Olive Leaf - aid and advocacy for former members of high-demand religious groups!

When Lindy was 20, she lost her family, friends, employment and community. Dazed and traumatised, she found herself in a new world, having to learn new skills and new ways to be in a world that she was unprepared for. What had happened?

Like many others before and after her, Lindy was excommunicated from a high-demand religious group, the Exclusive Brethren (now known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church). When you have been raised in a group that strongly directs your education, employment, use of resources, relationships, and lifestyle, leaving the group is a profoundly difficult transition to make. You can read more of her story here (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ex-exclusive-brethren-accuse-church-of-tearing-families-apart/P2I6TRRZIPKEJT3UMZNQ4XO66A/)

That was 15 years ago. Today, Lindy and a team of former members and friends are launching the Olive Leaf Network, a charitable entity with the aim of providing aid and advocacy to anyone leaving a high-demand religious group.

Olive Leaf exists to make the journey of leaving for any member a little less tough. Our name alludes to the biblical story of the dove carrying a leaf that came to the ark after the flood. In the same way, Olive Leaf hopes to be a symbol that new life is possible even after the devastation of the life you had known.

For an excellent 2-part overview of the Exclusive Brethren (PBCC) and more of Lindy's story, see Sarah Steel's podcast, Let's Talk About Sects (https://www.ltaspod.com/29).