In September 2006 Kendra Wiseman, 25, was reading an old issue of Glamour when she came across a story by Astra Woodcraft titled "Why I Fled Scientology." Like Astra, Kendra had grown up in the secretive religion and made the agonizing decision to abandon it. She wrote to Astra, thanking her for the story. A year and a half later, Kendra heard another shocker: Jenna Miscavige Hill, the 24-year-old niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige, had also left the church. Kendra sent her an e-mail too.

That was the beginning of a new relationship for the three women, who bonded over their unhappy years in the church. "I worked seven days a week," says Jenna of her time with Sea Org, the church's administrative arm. Astra recalls "the verbal abuse and isolation." (Scientology officials strongly dispute the claims, saying that Sea Org members get time off and do interact with the outside world.)

This past February, the trio launched a website, exscientologykids.com, for young people who have left or are thinking of leaving Scientology. "When a person leaves," says Kendra, "they face a big void. We help them fill that." The site, which offers support through e-mails, Web chats and phone calls, has about 2,500 visitors per day. Astra knows how scary that first step outside the church can be and says that's exactly why the site is needed. "For me, Scientology perpetuated an atmosphere of fear," Jenna says. "But with Astra and Kendra on my side, I'm not afraid to stand up to it."