Findings: My Journey To Joy                            

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

Prayer for Today

Oh, Jesus, thank you for teaching us to abide, to remain and to experience intimate relationship with you. We can’t do a thing without you. You are the vine, we the branches. We don’t bear fruit or honor God if we don’t stay in close relationship with you through your Holy Scriptures. There is no…

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Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, help me to represent you faithfully today. Holy Spirit, guide my thoughts, words and actions as I move through the ebb and flow of the coming hours. Know my heart for you and lead in your ways. I ask in the name and authority of Jesus, our perfect advocate, according to your good…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20180405

Prayer for Today

Almighty God, you are the one true God, the God of unity. May all your servants come with a single purpose, unified in the knowledge of you and desiring only to glorify your name. I pray for sweet spirits among them, whether they work side-by-side or across continents from one another. We are one in…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20180404

Today is a beautiful day, because Paul hoped in the Lord even for the small stuff, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.” (Philippians 2:19 ESV) Hope in the Lord #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, let those we contact today see a positive difference in us. Let it prompt them to ask why that difference is, and give us your words to explain the joy within us. I ask in the name and authority of Jesus, who sent the Holy Spirit, according to your good and perfect will….

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20180403

Today is a beautiful day, because Paul put his hope in Jesus. “Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all…

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Prayer for Today

We are fallen, Lord, fallen and tramping through this fallen world. Yet, we carry the blessing of forgiveness and hope in Jesus. Our bodies weaken, our minds digress, but our faith stands. We see ourselves, our friends and family struggle with brokenness and illness. We watch them and hurt along with them. We pray for…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20180402

Today is a beautiful day, because “There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call–one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV) Hope in the Lord. #joyinverse…

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Joy in Verse Encouragement for 20180401

Today is a beautiful day, because “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6 ESV) Hope in the Lord #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday