This is the true story of a church in America's Bible Belt, the First Christian Church in Florissant, Missouri--a church with a meager beginning and record of steady growth for forty-nine years until the weight of sexual abuse charges against a youth minister left it, and its congregation, broken. This is a case history and analysis of those events.
This is for the victims.—Joy S. Taylor, Author
Lord, who can stand before You? Who can withstand your wrath, certainly not your enemies. Your power shakes the stones under our feet and melts the mountains. Who is like You? But, You are good, Lord, a stronghold in trouble and a refuge. You break the enemy’s yoke and watch the shackles fall. We are…
Today is a beautiful day, because God avenges His honor, “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear…
Father, your Word unfolds before us. We see the latter days taking place. We feel the darkness of the evil one. We hold on to the hope of your promises. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts and minds to understand our circumstance. Remind us to pay attention, to look up from…
Today is a beautiful day, because God wants us to pay attention, “For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it…
Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for the children. I humbly ask that You make yourself known to my children and grandchildren. Cover them in your loving care. Teach them. Open their eyes and ears to see and hear your Truth, that they may know You are Lord. Grant them the peace this verse promises in…
Today is a beautiful day, because God shows compassion, “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by…
Open the eyes of my heart to see You at work, Lord. Open my ears to hear you calling my name to fellowship with You. Don’t allow the craziness around me to distract me, or to diminish my precious time with You. I ask in your name and authority, according to the good and perfect…
Today is a beautiful day, because “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. Then the…
Today is a beautiful day, because God’s eternal crown of glory overcomes the temporal crown of pride, “Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand. The proud crown of…
Jesus, You are my refuge in the storm. You are my portion when I thirst for living water. You hold the blessing for my present and the hope for my future. You protect me from the heat of the world’s affairs. You are my victory, for You wear the victor’s crown. I lift my praise…
Recent Comments