The Speaking Out on Sex Abuse Podcast
Listen to “The Speaking Out on Sex Abuse Podcast” on Spreaker.
The Speaking Out on Sex Abuse Podcast
Listen to “The Speaking Out on Sex Abuse Podcast” on Spreaker.
When my sister disclosed to me that our father, a former well-respected minister, had sexually abused her as a child, I made the difficult decision to report. I went into ministry because of the example of my father. He was loved, trusted, and adored by all of us. But he held a very dark secret. He had been sexually abusing young victims for decades. We had no idea. He is now serving a life sentence in prison for sex crimes against children, and this book describes the journey from childhood to the moment I discovered the abuse and reported.
My life is now dedicated to researching deception and abuse techniques so I can equip people to see what we all missed. We can intervene and stop abuse before it happens. The Devil Inside will walk you along my journey of discovery, questioning God, and advocacy.
Last night my eight year old son brought up my father whom he’s never met. In July of 2011, after my youngest sister Alex disclosed that she was sexually abused as a child by our dad, Mom and I reported him to the police. Not a day has passed that I don’t think about that …
In the past couple of days I’ve received four messages from people crying out because they warned church leaders of their abuser, only to be told that they are being over-reactive and “judgy.” These were not petty allegations either. There was plenty of evidence given to those leaders, including news articles, sex offender registry links, …
Last fall, Houston Chronicle came out with a damning six part investigative series on abuse cover-ups in the Southern Baptist church. Over 700 victims were discovered as a result. Additionally, over 35 Southern Baptist ministers and volunteers were accused of abuse but were still permitted to keep working, and more than 100 Southern Baptist youth …
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Why virtual consulting?
In today’s busy world, technology allows us to stay connected while cutting traveling costs out altogether. With the uptick in COVID cases, travel has been exceptionally difficult, leaving churches with few options for in-person help. Online consulting works well because it allows us to still have an intimate, face-to-face meeting without spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars in travel expenses. Online consultation cuts costs significantly without compromising the quality of care. They can be scheduled immediately and scheduling is very easy and painless.
Another benefit to online consultation is that we can connect anywhere around the world! Churches typically consult when there is a current or past allegation of abuse, there are questions about reporting, how to best keep the congregation informed and protected, and they are not sure how to best approach the abuser and victims.
Because I am in full time ministry, reported my father as a mandated reporter, and walked a church through the aftermath of his abuse, I understand the intricacies and dynamics of church leadership and how to navigate a church through the aftermath of making a report. Churches cannot afford to handle allegations of abuse poorly. If there is a hint of uncertainty, it is best to consult and come up with a clear plan of action that will be accepted by the church. Communication with the church is vital.
What’s Included:
“Thanks for your time and expertise! It really helps to have a plan in place. We were grasping at straws before our meeting and now we’re confident we know how to handle this with grace and concern.”