Bodies Behind The Bus Dominique's Story / The Austin Stone
Mar 19, 2026
A woman recounts deep involvement in a church’s missions and leadership programs and the intense pressure that came with them. She describes racial isolation, scripted spiritual practices, and coerced confessions that caused shame. The conversation covers mobilization tactics, community living, and why speaking up about harmful church culture matters.
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How Dominique Became Deeply Invested In The Stone
- Dominique started attending The Austin Stone at 14–15, reengaged at UT Austin in 2014, and volunteered in kids ministry and For the Nations missions from 2014–2018.
- Her involvement escalated from helping set up a gym campus to intensive missions programs, living in communal housing and phase-based training.
Loneliness On A College Missions Trip
- On a 2015 New York City missions trip Dominique felt isolated as one of two people of color on a 12-person urban team and experienced intense loneliness and dissociation.
- The trip highlighted for her early signs that the church culture prioritized a narrow, trendy social scene she didn't fit into.
Mission Pipeline Favored Young Single Women
- Goer missional communities trained college-age participants through phased programs; phase two required living together for nine months with evangelism quotas.
- Dominique noticed the pipeline disproportionately funneled single young women overseas and that rhetoric like "you're young, go now" romanticized missions.