Speaking About Childhood Sexual Abuse and Full Restoration From the Pulpit
Statistics show that twenty percent of the population are direct survivors of childhood sexual abuse. That doesn't include the parents, siblings, spouses, and children of those survivors who have likely spent a lifetime watching their loved one struggle; not knowing why or not knowing how to help even if they knew why.
How many survivors are in your congregation? Do you know who they are? Are you comfortable being the one they tell? Do you boldly share the full Gospel - that Jesus not only died for our sins but that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free? That he came not only to get us into heaven but to get heaven into us? The Lord's prayer says "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" - God's will is for heaven to come to earth and be present in each one of our lives.
Jesus Came to Heal the Brokenhearted and Set the Captives Free
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families need to know that they are not alone. They need to know that there is hope for freedom from the flashbacks, depression, insomnia, fear, anger, bitterness, substance abuse, and more. They are looking for hope, they are praying for freedom - you have the answer - Jesus. My hope here is to inspire you to present the ministry of Jesus, maybe in a new light, so that believers and unbelievers alike would finally be set free from the snare of the enemy (abuse) by the truth of God's word and the blood of the lamb.
Below are some examples of using the pulpit as a means to acknowledge the captives, teach them the truth of God's word, the full breadth of Jesus' ministry, and how to apply this to their lives. If you have some good examples that you would like to share, please email us.