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
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…
Today is a beautiful day, because Isaiah praised God for His great deeds, “For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like…
Lord, You are our one True Hope. You are the Light that leads us out of darkness. You are the calming voice who calls us to hold tight to You in the buffeting storm. You are the one who builds beauty out of the ruins around us. We bring You honor and praise for your…
Today is a beautiful day, because we have an able God who hears our cries in the storms of life, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that…
Father, we come to your courts to plead for your mercy on the areas in the path of the hurricanes. Jesus, You are the One who spoke to the storm. Forgive us where we fail You. Lead us on the path of your righteousness for your name’s sake. We humbly ask for your grace and…
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