The advocacy, faith, and homeschooling communities are mourning the loss of Ryan “R.L.” Stollar, an author, counselor, speaker, and nationally recognized child protection advocate whose work challenged religious institutions to better protect children and amplify their voices. Friends and colleagues have confirmed his passing, prompting an outpouring of tributes honoring his decades-long commitment to abuse prevention, survivor advocacy, and theological reform.
A resident of California’s Bay Area, Stollar dedicated much of his career to addressing child abuse within faith-based and homeschooling communities. Drawing from his own experiences as a survivor of childhood abuse, he became one of the nation’s leading voices calling for greater accountability, education, and stronger safeguards for children.
In a final message published on his personal website, Stollar shared that he had lived for years with significant mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use struggles, and recurring suicidal thoughts. He wrote about the lasting effects of childhood abuse and the profound impact it had on his life. Friends also noted that he had been navigating significant personal challenges in recent months.
Despite those struggles, Stollar devoted his life to ensuring that other children and survivors would have greater protection, support, and opportunities to be heard.
Homeschooled from kindergarten through high school, Stollar later spent eight years working as a public communications educator serving homeschooling communities. During that time, he developed what has been described as the first comprehensive curriculum specifically focused on child abuse awareness and suicide prevention for homeschooling families.
He also co-founded Homeschoolers Anonymous, a platform that gave current and former homeschool students a space to share their experiences while encouraging greater transparency and accountability within homeschooling culture. Through his writing, interviews, and public speaking, he became a respected advocate for individuals whose experiences had often gone unheard.
Stollar’s work extended into theology with the publication of The Kingdom of Children: A Liberation Theology in 2023. The book encouraged churches and faith communities to place children at the center of Christian theology and practice, emphasizing their dignity, protection, and full participation in religious life.
His research and writing also contributed to broader conversations surrounding evangelicalism, trauma, abuse prevention, and institutional accountability. Colleagues remember him as a compassionate thinker whose scholarship combined academic research with lived experience to advocate for meaningful change.
Among those paying tribute was writer and podcast host Rick Pidcock, who remembered Stollar as “a rare beacon of rest” for survivors of religious trauma and praised his unwavering commitment to protecting children and supporting vulnerable individuals.
Stollar 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. Throughout his career, he used his academic background to bridge child welfare research, theology, and practical advocacy.
Beyond his books and public speaking, Stollar maintained an active online presence, publishing essays examining faith, trauma, abuse prevention, and the experiences of people leaving high-control religious environments. His work consistently encouraged honesty, accountability, and the creation of safer communities for children.
News of his passing has prompted reflection on the emotional burdens often carried by survivors of abuse and by advocates who dedicate their lives to confronting difficult issues. Friends and colleagues continue to remember Ryan Stollar for his compassion, intellectual curiosity, courage, and steadfast commitment to protecting vulnerable children and supporting fellow survivors.
His legacy lives on through the conversations he helped shape, the institutions he challenged to improve, and the countless individuals who found understanding, validation, and hope through his work.
Ryan “R.L.” Stollar will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the many communities he served. His contributions to child protection, trauma-informed advocacy, and faith-based reform will continue to influence educators, advocates, and religious leaders for years to come.