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
Is this how a good shepherd of the congregation should treat his flock? I’m just asking. “In rephrasing the question, he pointed to BK as the one needing to adjust, asking, ‘How do you change?’ He used a similar pattern to what he did to Dawn Varvil. Can you see how he twisted what she…
Lord Jesus help me through your Holy Spirit to look beyond my present circumstance to see the glory of the future in store for me. Satisfy my desires with your abiding love. Provide for my needs and a little more with which I can show your generosity. Thank you for loving me as I am….
Today is a beautiful day, because David asked God to judge the wicked, “Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.” (Psalm 58: 7 ESV) Water #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
Is this the position of a humble servant of God or of a wolf backed into a corner? I’m just asking. “Murmurs of wanting to replace Steve as senior minister swung a huge wrecking ball toward his dreams of heading a vast megachurch. She made the blunder of showing compassion for Steve’s mother and family…
Father, you have called me by my name to come out of the darkness and into your marvelous light. Help my heart and soul yield to your Holy Spirit, who keeps me walking within the circle of your will. Don’t allow me to look to the right nor to the left, but to remain in…
Today is a beautiful day, because David cried to God for help, and God answered, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws;…
We all rotate through each other’s lives as a matter of course, but at what point is it excessive? When do we stop to ask the reason behind losing close ties? Is it a normal state of affairs if a church loses 75-95% of its attendees within months? Is it normal for a church to…
Holy Spirit, guide me and teach me to be more like Jesus. I bring my request in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen. “By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way…
Today is a beautiful day, because God came to David’s aid, “He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.” (Psalm 18.11 ESV) Water #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
I learned to recognize true repentance and character change as a lay counselor through the divorce support group and Celebrate Recovery ministries by sustained, lengthy patterns in behavior change. Repeated patterns can also flag problems. Comments during the April 8th meeting indicated repeated cycles of losing pastors, elders and families over the years since the…
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