Secrets and Shame

Written by: Amanda Teo (Photo by: Isabel Phua)

Have we forsaken authenticity in our lives, such that the church has become a place only for shiny, happy people? 

I lost my first kiss to a girl when I was ten. There, I said it.

It was like taking that first plunge into the deep end of the pool after watching the older kids gliding seamlessly through the water; we fed the insatiable curiosity of what it must feel like when couples kissed on the silver screen.

* * *

I struggled with masturbation when I was 15, before I even learnt what the word ‘masturbation’ meant.

* * *

I dreamt that my father raped me on three separate nights, within the span of one month, when I was 17.

* * *

Hi, my name is Amanda, and this is my story.

These are my deepest secrets shoved into the darkest chambers of my heart, concealed like a dead body buried in the ocean bed. Shame, guilt and fear punctuate the discomforting silence that lingers in these imposing caverns.

“You are a church leader, how could you?! You are not pure anymore. You are a hypocrite. Who do you think you are?” Such malice slowly but surely gnawed at me in the back of my head, and made its way like an imminent storm into the inner recesses of my heart and, ultimately, my being.

I was terribly afraid of people’s judgement. The church has always been seemingly filled with shiny, happy faces, as if no one has given into the temptations of sin like I did. I held the belief that I was the only girl in church who struggled with masturbation. The nightmares made me feel like every inch of my body has been touched and tainted by my own father, and I was afraid that my nightmares would crystallise into truth if I said anything about it. So I held it all in, as if holding my breath underwater.

Condemnation was heavily embedded into my conscience; I felt pinned to the wall by sin, leaving me unconscious of the grace of God streaming through my life. All this time, unaware that these fears were invalid and self-inflicted.

On September 2012, I took a step of faith and flew to Brisbane alone. This was the first attempt to swim higher and higher to the surface, in hope of basking in some sunlight. I signed myself up to be a part of the Music, Art and Dance Discipleship Training School at Youth With A Mission (Brisbane, Australia). 30 other students had signed up for this course, and like any orientation, the inevitable self-introduction session took place on  the second day. People from all over the globe — Canadians, Germans, Swiss, among others — sat in a large, comfy circle. A school staff went first: “Hi, my name is James. I am from America and was born into a Christian family. I struggled with an addiction to pornography and masturbation…” My mind immediately went into a frenzy, as if it were lighted with burning flames. An introduction has never seemed this daunting.

The rest went on to share their stories: Sexual abuse. Physical abuse. Only good for sex. Broken family. Drug dealing. Bullying. Weed. Attempted murder. Divorce. Alcoholism. Jealousy. Insecurities. Fist fights. Anger. Misfit. Atheism. Judgement. Damaged dreams. Jail.

Mere strangers gathering in a circle poured out their lives with an honesty I had never experienced in the 20 years of my life. Tears welled up in every eye, and flowed as freely as our mucus. Healing swept through the room as pent-up hurts and decades of damnation finally found their long-awaited release. Unknown faces that entered that room came out with hearts fully accepted by God’s love. As I plodded out of the room, with eyes all swollen, it hit me that this is what true authenticity is.

It was in that moment that I realised that my life had been shrouded in darkness, even when I was with my best friends back home. As much as I knew about and desired to walk in the light, my soul was trapped in the fear of exposing my carnal desires and failings. The craving for familiarity kept my heart crouching in the shadows, even as my past haunted me.

The devil plots for us to become attached to our sins and shame, like a brutal scar on the face. He wants these sins and shame to overtake our identity, as he tampers our minds with the certainty that forgiveness is not within reach. The grace of God thus becomes a lie, something unconceivable in the crucible of our shameful past.

However, I have come to know the incredible healing power that swoops in when one begins to step into the light. As I spewed out the seemingly unsalvageable dirt in my life, I found a deep healing in the presence of my friends, a confidence in my identity as a forgiven child who is made righteous, and a Father’s love that ravished my heart like never before.

I cling onto this verse: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16 NIV) In the public confession of the filth in my life, I found the veracity of this promise as healing and restoration came over the broken and damaged parts of my soul. In my dear YWAM friends, I found such unwavering support and tireless prayers for my mending heart.

