Ex-Scientologist Is Free in Christ: ‘I Found Jesus Again’

Published: June 15, 2026

By Kayla DeKraker

Musical artist Joy Villa might be known today for her conservative, Christian values, but before that, she escaped the cult of Scientology.

“I grew up Christian, born again, saved, evangelical, laying of hands, praying in tongues, you know, all the gifts, charismatic — all the gifts of the spirit,” she said on “The Bible Bros” podcast. “And my dad was a minister, and my parents unfortunately passed away almost 20 years ago, and so I lost them at a very young age.”

Tragically, abuse at a young age affected her on a spiritual level.

“I was like such a Christian scene kid, and I knew that I wanted to be a singer and an actress, and…I wanted to go to Hollywood. I wanted to make it. I was unfortunately abused when I was a little girl…when I was 4,” Villa recalled. “That sort of opened up a world of demonic feelings, to be honest, demonic control around me because I started having these feelings.”

She explained that her trauma caused her to have suicidal thoughts.

“So I grew up with that, but also very artistic, very talented, going into arts,” she said.

When Villa emerged into Hollywood, she was seeking to reconnect with God and found herself in the Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood.

“They give you the free personality test, they’re smiling, they’re bright, they’re clean, they’re shaking your hand, they’re looking you in the face, they’re remembering your name,” she said. “Like, you’re so traumatized in Hollywood, right? LA is crazy. And so you’re like, ‘Oh wow, you’re giving me a chance. You’re here, you’re looking at me.’ They had free acting classes. They had free seminars on health and nutrition, everything I was into.”

But it’s not what it seems. “This is a system of control. There is coercion. That’s what makes it a high control group or a cult. They force you to do these things,” she told CBN News.

But after 15 years as Scientologist, Villa realized there was something dark going on.

“It works in the beginning…but the cost will destroy you, and the cost started destroying me,” she explained. “I lost so much weight…I was working 12 hours a day, paying for thousands of dollars a week in the United Kingdom, training to get to the next level…and these demonic voices kept telling me, ‘You’re dead. You’re going to die. You’re no good. You’re no good. You’re no good.’”

She continued, “I broke down on my kitchen floor, and I cried, and I said, ‘Jesus help me.’ Because I would have ended my life. I would have ended my life.”

God met her where she was at.

“Praise God, He sent me free. That was three years ago I got out, and that’s been the journey, and my life has been so much better,” she said. “I lost a lot…But I found Jesus again…I’m the sheep. He left the 99 to find one.”

Now Villa uses her platform to spread hope to others.

“I am surrounded by LOVE! The Lord has been teaching me about humility, vulnerability and forgiveness. I’ve had to learn to forgive others and to be humble and ask others to forgive me,” she posted on Instagram. “Thank you for your patience and grace with me! I want you to know this: if you’re walking through pain right now, Jesus loves you deeply, and so do I. Reconciliation and healing are possible. I love you!”

Praise God for how He changed Villa’s life.

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