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

Today is a beautiful day, because of the mighty and tireless work of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4b-5) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

Today is a beautiful day, because I work at letting the word and the work of Christ dwell in me richly. (from Colossians 3:16) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

Today is a beautiful day, because our God is the God of peace. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for as members of one body, you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15 NIV) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

Defeated

Today is a beautiful day, because God seals His believers with the Holy Spirit, who guarantees our inheritance until we take possession of it to the praise of God’s glory. (from Ephesians 1:13-14) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

Today is a beautiful day, because we were included in Christ when we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation…and believed. (from Ephesians 1:13-14) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

Today is a beautiful day, because many witnessed Jesus after he rose from death, some of whom wrote about their experience through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (from 1 Cor 15:3-6) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

Today is a beautiful day, because David gave us this simple prayer, “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.” (from Psalm 16:1) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬ Is your refuge in God?

Today is a beautiful day, because “The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; the devout men are taken away, and not one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.” (Isaiah 57:1 NIV) ‪#‎joyinverse‬ ‪#‎blessedthisdayandeveryday‬

You Knew

  Have you seen Jesus? No, wait, have you really seen Him? Have you wrapped your head, heart and soul around what He has done for us? Nothing brings history alive better than re-enacting it. My church presented “Behold the Lamb” some years ago. I played Anna, the prophetess who prayed outside the temple constantly…

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