Ryan L. Stollar, a prominent child liberation theologian, counselor, and dedicated advocate for survivors of childhood abuse, passed away on June 28, 2026, at the age of 42. His death, which occurred by suicide, has brought immense grief and a profound sense of loss to the ex-evangelical and homeschool alumnus communities, where he was widely regarded as a vital champion for the safety and human rights of children.
Prior to his passing, Stollar published a comprehensive final message on his website detailing his decades-long battle with severe mental illness—including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and suicidal ideation—compounded by the enduring trauma of childhood abuse.
Life, Scholarship, and Advocacy Work
In Memoriam: Ryan L. Stollar (Passed Away: June 28, 2026)
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Age at Passing : 42
Location : California Bay Area
Education : M.H.S. in Child Protection (Nova Southeastern University)
M.A. in Eastern Classics (St. John’s College)
Co-Founded Network : Homeschoolers Anonymous
Published Work : The Kingdom of Children: A Liberation Theology (2023)
Professional Role : Author, Advocate, Public Communications Educator,
Election Safety Specialist
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Transforming Trauma into Protection
Having been homeschooled from kindergarten through high school, Stollar devoted his adult life to analyzing the systemic structures of conservative evangelical homeschooling environments. He earned a Master of Health Science in Child Protection from Nova Southeastern University and a Master of Arts in Eastern Classics from St. John’s College, blending academic rigor with firsthand experience to protect the vulnerable.
Stollar co-founded Homeschoolers Anonymous, a groundbreaking digital community that provided a vital platform for survivors of fundamentalist and religious institutional abuse to share their stories and find solidarity. His research and commentary on spiritual trauma were frequently cited in national media and major literature on religious abuse, including Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s bestselling book Jesus and John Wayne.
A Pioneering Theology of the Child
In 2023, Stollar authored The Kingdom of Children: A Liberation Theology, published by Eerdmans. The text pioneered a framework that centered children within theological, historical, and ecclesial life. Stollar argued that children should not be viewed as property or passive recipients of adult instruction, but rather as fully human spiritual leaders, priests, and prophets in their own right.
Beyond his theoretical work, he authored the first comprehensive educational curricula on child abuse awareness and suicide prevention specifically tailored to help homeschooling families identify and stop cycles of maltreatment.
Outpouring of Tributes from Survivors and Peers
News of Stollar’s passing prompted a massive response from those who credited him with guiding them through their own recovery from abusive religious environments, such as the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).
A Voice for the “Least of These”
Columnist and podcaster Rick Pidcock reflected on Stollar’s rare impact on those processing institutional wounds:
“Ryan Stollar was a rare beacon of rest for those of us who felt traumatized by the abusive theology of conservative evangelical patriarchy. He told me: ‘Child liberation theology is a call to us as adults that we need to change our ways. We have to create communities… where there’s space for children to be seen and heard as fully human.’ I’ll always remember him as someone who, more than anything else, loved the white evangelical empire’s ‘least of these.’”
The Weight of the Fight
Fellow advocate Chad Harris addressed the profound exhaustion that often accompanies systemic advocacy work, noting that Stollar’s final words deeply resonated with those on the front lines:
“Ryan felt tired to the point of despair. I know I speak for myself and many others when I say that this feeling is shared by all of us who have spoken out. We’re tired… of pointing out problems and being told ‘not all homeschoolers/churches’ as if that ends systemic abuse. Depression is not a moral failing. It steals joy, costs relationships, and ends lives on a daily basis.”
IBLP survivor Noel Heatherland shared the personal devastation felt across the network:
“R.L. Stollar was a child liberation theologian and an advocate for children and abuse survivors… But most importantly to me as an IBLP survivor, Ryan Stollar, you made me feel less alone and the world is worse without you here.”
Turning Toward Support and Community
Stollar’s final writings highlighted a devastating truth known to many trauma survivors: the long-term psychological consequences of severe childhood abuse can wear down even the strongest advocates. His family, friends, and colleagues urge anyone struggling with depression, trauma, or suicidal thoughts to reach out for help.