While confession to brothers and sisters in Christ brings healing to our souls, let us still remember that God is the only one who can forgive us of our sins. I did not realise how much I needed this, until the burdens of carrying the shame fell off like chapped skin the very moment I spoke out in truth. The cavity that had previously been choked with shame, guilt and fear, has been washed away by acceptance and grace.

As the overwhelming shame was traded for His unceasing grace, I found freedom in this life because He who is in me, is far greater than he who is of the world (1 John 4:4).

May you find the courage to pursue authenticity relentlessly — honesty shall keep you where the light is. May you also find wholeness in His work in your life and with the steadfast support from your loved ones, even in the unlikeliest of places. As authenticity secures a pivotal place in your life, you could spark off a culture of genuineness in your church and in our generation. Your story of truth and grace is waiting to be heard.


AMANDA'S heart longs to see true worship, identity, and the pursuit of purity restored in the Singaporean body of Christ. She enjoys taking walks in the park, and the traditional $1 atap seed ice cream cone is one of the best local desserts to her. She often processes her days and moments through handlettering and poetry — read more @byamandagrace.

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  1. vinn

    16 April

    This is so real, it heals. Thank you for sharing.

    • Amanda Teo

      28 April

      Hey vinn, what a privilege it has been, really. I’m more than blessed to know that you’ve found healing in the story God placed in me. (:

  2. XYZ

    17 April

    Thank you Amanda for being so honest and open. I am blessed by your sharing. I too am a youth leader and there’s been times when I felt that if I confessed my sins or my struggles, there’s no way God could be glorified through my failure. But I am reminded that that is a lie the devil wants me to believe. My leader once said that when we bring something to light, the devil is no longer able to taunt us in the dark. :)

    • Amanda Teo

      28 April

      Hey XYZ,
      Amen! That is a truth that I hold on to every day, that the devil have no hold on us when we walk in the light. I pray that you’ll find the courage and boldness to let down your guard, and may you find comfort in unexpected ways. (: If anything, do email me at selah.sg@gmail.com, I’d love to hear you story (:

  3. r_sh

    28 April

    What a beautiful article, I wanna respond with an “Amen!”
    Oh how we need to pray for the church to be a place of authenticity and geunineness, like you so rightly put it, unlike any other group the world has to offer. A people brought together by our faith in Jesus’ saving grace and mercy that we each only have Jesus to boast in, nothing of ourselves to boast about nor anything to hide. Just like how God intended for this community of brothers and sisters in Christ to be!

    I, too, attended a YWAM DTS in HK back in 2011, it’s really encouraging to read about your similar experience in Brisbane. Thanks for writing this dear sister :)

    • Amanda Teo

      28 April

      Hey r_sh and fellow YWAM-er! (:
      Amen and amen, let us continue to intercede and stand in the gap! I’d really love to hear your journey with YWAM HK, it must have been incredible! Do share! (:

  4. Joshua Teo

    18 May

    Wow just found out you wrote this piece Mandy!! So encouraged by your openness and readiness to share your struggles and brokenness to bless the wider community of God. It is such sharing that heaven invades earth and light invades darkness! Keep up such wonderful spirit! Bless you heaps!

  5. lincoln

    17 June

    hey Amanda! Fellow megalifer here, really felt the authenticity in this post, amen to this :)
    Meanwhile, from camp, I really feel that one way to keep the fire for God is to have community as a cell, and this needs authenticy. Do you have any tips? :)

    • Amanda Teo

      19 June

      Hey Lincoln, that’s so true. We do need Christ-centred communities to keep us grounded in Him. I’d say one of the most important things is to be conscious of your conversations with your friends (especially when you’re spending time out of church), ensure that your words edify each other and glorifies God.
      And two more things at the top of my head would be:
      1. Take the initiative in fighting for that community. Authenticity not only comes through sharing, but in being willing to fight for the friendship and caring about it.
      2. Pray and encourage each other (: Authenticity builds as accountability grows.
      Hope these will help you, Lincoln. Have a great weekend ahead!

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