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Hillsong’s Marty Sampson: ‘I’m Genuinely Losing My Faith’

Church and Ministry

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Hillsong’s Marty Sampson: ‘I’m Genuinely Losing My Faith’

Yet another public figure popular within Christianity has come forward to say he is “losing” his faith.

Hillsong’s Marty Sampson, who is credited with writing or co-writing some of the most popular worship songs today, wrote on Instagram that Christianity is “not for me.”

In a follow-up post, though, Sampson indicated he was studying some of the faith’s leading apologists, including John Lennox and Ravi Zacharias. He also said in response to a Christian Post column that he hasn’t “renounced” his faith but that “it’s on incredibly shaky ground.”

Sampson’s initial post came a few weeks after bestselling Christian author Joshua Harris – who wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye – announced he is no longer a Christian.

“Time for some real talk,” Sampson wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. “… I’m genuinely losing my faith … and it doesn’t bother me… like, what bothers me now is nothing… I am so happy now, so at peace with the world… It’s crazy.

“This is a soapbox moment so here I go… how many preachers fall? Many. No one talks about it. How many miracles happen. Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet send four billion people to a place, all coz they don’t believe? No one talks about it. Christians can be the most judgmental people…

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Hong Kong Protesters Wave American Flag, Sing US National Anthem – Urban Christian News

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Hong Kong Protesters Wave American Flag, Sing US National Anthem – Urban Christian News

Protesters stage a sit-in rally at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. Protesters clogged the departure area at Hong Kong’s reopened airport Tuesday, a day after they forced one of the world’s busiest transport hubs to shut down entirely amid their calls for an independent inquiry into alleged police abuse. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Hong Kong seem to be heading to a ‘Tianenmen-like’ situation with thousands of protesters thronging the streets. Chinese media had already warned of potential terrorism rising in the country and even accused the US of supporting the riots. A video posted on twitter shows pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong waving the American flag adding to the fury of the Beijing-backed government.

Protesters in Hong Kong waving the American flag and singing the American National anthem as they advocate for democracy. Wow! pic.twitter.com/CKyFstud22
— Kaya Jones (@KayaJones) August 12, 2019

The protest had initially started in angst against a bill introduced in February which allowed the city’s citizens to be extradited by the Chinese government. Despite a suspension of the bill, citizens have demanded more political and democratic reforms. Hong Kong’s autonomy from China runs out in 2045 putting the city’s future in jeopardy, should the city fall in to the communist regime.

Click here to read more.
Source: The Week

Catholic Church respond to death of teenager in Malaysia who attended church in London

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Catholic Church respond to death of teenager in Malaysia who attended church in London

15 year old Nora Quoirin attended St Bede’s Catholic Church in Clapham Park.

The priest Father Marcus Holden asked for prayers for the family last week and the church held vigils and opportunities for members to come in and pray throughout the week after she went missing on Sunday 4th August.

They will now host a public mass on Thursday at 8pm.

The Archdiocese of Southwark said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we received the news today of the discovery of the body of Nora Quoirin, who disappeared whilst on holiday with her family in Malaysia.

“Little can take away the desolation that is experienced at the loss of a loved one. However, at this most painful of times the Catholic community wishes to extend its prayerful support to Nora’s family in heartfelt love and compassion: we walk alongside them as they grieve her loss.

“Mindful of their sadness, we also pray for the comfort of those who have been involved in the search for Nora, the parishioners of St Bede’s RC Church, Clapham Park, where the family attend Mass, as well as school friends and staff.

“God is in all things and his grace is with us in all circumstances. We commend Nora to God’s tender care, asking him also to pour out peace, consolation and healing on those that mourn her this day.

“We respectfully ask that the family and friends of Nora are granted privacy at this time.”

</div><p><a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Catholic-Church-respond-to-death-of-teenager-in-Malaysia-who-attended-church-in-London" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">… Read More </a><br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /><a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Catholic-Church-respond-to-death-of-teenager-in-Malaysia-who-attended-church-in-London" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News. </a></p><p> <a style="display:none" rel="follow external noopener noreferrer" href="http://megatheme.ir/" title="قالب وردپرس" data-wpel-link="external">قالب وردپرس</a></p></div></div></div><div class="td_module_15 td_module_wrap clearfix post-5354636478346 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-church-ministry" ><div class="item-details"><h3 class="entry-title td-module-title"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" title="Evidence of Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem Unearthed… Just as the Bible Describes" data-wpel-link="internal"> Evidence of Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem Unearthed… Just as the Bible Describes </a></h3><div class="td-module-meta-info"><ul class="td-category"><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/church-ministry/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Church and Ministry</a></li></ul><div class="td-post-author-name"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/author/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><div class="td-author-line"> -</div></div><span class="td-post-date"> <time class="entry-date updated td-module-date" datetime="2019-08-13T18:54:28+00:00" ></time> </span><div class="td-post-comments"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes/#respond" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <i class="td-icon-comments"></i> <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="5354636478346 https://thechristianmail.com/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes/">0</span> </a></div></div><div class="td-module-thumb"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" class="td-image-wrap" title="Evidence of Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem Unearthed… Just as the Bible Describes" data-wpel-link="internal"> <img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI3NjgiIGhlaWdodD0iNDAxIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzY4IDQwMSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" width="768" height="401" class="entry-thumb" data-src="https://thechristianmail.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes-768x401.jpg" alt="Evidence of Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem Unearthed… Just as the Bible Describes" title="Evidence of Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem Unearthed… Just as the Bible Describes" /> </a></div><div class="td-post-text-content td-post-content tagdiv-type"><div><div class="top-bar-container hidden-bar row-fluid"><div class="inner-bar"><div class="logo-container"> <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer"></p><div class="logo"></div><p><br /> </a></div><h2 class="normal-case second-title">Evidence of Babylonian Conquest of Jerusalem Unearthed… Just as the Bible Describes</h2></p></div></div><hr class="article-topics-hr"/><p><br /> The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem more than 2,500 years ago was one of the key moments in biblical history, representing God’s judgment but also his grace and mercy. </p><p><br /> Now, archaeologists digging in modern-day Jerusalem say they have uncovered “clear” archaeological evidence affirming the account as described in <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?t=niv&q=2ki+25" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">2 Kings 25</a>.</p><p><br /> Researchers from the <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uonc-eot080819.php" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">University of North Carolina at Charlotte uncovered</a> Babylonian-style arrowheads and layers of ash alongside lamps, potsherds and gold and silver jewelry they believe is either a tassel or earring. </p><p><br /> The discovery is “clear evidence of the Babylonian conquest of the city” dating to 587/586 BC, according to a UNC Charlotte press release. Significantly, the pottery and lamps were found side-by-side with evidence of the Babylonian siege “represented by burnt wood and ashes,” the press release said. </p><p><br /> The items were unearthed at the geographical location the siege would have occurred. </p><p><br /> “For archaeologists, an ashen layer can mean a number of different things,” said UNC Charlotte professor of history Shimon Gibson. “It could be ashy deposits removed from ovens; or it could be localized burning of garbage. However, in this case, the combination of an ashy layer full of artifacts, mixed with arrowheads, and a very special ornament indicates some kind of devastation and destruction. Nobody…</p></div><p><a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes.html" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">… Read More </a><br /> <br /><a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/evidence-of-babylonian-conquest-of-jerusalem-unearthed-just-as-the-bible-describes.html" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines. </a></p><p> <a style="display:none" rel="follow external noopener noreferrer" href="http://megatheme.ir/" title="قالب وردپرس" data-wpel-link="external">قالب