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 Isaiah praised God for His great deeds, “For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like…
Lord, You are our one True Hope. You are the Light that leads us out of darkness. You are the calming voice who calls us to hold tight to You in the buffeting storm. You are the one who builds beauty out of the ruins around us. We bring You honor and praise for your…
Today is a beautiful day, because we have an able God who hears our cries in the storms of life, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that…
Father, we come to your courts to plead for your mercy on the areas in the path of the hurricanes. Jesus, You are the One who spoke to the storm. Forgive us where we fail You. Lead us on the path of your righteousness for your name’s sake. We humbly ask for your grace and…
Today is a beautiful day, because “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” (Psalm 57:1 ESV) Storm #joyinverse #blessedthisdayandeveryday
Father, it is good to be of your household, to be near You. There is no God like You. Your glory thunders over the waters. Your voice flashes out in flames of fire. You shake the wilderness and break the cedars. Yet, You want a relationship with humankind. Give strength to us, Father. Grant wisdom…
Today is a beautiful day, because God upholds His holiness, “And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness…
Five letters between me and my past mean a changed and now purposeful life. I did nothing. You did it all. There is now no more condemnation for what I had done. There is no more shame; because of ‘atone.’ You paid your life’s blood, Lord, to atone on my behalf. You made me a…
Today is a beautiful day, because God ranted against His people’s disobedience and idolatry, yet He promises a new covenant and atonement for those who follow His statutes, “I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your…
Father, Jeremiah praised You in prayer, saying there is nothing too hard for you. Ten verses later, You asked him if anything is too hard for You. I’ve been puzzling that. Why would You turn around his words into a question? Are You asking if he truly believed what he prayed? Do I actually believe…
Recent Comments