MEET OUR TEAM
Johnna Harris
Founder
Johnna Harris grew up in a conservative, nondenominational Christian environment where she was taught early on that women faced significant barriers in ministry and certain questions were not to be asked. Her passion for music led her to serve as a worship leader in various conservative church settings from a young age. Upon moving to Los Angeles with her husband Aaron, Johnna became the staff worship leader at a small Acts 29 church in Burbank, CA. It was here that her path took a profound turn when she encountered and experienced abuse from her boss and pastor, which deeply shook her faith and propelled her into a quest to understand and address systemic issues within her church and the broader Acts 29 network. In 2021, Johnna embarked on a mission to collect stories, uncovering a troubling pattern of abuse within Western evangelical settings. Driven by these revelations, she co-founded the impactful podcast "The Bodies Behind the Bus" with Jay Coile in December 2021. Through their work, Johnna has actively listened to and honored hundreds of survivor stories, believing passionately in the healing and transformative power of amplifying the voices of those who courageously speak out against abuse.
Jay Coile
Founder
Jay Coile - As a kid, Jay grew up attending SBC churches in the South, learning about everything from baptism to the rapture and hell. He spent years in pews, pleading for God to save him, but struggled to unlock the faith needed to believe he was saved. In his twenties, Jay started attending Acts 29 churches, where he welcomed the language of grace freely spoken by church leaders. Though never on staff, he dedicated countless hours to volunteering, leading community groups, and participating in leadership activities. After Johnna was unjustifiably fired from her staff position at the same church where Jay and his family had spent years serving and attending, Jay questioned the church leadership and Acts 29 about her dismissal. Unsurprisingly, the answers he received were dismissive and contradictory. He was frustrated and confused by how the leadership treated Johnna and other former staff members, disregarding their stories and voices while using religious language and authority to justify their actions. Jay believes that the church should be a safe community that welcomes all voices and people. Jay is committed to helping those who have experienced spiritual abuse regain their voice and story.
Advisory Board
Emily Snook
Governing Board Member
Emily has been advising BBTB unofficially for the last few years. She is a known voice in the church abuse survivor community, working with advocates, churches, and survivors in a volunteer capacity for many years. ​ She was a minister and teacher, and served many other roles in churches and nonprofits for more than two decades. She is currently a pre-K teacher in a Title 1 school in Oklahoma. She also works as a free-lance editor for academic writing and as a writer. She has degrees in psychology and theology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education, studying trauma informed educational practices. ​ She is the mom of two very smart and kind boys. Her husband runs a nonprofit helping young men without support systems obtain housing, education, employment, and care. He also makes beautiful things out of wood, and is good at everything. ​ Emily is passionate about telling the whole truth to and about ourselves, serving people on the margins, and pursuing justice in the Church and in her own community.
Robert Callahan
Board Member
Robert is an accomplished attorney and author, dedicated to his practice at Callahan & King, PLLC in the heart of Waco, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gonzaga University and a Juris Doctorate at Baylor University School of Law where he teaches a course entitled Integrating Faith and Legal Practice. In 2020, Robert was named Lawyer of the Year by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association. As a prosecutor, he aggressively fought to protect women and children and continues working to protect vulnerable and marginalized populations in private practice today. As a writer, Robert has an undeniable talent for blending humor and insight as he tackles the issues of law, race, and religion. To that end Robert’s book, FIRE IN THE WHOLE: Embracing Our Righteous Anger with White Christianity and Reclaiming Our Wholeness, tackles spiritual abuse via the church’s complicity with racism, patriarchy, and bigotry while encouraging survivors that their anger is justified and path to healing does exist.
Eric Isaac
Board Member
Eric Isaac is a professor at Florida International University (FIU), in the Honors College and the Religious Studies Department. Eric's scholarly pursuits are deeply rooted in his personal journey as a Latinx survivor of spiritual abuse. This profound aspect of his experience has driven him to conduct the first qualitative and quantitative research study that investigates the phenomenon of spiritual abuse within Latinx Protestant faith communities. Aimed at understanding how incentives to preserve power inform experiences of spiritual abuse, the research brings new insights to an emerging field of research, that blends social science and legal theory. In addition to this, Eric also is a founding faculty member for an academic certificate for the study of Christianity at FIU, in which he also created and formalized the first university course on the topic of spiritual abuse. Eric also is currently engaged in research with the University of Michigan investigating how religion influences Latinx youth to take action to address social issues and how that action is supported or hindered through their relationships. Eric currently holds two master’s degrees, one in Latin American and Caribbean studies from FIU, as well as a master's in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Christi Bragg
Board Member
Christi Bragg embodies versatility and dedication in her multifaceted roles, seamlessly balancing her diverse responsibilities with grace and skill. A Summa Cum Laude graduate with a bachelor's and master's in social work, she specializes in mental health and substance use, with plans to pursue licensure as a clinical social worker (LCSW). In 2022, Christi collaborated with the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) to develop a national model stalking policy, underscoring her commitment to public safety and advocacy. Currently, Christi is immersed in direct therapeutic practice at Mindwell Therapy in Southlake, Texas, where she utilizes modalities such as EMDR and IFS to support clients on their healing journeys. She is honored and passionate about partnering with Sacred Wilderness/BBTB as a member of their board due to her professional and personal experience with religious trauma. Additionally, Christi actively supports survivors of sexual violence through her involvement with Louder Than Silence (LTS), ensuring they receive the resources and care needed to heal and thrive. Christi's dedication to empowering individuals and communities, both professionally and personally, is matched by her commitment to her family as a loving wife to Matt, mother to their five children, ages 9 to 26, and a devoted Lala to her granddaughter.