وردپرس</a></p></div></div></div><div class="td_module_15 td_module_wrap clearfix post-5354636478343 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-church-ministry category-europe" ><div class="item-details"><h3 class="entry-title td-module-title"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/marriage-registry-changes-could-lead-to-disestablishment-of-church-and-state-fears-general-synod-member/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" title="Marriage registry changes could lead to disestablishment of church and state, fears general synod member" data-wpel-link="internal"> Marriage registry changes could lead to disestablishment of church and state, fears general synod member </a></h3><div class="td-module-meta-info"><ul class="td-category"><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/church-ministry/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Church and Ministry</a></li><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/europe/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Europe</a></li></ul><div class="td-post-author-name"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/author/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><div class="td-author-line"> -</div></div><span class="td-post-date"> <time class="entry-date updated td-module-date" datetime="2019-08-13T17:58:23+00:00" ></time> </span><div class="td-post-comments"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/marriage-registry-changes-could-lead-to-disestablishment-of-church-and-state-fears-general-synod-member/#respond" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <i class="td-icon-comments"></i> <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="5354636478343 https://thechristianmail.com/marriage-registry-changes-could-lead-to-disestablishment-of-church-and-state-fears-general-synod-member/">0</span> </a></div></div><div class="td-module-thumb"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/marriage-registry-changes-could-lead-to-disestablishment-of-church-and-state-fears-general-synod-member/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" class="td-image-wrap" title="Marriage registry changes could lead to disestablishment of church and state, fears general synod member" data-wpel-link="internal"> <img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI2MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjcwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNjAwIDI3MCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" width="600" height="270" class="entry-thumb" data-src="https://thechristianmail.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/72-of-millennials-plan-to-get-married.jpg" alt="Marriage registry changes could lead to disestablishment of church and state, fears general synod member" title="Marriage registry changes could lead to disestablishment of church and state, fears general synod member" /> </a></div><div class="td-post-text-content td-post-content tagdiv-type"><p></p><div><p>New plans, set to come into force as soon as possible, for Church of England weddings could mean couples would not immediately get a wedding certificate at their service but would sign a wedding ‘document’, which they would then have to get converted into a certificate at a registry office.</p><p>The document for the ceremony would have to be prepared by the vicar and the responsibility would be on the couple to take it, or assign someone else to take it, to a registrar within seven days of the wedding. </p><p>The aim is to make the system more efficient and eventually make it more computer-based, but it has been criticised for being snuck-in without the consultation of clergy, worrying many church leaders that they would have to start preparing such documents this year despite having no training so far.</p><p> </p><div><div class="content-view-embed class-image "><div class="attribute-image"> <a href="https://www.premier.org.uk/Get-News/Your-Daily-News-Email?utm_source=Display&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=Inline_banner" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer"><br /> </a></div></p></div></div><p> </p><p>Rev Canon Jonathan Ford, vicar and member of the Church of England’s assembly General Synod, told Premier: “Nobody knows anything about it…I mean, I’ve got weddings this year, people are beginning to ask me have I got to do this now? And there’s no information for the Church. So, we just don’t know when it’s going to come and what we’ve got to do because all 20,000 of us have not been trained or informed or asked so it’s a complete fog and the fact that it’s been announced is causing anxiety, I’m pretty certain, to all the people who’ve got marriages booked for this…</p></div><p><a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Marriage-registry-changes-could-lead-to-disestablishment-of-church-and-state-fears-general-synod-member" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">… Read More </a><br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /><a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/News/UK/Marriage-registry-changes-could-lead-to-disestablishment-of-church-and-state-fears-general-synod-member" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News. </a></p><p> <a style="display:none" rel="follow external noopener noreferrer" href="http://megatheme.ir/" title="قالب وردپرس" data-wpel-link="external">قالب وردپرس</a></p></div></div></div><div class="td_module_15 td_module_wrap clearfix post-5354636478340 