has anointed me; he has sent me to
bring good news to the oppressed, to
bind up the broken-hearted, to pro-
claim liberty to the captives, and re-
lease to the prisoners.”
God has recruited me to do the
same, prompting me to share my story
in the form of a book. It is a memoir
sharing how my endured afflictions
are being used for God’s purposes. I
pray it helps other survivors reach the
same understanding.
As an immediate answer to prayer
for the book, a female friend confided
in me and my wife about the molesta-
tion she endured at the tender age of
eight. She had never told anyone until
she engaged with us on the subject
matter of the book. She said it was
my transparency and boldness that
gave her the courage to finally speak
out. Her personal suggestion for the
church in helping victims is to have
former abuse survivors that have al-
ready overcome such tragedy come
alongside those who are still suffering
in silence to help free them like she
was. What an amazing idea.
April is Sexual Abuse Awareness
Month. However, please keep in mind
that the suffering of sexual abuse survi-
vors does not limit itself to a month on
the calendar. So, what are we going
to do about this? Let’s be bold—to-
gether—as the body of Christ. There
is no better opportunity to provide a
safe-haven for the wounded than in
the church – a place of refuge rein-
forced by fellowship, faith, focus and
forgiveness, the components essential
for their freedom.
Thomas Gregory Stewart is a survivor of sexual
abuse and tells his story in The Broken Scout: A
Story of Abuse and Redemption (April 4, 2017,
Redemption Press).
RECOMMENDED LINKS
Book: www.thebrokenscout.com
Facts: www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-
about-child-abuse
Buy the Book!
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