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
Today is a beautiful day, because “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15 ESV) New #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
King Jesus, You are the Mediator of a better covenant. You are Messiah, the Son of Man, the Bright and Morning Star. I love You. I trust You. I cherish the time devoted to prayer and worship that brings me closer to You. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for filling all the deficits…
Today is a beautiful day, because “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:13 ESV) New #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
Oh, Jesus, I’m awed by how You want an intimate spiritual relationship with me. To think that this new self is being (present participle, continually being) renewed in knowledge after your image blows my mind with gratitude. I love You, Lord, and I thank You in your name above all names, by your authority that…
Today is a beautiful day, because “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3: 9-10 ESV) New #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
Lord, I am so thankful You pulled me out of the pit of abusive relationships and deceit. I spent years lying to myself and to others, trying to be what those around me wanted so that I would be liked. You forced me to take a hard look at how I got there, and I…
Today is a beautiful day, because “But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to…
King Jesus, You are my peace. I run to You for solace in times of distress. I turn to You when my spirit is dry and my soul longs for more. I come to You for help and wisdom. I exalt You for the good times. I trust You, not for what You have done,…
Today is a beautiful day, because Paul wrote of this profound newness, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in…
Father, You made me a new creation, and your Word renews my mind daily. Thank you for wanting a personal, growing relationship with You. Thank you for sanctifying my soul and changing me to be more like Jesus. I raise my prayer of appreciation in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good…
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