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
Father, forgive us. We have sinned against You. We have mocked your statutes and dishonored You. I pray for repentance. Thank You for making a way to your grace. I humbly ask for your mercy upon us in the name and authority of Him who gave His life to grant us pardon, Jesus, according to…
Today is a beautiful day, because “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat….
King Jesus, I come humbly, yet boldly, to your throne to thank You for your perfect justice. I may not see it in the land of the living as the timing is in your will, not mine. A day of judgment comes. I pray for an end to corruption and deceit. I pray for an…
Today is a beautiful day, because God’s justice is sure in His timing, “These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who…
Lord, there is no one like You who speaks to the wind and waves that they obey You. I trust You by the power in your name and its authority, according to the good and perfect will of the Father. Amen. “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat…
Today is a beautiful day, because “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of…
Lord, thank You for your unfailing love. Thank You for standing by in good and bad times. Thank You for your provision. Thank You for my salvation and the joy it brings. Thank You for making yourself known to me. Other distractions try to pull my allegiance, but there is none like You. No other…
Today is a beautiful day, because Zechariah tells us to go to the almighty source, not idols, “Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.” (Zechariah 10: 1…
Lord, who can stand before You? Who can withstand your wrath, certainly not your enemies. Your power shakes the stones under our feet and melts the mountains. Who is like You? But, You are good, Lord, a stronghold in trouble and a refuge. You break the enemy’s yoke and watch the shackles fall. We are…
Today is a beautiful day, because God avenges His honor, “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear…
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