Frying Pan Frontman John Cooper Reveals Church Hurt Left Him Questioning ‘What Was Real’

Frying pan frontman John Cooper just recently shared his experience of church abuse that he and his household dealt with at their long time church.

In a current interview with The Christian PostCooper stated how his spouse and fellow Skillet bandmate, Korey, and their kids were ostracized from the church they had actually belonged to for the previous 30 years after questioning its management over some doubtful mentor.

“We went through something that you’re seeing a lot on YouTube right now with all sorts of testimonies of going through a very bad church abuse situation, where the rug was really pulled out from under our feet,” he stated. “It was not just a church that we love, but a church that we helped serve in and helped build. Those leaders are also our family, our literal family.”

He explained the matter as a few of” the hardest years of my life given that I was a teen, because I actually, actually learnt more about who Jesus was.”

In addition to feeling ostracized by the church leaders, Cooper said they  “lied about” his family and “slandered” them, including being told that he was being used by the devil.

“It makes you feel insane,” he continued. “When it’s individuals that you’ve understood for thirty years who are siblings and sis in the faith that enjoy God, and they’re informing you that you’re being utilized by the devil, you begin going, ‘Maybe I am being utilized by the devil.’ And I do not understand how to recognize … who do I listen to?”

As a result, Cooper admitted to difficulty in praying and reading Scripture because of the horrible treatment he and his family received from church leaders.

“You do not understand how to hope, and you start to check out the Bible, and whatever ends up being complicated,” he said. “It was a really dark time. … It simply triggered me a genuine anxiety. I had a psychological break where I simply didn’t understand what was genuine and what wasn’t genuine.”

Nowadays, the Coopers have found a new church, and John has expressed his gratitude to the Lord for bringing him and his family out of their dark season.

“I started to check out the Bible in a really fresh method, and I started to see how lovely the Lord is, how gorgeous grace is, how gorgeous the Gospel is,” he said. “Christ does not abuse individuals; He is the Good Shepherd.”

“Each time I go [to our new church]and we start to praise God, I weep,” he said. “Each time I go there, I sob. The Holy Spirit carries on me. … I’m so appreciative to the Lord that He saved me from that and didn’t let me decrease a bad course.”

Cooper’s experience with his old church was the inspiration behind Skilet’s upcoming six-song independent EP titled “After the Storm.” The project, which includes the singles “Shout” and “Raise Me Up,” highlights the styles of betrayal, determination and hope.

Cooper hopes that listeners would be motivated to rely on the Lord despite their situations, and not simply listen to it as a retelling of his church abuse experience.

“Maybe individuals listening, your own dependency, or your own stress and anxiety or anxiety, or simply life– can’t foot the bill, battling with your better half or your kids are acting insane, and you do not understand what to do with your kids,” he said. “Whatever your circumstance is, Christ will satisfy you. I can guarantee you that. You may have to punch it out. It may take a while, however do not quit since He will fulfill you.”

“After The Storm” will be launched in its totality on Oct. 9.

Image Credit: © Getty Images/Ethan Miller/Staff

Milton Quintanilla is an independent author and material developer. He is a contributing author for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast committed to sound teaching and scriptural fact. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.

Initially released September 10, 2026.