After reading the report of the SBC sexual assault scandal, my heart grieves for my Southern Baptist Community which turned to anger and then num. As a survivor of sexual assault and rape, I hurt for other survivors who have not been heard all these years. My situation did not happen in the church, but the church I attended did not know how to handle my situation well when they found out.
The wounds from others in the church remind us we are all broken people. No, that doesn’t excuse or give the right to continue down this road of ignoring grotesque crimes. However, it gives us a chance to learn from them and apply different means to handle the situation, preventing more occurrences like this.
The church needs to ask how can we repent from these sins and how can we rebuild trust again? How do we care for those who have been abused and silenced by these outcomes?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said it best, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in a moment of comforts and convenience, but at times of challenge and controversy.”
The one thing we must resist during this time is allowing the enemy a foothold to divide our community into two, causing us to fall. We are the body of Christ, and we have parts that need to be nurtured and cared for so they can heal, strengthening the body as a whole.
I want to be a part of the solution, not the cause of more injuries. As a survivor, I understand the fear of the pain when reflecting on the past. News reports of more instances of people experiencing an injustice prick wounds buried deep. It has taken me years to find the courage to speak up about the criminal acts done to me. And it has taken even longer to embrace those pain points and filter them through the blood of Jesus. I by no means am completely healed from these wounds, but I am healing. This journey will be long but worth it.
If you are a survivor of a sexual crime, I would like to walk beside you. I would be honored to share the steps I take in my own journey that might help you with yours. Each journey is different, just like our fingerprints, but the hands have similarities, and so will our journeys.
Again I hope to be a part of the solution because I know how it feels to harbor hate, fear, and anxiety because of past experiences. I also know how freeing it is when you feel validated, understood, and begin to forgive. If you’re interested in reaching out, email me (hooks2crook@gmail.com). I would love to hear your story and how we can help each other on the journey to restoration and healing.
How do we heal from the SBC Sexual Assult Scandal?
I want to be a part of the solution, not the cause of more injuries. As a survivor, I understand the fear of the pain when reflecting on the past. News reports of more instances of people experiencing an injustice prick wounds buried deep. It has taken me years to find the courage to speak up about the criminal acts done to me. And it has taken even longer to embrace those pain points and filter them through the blood of Jesus. I by no means am completely healed from these wounds, but I am healing. This journey will be long but worth it.
God is Good!
I repeat, God is a good God! We say this phrase quite frequently. Sometimes the statement rolls off our tongue and is spoken with conviction.
14 Day Challenge
14 Day Challenge…You Game? Raised in the church, I thought I knew how much God loved me. I heard the old stories about Adam and
I admire your courage, Candice. Thank you for offering to help others heal as part of your own journey. Blessings to you during this work.
Thank you for your support.