one of the boldest and most inaccurate claims in all of Let Us Prey. “The goal of the IFB movement during your first eighteen years is to break you down and turn you into another good Christian soldier for the movement. If you’re going down the wrong path, you get sent off to a boarding school.”

That quote launches the viewer into the story of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School in Missouri. Yes, it’s a nightmare “school.” However, many Christian boarding schools exist to disciple, love, and guide children who are struggling. Actually, I worked at one for a short time. Sure, the boys I worked with didn’t always like it. Rules, you know? But they were well fed, given opportunities for experiences I never had available to me growing up, and were patiently dealt with.

Overall, though, the quote misses the mark. The goal is to prepare our children to be productive adults who choose to serve the Lord in all that they do. The goal is to raise children who become adults who represent Christ well in their communities. Healthy IFB churches aren’t raising an army or participating in a “movement.” They are helping everyone, including children, know and love the Lord.

I was saddened when a former IFB church member said “abuse is love” in IFB churches. I don’t doubt she experienced abuse, but that wasn’t love. It also wasn’t the culture these churches should have built if they were true to their beliefs and obedient to Scripture.

Let Us Prey Didn’t Get It All Wrong

I’ve played defense for IFB churches while trying to acknowledge the very real traumas the women in Let Us Prey experienced, but I’m not interested in ignoring the problems in IFB churches. Like any denomination, there are areas to critique.

Too Little Oversight

I’m not advocating the government involve itself in church dealings. I’m not even interested in a Baptist governing body. On the other hand, all government interference isn’t bad. When a crime has been committed, the police must be involved. The fact that so many parents in these dysfunctional churches went to the pastor for help and never called the cops is astounding. Spiritual matters are church matters, but criminal matters are outside the church’s authority.

King James…Only

Many IFB churches are not KJV only, but enough of them are to become a stereotype. I don’t hate the King James Version. I use it, though not exclusively. However, I do believe the language is a major barrier for many modern Americans. The language is antiquated and difficult to read. For some, reading the KJV is so difficult that they can’t understand the message and give up. Let’s be open to other versions so more people can understand and apply God’s Word in their lives.

Too Separate

Separation from ungodly things is wise. Christians ought to seek to live lives that abstain from the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and spend time investing in edifying activities and entertainment.

Members of IFB churches, however, can be so separate from the world that they can struggle to function in it. In addition, witnessing and reaching others for Christ is a lot more difficult if you don’t engage with the world in any way. Stick out as different from others because of how well you represent Christ, not because of the list of don’ts you live by.

A Focus On Outward Appearance

Some IFB churches put a great deal of focus on what people look like on the outside. Are the clothes up to our made-up standard? Is that a tattoo? How much makeup is she wearing?

My husband got saved in 2008 at twenty-five years old. He had a couple large tattoos that are hidden from view when he wears a shirt and long pants. However, at an IFB church I deem legalistic, he was told to wear jeans in ninety-degree weather while he ministered in the outdoor children’s program. Why? The modest shorts he wore exposed his benign tattoo. That picture on his leg was a blemish on the church’s appearance of righteousness.

My husband, though, has been able to speak to all kinds of people, some of whom would never talk to a pastor, because he has a tattoo. It opens conversations for him to share Christ and discuss how salvation radically changed him. His tattoo isn’t who he is; His identity is in Christ. That’s what people see.

Too Harsh With Women

Let Us Prey makes some good points about how women are treated in some (many?) IFB churches. The docuseries discusses how women take the blame for men’s sexual sin, and women are taught to keep men from committing sexual sin.

Certainly, the churches in Let Us Prey are extreme examples, but women seem to have a more critical eye on their behavior and dress than men. Although I agree women should be modest and not tempt men to sin, I don’t see why men shouldn’t be held accountable for modesty and purity, as well. Also, they should be held to a high standard regarding how they treat women. Right?

The extreme separation, lack of police involvement, and this twisted view of women sows the seeds for the kind of sexual abuse Let Us Prey warns us about. Any environment that oversexualizes a particular group of people (i.e., women, children) is putting that group at risk. Each IFB church should investigate its culture concerning women. Are they respected? Are they seen as whole people equal at the foot of the cross with men? Does the church victim blame and/or protect predators? Encouraging that kind of environment isn’t biblical. It isn’t Christlike.

Quick To Follow Cultish Teachings

Jack Hyles and Bill Gothard are examples of strong speakers who engaged their audience well. These men spoke in a way that validated men and made families feel as if they were standing against great evils by living such counter-cultural lives.

These guys became superstars of fundamentalism, and it’s sickening. Thankfully, IFB churches weren’t swallowed whole by these dangerous men and their teachings, but they left lasting marks. The effects of these men’s ministries still resonate in even the healthiest IFB churches.

Final Thought

I am a member of an independent fundamental Baptist church. It’s a lovely place to worship. My brothers and sisters in the Lord love God and seek to live lives that please Him. They want to serve one another and our community. My church relies on God’s Word, not man or tradition, for doctrine, and we won’t compromise in order to stay “relevant.”

My church is filled with imperfect, sinful people. Sometimes we hurt each other or act hypocritically. We struggle to be obedient to God in all areas of our lives, and we need forgiveness on a regular basis. But we care for each other, protect one another, and my husband will call the cops on you. In fact, he’s not the only one.

Discernment. I am begging you. Use discernment, Christian. Use it when you watch things like Let Us Prey, choose a church, listen to a sermon, read a book… A common denominator among all the stories in Let Us Prey was a lack of discernment by the adults in the churches. That lack had devastating consequences.

The sad truth is that where there are opportunities to have power and control, there will be people ready to abuse the system. We have seen this in schools, the Boy Scouts, the Catholic Church, and yes, IFB churches, too. And this list is just the tip of the iceberg. The problem isn’t what IFB churches believe, it’s the manipulation that plays out in some churches. Rather than attack the estimated eight million IFB church members and their church homes, let us pray for those churches to stay faithful to Christ and to practice discernment when listening to Bible teaching.

I’m sure I’m opening a can of worms here, but what do you think about IFB churches?

Image courtesy of Caleb Woods via Unsplash.