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
Father, You have blessed us in your great grace and mercy once again. We come to your courts to give You the glory, honor and praise in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen. “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself…
Today is a beautiful day, because David quoted Leviticus in part of his psalm, “With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes…
Father, You hear my plea, and You will answer. I come to seek your mercy over our nation. I come to pray for repentance of the people and a turning toward You. I come to pray for those who have walked away from your love. Bring them back. I ask that your Holy Spirit overcome…
Today is a beautiful day, because God holds our future, “If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.” (Job…
Father in heaven, I come to your court to ask your forgiveness, to seek your mercy and cry out for repentance across my nation. If your people, who are called by your name humbly bow, seek your face and repent of evil, You will hear our prayers, and heal our land. Father, I stand on…
Today is a beautiful day, because “Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake…
Father, You are the God of all mercy and comfort. You are the God of forgiveness and redemption. You are steadfast in loving me even though I fail You. When my world was turned upside down and shaken, You held me fast. When darkness engulfed my days, You led me through to your marvelous light….
Today is a beautiful day, because God did not forsake His people, “They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful,…
Father, forgive us. We fall short. We have acted corruptly against You. We allow what we shouldn’t and disgrace your name. We fall upon your mercy through Christ and the redeeming power of His blood. We pray for repentance, for a mass returning to your precepts. We thank You for the grace of salvation. We…
Today is a beautiful day, because Nehemiah prayed before going before the king, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that…
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