“I’ve never shared this with anyone.” “My husband thinks I’m crazy because I can’t seem to get past this. It affects our communication, our intimacy, how we parent.” “Every time I walk into church, I feel like I’m going to throw up.” “I don’t know where to begin.” These represent common responses from women who …
Continue...After a 14-year-old girl was groomed by her youth pastor to trust him, he began sexually abusing her. He continually told her she was the cause of his sin and that it was her fault. He said she would never amount to anything, never graduate from college, never be loved, and never be married. He …
Continue...At the 2019 ERLC Caring Well Conference, I shared 10 requests from my perspective of an SBC sexual abuse survivor. I’ve included my requests, expanded with commentary in order to help guide your thinking as you care well for trauma survivors. 1. Acknowledge that many adults in your churches have experienced trauma. The Centers for …
Continue...Over the past year, Southern Baptists have been addressing sexual abuse in the church. It is good and crucial for us to engage this issue and provide training for those who volunteer in our church programs. At the same time, it is just as important to understand the ramifications this training may have on volunteers …
Continue...Churches should be a refuge for those who have experienced abuse. But, too often, survivors haven't found the protection they deserve and the care they need from the church. Although a strong and responsive church community can and should be a source of healing and comfort for a survivor of sexual violence, when churches fail, …
Continue...The American church is facing an abuse crisis. Churches should be a refuge for those who have experienced abuse. But, too often, survivors haven't found the protection they deserve and the care they need from the church. Is your church doing all it can to be safe for survivors and safe from abuse? The …
Continue...The SBC Sexual Abuse Advisory Group (SAAG) has continued to work diligently throughout the summer. As SBC President J.D. Greear said at the 2019 annual meeting, “Our efforts on abuse don’t end here in Birmingham. This is just the beginning of a long journey together.” In an effort to keep Southern Baptists up to speed on …
Continue...A slender young woman stood before the attendees of the State Department’s Ministerial to Advance International Religious Freedom and recounted her harrowing story of capture and sexual slavery by ISIS leaders. I was sitting in the audience, among like-minded NGOs and government officials who were gathered in our nation’s capital to dialogue about how to …
Continue...I will never forget having to explain the Sandy Hook shooting to my oldest son. I had stayed home from the office that day because I was sick. From the time I woke up that morning, I watched in horror and disbelief as the details of the tragedy unfolded on national news stations. My son …
Continue...As church leadership learns about abuse and begins to formulate policies, there is more work to be done—the church must be prepared to respond appropriately to disclosures of abuse in a loving, Christ-honoring way. Abuse of children is a sin and is against the law. In addition to preventative protection policies, churches must consider and …
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