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
There is no greater love but that a man would give his life for another. Lord Jesus, there is no greater love than what you have for mankind. Thank you for forgiving me when I fail you. Thank you for standing in the gap of my shortcomings. Thank you for being my righteousness in your…
Today is a beautiful day, because “Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.” (Job 36: 26-28 ESV) Water #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
I didn’t realize the solidifying alliances forming at the time of the meeting. This was a definite turning point that widened the chasm between the two factions in the church as both sides began gathering supporters. My reaction to the meeting, along with subsequent choices made by church leadership solidified my position. Is it true…
Heavenly Father, there is no one like you in all creation. You are above reproach. You are the adjudicator of our guilt, and you are righteous and just. Forgive me when I fail you, Father. I come humbly in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen. “If…
Today is a beautiful day, because “You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them…You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not…
The leaders who attended the April 8th meeting with church leadership came prepared with their concerns. Several of the leaders were from the Celebrate Recovery ministry within the church, and they were accustomed to winnowing out truth from participants. One of them asked about the relationship between the two prominent churches in this story. “‘The…
All gracious and loving Father, help me always to move within the circle of your will and bask in the warmth of your good pleasure. Holy Spirit, open my heart, mind and soul to your prompting and keep me walking in the light of righteousness. May the going out and coming in of my daily…
Today is a beautiful day, because the Isrealites re-established the festival of booths at the rebuilt temple, “So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate…
The leadership meeting of April 8, 2015 continued with one of the Bible School teachers asking the senior minister if he would consider counseling because of the management style issues that had been brought to light. She had spoken to others who felt they needed to leave the church. As she put it, these were…
Father in Heaven, you called me to come out of darkness and into your marvelous light. By my name, you called me by my name. I now walk in the light of your mercy and love. I bring my morning praises to you in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and…
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