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-church-ministry" ><div class="item-details"><h3 class="entry-title td-module-title"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" title="Federal Judge Rules that Transgender Students Can Chose Which Bathroom They Want to Use" data-wpel-link="internal"> Federal Judge Rules that Transgender Students Can Chose Which Bathroom They Want to Use </a></h3><div class="td-module-meta-info"><ul class="td-category"><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/church-ministry/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Church and Ministry</a></li></ul><div class="td-post-author-name"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/author/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><div class="td-author-line"> -</div></div><span class="td-post-date"> <time class="entry-date updated td-module-date" datetime="2019-08-13T17:53:20+00:00" ></time> </span><div class="td-post-comments"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use/#respond" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <i class="td-icon-comments"></i> <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="5354636478340 https://thechristianmail.com/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use/">0</span> </a></div></div><div class="td-module-thumb"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" class="td-image-wrap" title="Federal Judge Rules that Transgender Students Can Chose Which Bathroom They Want to Use" data-wpel-link="internal"> <img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI3NjgiIGhlaWdodD0iNDAxIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzY4IDQwMSI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" width="768" height="401" class="entry-thumb" data-src="https://thechristianmail.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use-768x401.jpg" alt="Federal Judge Rules that Transgender Students Can Chose Which Bathroom They Want to Use" title="Federal Judge Rules that Transgender Students Can Chose Which Bathroom They Want to Use" /> </a></div><div class="td-post-text-content td-post-content tagdiv-type"><div><div class="top-bar-container hidden-bar row-fluid"><div class="inner-bar"><div class="logo-container"> <a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer"></p><div class="logo"></div><p><br /> </a></div><h2 class="normal-case second-title">Federal Judge Rules that Transgender Students Can Chose Which Bathroom They Want to Use</h2></p></div></div><hr class="article-topics-hr"/><p><br /> A Virginia school district’s policy that bars transgender students from using the bathroom they choose <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/federal-judge-sides-with-transgender-student-in-va-bathroom-case.html" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">violates the Constitution</a>, a federal judge ruled last week.</p><p><br /> According to The Christian Post, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that Gloucester County’s School Board policy that prohibited Gavin Grimm, a transgender student, from using the boys’ bathroom violated the 14<sup>th</sup>Amendment, which grants equal protection of laws, and also violated Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which says no person can be discriminated against on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities.</p><p><br /> Judge Arenda Wright Allen also ordered that the school district change Grimm’s transcripts to Grimm’s new identity as male and that the district also pay the student’s attorney fees.</p><p><br /> “[T]he perpetuation of harm to a child stemming from unconstitutional conduct cannot be allowed to stand,” the judge <a href="https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/grimm-v-gloucester-county-school-board-order-granting-summary-judgement" target="_blank" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">wrote</a>.</p><p><br /> Wright Allen said that there is “no question” that the school board’s policy “discriminates against transgender students on the basis of their gender nonconformity.</p><p><br /> “Under the policy, all students except for transgender students may use restrooms corresponding with their gender identity,” the judge stated in her order. “Transgender students are singled out, subjected to discriminatory treatment and excluded from…</p></div><p><a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use.html" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">… Read More </a><br /> <br /><a href="https://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/federal-judge-rules-that-transgender-students-can-chose-which-bathroom-they-want-to-use.html" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines. </a></p><p> <a style="display:none" rel="follow external noopener noreferrer" href="http://megatheme.ir/" title="قالب وردپرس" data-wpel-link="external">قالب وردپرس</a></p></div></div></div><div class="td_module_15 td_module_wrap clearfix post-5354636478337 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-church-ministry category-opinion category-sermons" ><div class="item-details"><h3 class="entry-title td-module-title"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/how-can-the-church-respond-redemptively-to-the-sexual-abuse-crisis/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" title="How can the church respond redemptively to the sexual abuse crisis?" data-wpel-link="internal"> How can the church respond redemptively to the sexual abuse crisis? </a></h3><div class="td-module-meta-info"><ul