Lydia Joy Launderville is a writer who was born and raised in the Independent Fundamental Baptist church, where she experienced years of abuse. Lydia went on to leave at the age of 21, risking eternal damnation and experiencing shunning. Later on, she connected with thousands of IFB survivors in survivor networks, and eventually, with the help of her twin sister, researched crimes with IFB connections. That research contributed to both a national investigative piece and the creation of two databases of abusers from the cult she survived. In 2019, she started blogging about her cult experiences. She has advocated for cult victims, written articles highlighting other victims’ stories, and currently volunteers as Blog Editor for a nonprofit with the first ever hotline for victims of religious abuse. Her work has been featured online and in print. Lydia truly believes that survivor voices are the strongest. She puts an emphasis on survivors truly not being alone, proving the cults that once controlled them very wrong. She hopes that by sharing her story other cult survivors can know that healing is possible, and thriving, too. You will find her continuing to heal from cultic abuse as she volunteers, writes, explores nature, reads, and cuddles her rescue cat.