David Stambaugh

I grew up in a pretty unusual spot—what many call a POMI: physically out, mentally in. My father became involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses when I was about five or six, so much of my early childhood was spent in Kingdom Halls. One moment that shaped me deeply was when a close friend was disfellowshipped and shunned for becoming pregnant as an unmarried teen. We were told not to speak to her or even acknowledge her existence. My father and I had no idea this practice even existed, and not long after, we quietly faded away.
Even after leaving, I carried many of their teachings into adulthood, assuming they were “truth” simply because they were all I had ever known. Eventually, I decided to study the Bible and ancient culture for myself. My goal wasn’t to read it through the lens of a 21st‑century American, but to meet the text on its own terms—as an ancient book written in an ancient world.
At first, I felt betrayed. So much of what I had been taught turned out to be incomplete, distorted, or simply untrue. But slowly, through honest study, I found Christ for myself. I fell in love with the stories, the history, and the freedom that came with understanding them without fear or control. It was like breathing fresh air for the first time.
Since then, I’ve tried to live in a way that brings value wherever I can—whether through conversation, encouragement, or simply being present for others on a similar path.
If you’re wrestling with the Bible, faith, or identity after leaving the organization, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I’m here if you ever want to talk.

 You can email me or find me on exJW Friends Discord @David