class="td-category"><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/church-ministry/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Church and Ministry</a></li><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/opinion/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Opinion</a></li><li class="entry-category"><a href="https://thechristianmail.com/category/sermons/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sermons</a></li></ul><div class="td-post-author-name"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/author/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a><div class="td-author-line"> -</div></div><span class="td-post-date"> <time class="entry-date updated td-module-date" datetime="2019-08-13T17:49:19+00:00" ></time> </span><div class="td-post-comments"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/how-can-the-church-respond-redemptively-to-the-sexual-abuse-crisis/#respond" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <i class="td-icon-comments"></i> <span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="5354636478337 https://thechristianmail.com/how-can-the-church-respond-redemptively-to-the-sexual-abuse-crisis/">0</span> </a></div></div><div class="td-module-thumb"> <a href="https://thechristianmail.com/how-can-the-church-respond-redemptively-to-the-sexual-abuse-crisis/" rel="bookmark noopener noreferrer" class="td-image-wrap" title="How can the church respond redemptively to the sexual abuse crisis?" data-wpel-link="internal"> <img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI3NjgiIGhlaWdodD0iMjgwIiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNzY4IDI4MCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgc3R5bGU9ImZpbGw6I2NmZDRkYjtmaWxsLW9wYWNpdHk6IDAuMTsiLz48L3N2Zz4=" width="768" height="280" class="entry-thumb" data-src="https://thechristianmail.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/how-can-the-church-respond-redemptively-to-the-sexual-abuse-crisis-768x280.jpg" alt="How can the church respond redemptively to the sexual abuse crisis?" title="How can the church respond redemptively to the sexual abuse crisis?" /> </a></div><div class="td-post-text-content td-post-content tagdiv-type"><p></p><div itemprop="text"><figure class="wp-block-image entry-image"></figure><p>In <em><a rel="noreferrer noopener external" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Too-Church-Respond-Redemptively/dp/0736979182" target="_blank" data-wpel-link="external">We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis</a></em>, prolific author <a rel="noreferrer noopener external" aria-label="Mary DeMuth (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.marydemuth.com" target="_blank" data-wpel-link="external">Mary DeMuth</a> uses Scripture, research, and sexual abuse survivors’ stories—including her own—to call the church into action against the evils of sexual abuse.</p><p>Dr. Jim Denison interviewed DeMuth via email. This is their exchange:</p><p><strong>Jim Denison: Mary, your story of being sexually abused at the age of five is heartbreaking. When you came to Christ as a teenager, how did the church help you deal with your pain? What could it have done better?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Mary DeMuth:</strong> At that point, my connection with church was brand new, so I didn’t initially disclose to my church, as I didn’t know them well. But I did share with my Young Life leaders, and they were amazing. They listened, prayed, and dignified my story. They didn’t shrink away from it. </p><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Too-Church-Respond-Redemptively/dp/0736979182" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener external" data-wpel-link="external"><img data-lazyloaded="1" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAMPDwwAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.denisonforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/We-Too-by-Mary-DeMuth.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-23135" /></a></figure></div><p>I moved away from my first church, and then when I found my second church, there was a barrier in me sharing because my youth pastor was a man, and I didn’t feel comfortable sharing my story with him. If there had been a woman in leadership in that church, I most likely would have talked about it with her.</p><p><strong>JD: If you could offer wisdom to pastors and other church leaders reading this article, what would you say to them?</strong></p><p><strong>MD: </strong>Err on the side of listening, without first formulating a contingency plan in your head. Let the story unfold, offer empathy, and pray. </p><p>If this abuse has happened in the church by a member or volunteer, report the violation to the proper authorities as a mandatory reporter. </p><p>Obviously, fire or let go of anyone who has sexually abused someone else. </p><p>Be honest about what occurred (if it happened related to the church), and if the situation calls for it, have an independent investigation to determine what happened and what you can learn going forward. </p><p>Offer to help survivors. </p><p>Have elders and leaders reassess child protection policies and how you will deal with any…</p></div><p><a href="https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/contributor-article/how-can-the-church-respond-redemptively-to-the-sexual-abuse-crisis/" data-wpel-link="external" rel="external noopener noreferrer">… Read More </a><br /> <br /> —<br /> <br /><a 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