Our mission is to help churches become unattractive environments for predatory abusers
by putting awareness, prevention and healing resources in one place.
We do the research and share the resources.
by putting awareness, prevention and healing resources in one place.
We do the research and share the resources.
Why is this our mission?
I am a survivor of pastoral emotional and sexual abuse (read more). Yes, my pastor, an elder of our church, and my boss was an abuser. As a result, my husband and I began to study pastoral abuse and to follow social media and news reports on what seemed like a growing number of other pastoral abuse tragedies worldwide. So many churches of all denominations are impacted by abuse involving children, teens and adults! So many pastors are not taking responsibility. So many elders are protecting the institution and not taking care of the sheep. I kept asking God, "How can this happen? Why aren't churches prepared? Why aren't churches safe?" We should be safe at church! I realized that our church had some safety measures for the children but didn't have any prevention or protection for adults. No policies, no reporting procedures, no investigation procedures, no training, no plan to care for the abused--nothing. That's when God impressed on my heart to build a website. To do the research and gather information on awareness, prevention, and healing and put it in one place so churches and survivors can use it! So here it is!
Our goal is to provide information and links for Awareness, Prevention and Healing resources for congregations, leadership, survivors and those being abused and looking for help. So, explore! Download! Get your system in place! It's up to pastors, elders/deacons, and congregations to create an environment at church that is not attractive to predators.
Yes, we love and we practice grace, but we recognize wolves by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). And we must not tolerate abuse!
Realistically, it is going to take much time and effort to bring awareness and sufficient preventative measures to the majority of church communities. Many have been fighting this campaign for years now already. Meanwhile wolves in sheep’s clothing continue to infiltrate and attack. When they do, we want churches to be equipped to properly handle wolves and their victims in the following ways:
- We want to see church leadership and congregations treat the victims of clergy sexual abuse, or any other type of abuse, with understanding, gentle care, dignity and respect. We want to see an end to sin-leveling, victim shaming and blaming, and mislabeling of abuse as affairs or inappropriate relationships.
- We want to see an end to protecting abusers by showing them inappropriate grace and allowing them to continue to abuse either in their current community or by moving on to some other unsuspecting community.
- We want ministry working environments to be protected by safe and healthy policies, clear procedures, and regular training, all designed to prevent harassment and abuse from happening, but if it does happen, then victims or advocates will know how to report and investigate and handle what is brought into the light as abuse.
Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devises ways to trip my feet. The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path...Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed! Psalm 140:1-8
Prayer for the Church
Lord, You are Sovereign.
You are Head of the Church.
We belong to You.
You are the Chief Cornerstone.
You are the Rock.
We, the Church are your bride.
You love Your Church.
We confess, Lord, that we have taken our eyes off of You as the Head of the Church.
We have put men and women on pedestals.
We have worshiped leaders and ministries.
We have put pastors between You and us.
We’ve been lazy.
We don’t study the Word for ourselves sufficiently to test the words of those placed over us as teachers.
We have not corrected leaders who misuse Your Word to control or hurt others.
Lord, some of our leaders have used their power to hurt others.
We confess we have not been discerning and watchful and we have let wolves thrive among us and devour the sheep.
We have looked the other way when we should have exposed and expelled these wolves.
We have trusted pastors and leaders instead of You.
We have been afraid that addressing abuse in our churches would hurt Your gospel.
And instead, abuse in our churches and our lack of action has hurt Your Church.
Lord, please forgive us of our apathy, our laziness, our fear and our lack of courage.
Please forgive us for putting humans where only You belong.
Forgive us for failing the weak and the vulnerable brothers and sisters in our body.
Forgive us for failing our children.
Lord, thank You for the good shepherds.
For the pastors and leaders of churches that are humble and love the flock well.
Please bless them and their families.
Please bless their ministries and churches.
Lord, please expose men, women, churches and systems that allow abuse to thrive.
Open our eyes so we see the abuse.
Then give us the wisdom and courage to speak up and deal with the wolves.
Lord, open our hearts so we have compassion and care well for victims.
Lord, in churches where leaders have not had the courage to stand up to abuse
and appropriately handle abusers,
give the congregation the courage to step up and hold those leaders accountable.
Lord, please rescue victims of the wolves in our midst.
Give us wisdom on how to love and care for the abuse victims in our churches.
Lord, help us all as Your children to love You with all of our heart, soul, and mind.
And to love our neighbor as ourselves.
In Jesus Name, Amen