St Joe Supports Victims of Abuse

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

• Watch the Sermon
• Pastor's Notes
• RAINN resources
• Take Action

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We Must Care Well!
Psalm 9:9, Luke 4:18, Romans 13:1, James 1:27
May 1, 2022
Abuse is a headline issue
-Movie stars are in court- Johnny Depp, Amanda Heard
-Locally, adults are being convicted of abusing children
-Abuse MUST BE a headline issue for Christians!
 
Statistics see last page of notes
 
Abuse is a Gospel Issue!
Jesus suffered horrible abuse when he died on the cross
-beaten, stripped naked to humiliate him, nailed to a cross
-he suffered physically, emotionally, mentally
 
We Must Care Well!
Psalm 9:9  The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble.
-the persecuted = the oppressed, the crushed
   Ps 74:21 form of this word used to mean “beaten down”
-The Message: “God is a safe-hose for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.”
-God cares about abuse victims
-A godly person is a refuge for abuse victims
 
Luke 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
-Jesus came to
   -proclaim release to the captives
   -set free the oppressed
-A Christian releases people from the prison of abuse and sets
   them free from abusers
 
Mark 9:37  Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me.
-Following Jesus = Caring Well for Children!
James 1:27  Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world
-look after/protect/serve vulnerable people
-abusers steal human rights, dignity and freedom!
-keep oneself unstained- practice holiness, run from worldliness
 
How to care well for abuse victims
1.  Love them fully
-We must receive them, listen carefully, believe them
-Make sure they know that their well-being is more important
   than the reputation of any other person, or church Caringwell.com  excellent online video training and helps
 
2.  Secure their safety
-Protect them from the abusive person or situation
 
Practice Romans 13
-Civil authorities are trained to investigate abuse, not churches!
-Call the Indiana child abuse hotline: 800-800-5556
-If possible, help the abuse victim/family during the investigation
 
3.  Enforce Church Safety Policies
-Our church has a policy to protect minors from abuse while
   participating in ministry activities, and protect the integrity of
   ministry workers who serve them.
-Policies also help minors who were abused to feel safe
-If you see something, say something!  Don’t assume leaders
   see or know everything that is going on!
 
4.  Care well for survivors of abuse!
-connect them with trustworthy counseling agencies and groups
   -I provide a list of suggested counselors and groups in my
    sermon notes posted on our website.
-We want our church to be a safe place to build God-honoring relationships, and God-honoring lives
-again, go to caringwell.com for excellent video training
-be a godly spouse and parent
  -marriage and parenting behavior is more caught than taught
We must care well!
-Get help immediately if you are being abused
-Give help immediately if you suspect abuse
-Get help to heal after abuse
  -Connection Card
  -Online Resources
  -Prayer Team
  -Church Elders, Connection Group leaders, Trustworthy Friend
 
Note: This sermon used the sermon example from caringwell.com
​

​On average, there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States.1

Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019 (2020). Note: RAINN applies a 5-year rolling average to adjust for changes in the year-to-year NCVS survey data.
 
National Sexual Violence Resource Center statistics:

• A child on average has to tell seven adults before one actually makes a report to authorities.
• Only two to five percent of allegations are false.
• Only three percent of abusers are ever prosecuted.

 
A Lifeway study found that 1 in 10 Protestants below the age of 35 have left a church because of silence or insensitivity in responding to abuse. 

REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
800-800-5556
Every Indiana resident is legally required to report child abuse or neglect!
 
Christian Counseling Services
Crosswinds Counseling
Crosswindscounseling.org
877-594-9204
 
Cornerstone Vision Counseling
Corvision.org
260-387-6340
 
Christus Biblical Counseling
Christusbc.org
260-222-7274
 
Gregory Andrews
Therapyden.com/therapist/Gregory-andrews-fort-wayne-in
260-479-0423
 
 
Ministries helping abuse victims
Jennifer’s Harbor
Jennifersharbor.org
260-443-2103
 
Victims Assistance
fwpd.org/victim-assistance
260-427-1205
 
 
Please Note: These counseling resources are suggestions based on our most current information. St Joe Community Church is not directly affiliated with any of these services. We rely on feedback from members and attenders who use these services to determine whether to continue recommending them.

 
REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
800-800-5556
Every Indiana resident is legally required to report child abuse or neglect!
 
Christian Counseling Services
Crosswinds Counseling
Crosswindscounseling.org
877-594-9204
 
Cornerstone Vision Counseling
Corvision.org
260-387-6340
 
Christus Biblical Counseling
Christusbc.org
260-222-7274
 
Gregory Andrews
Therapyden.com/therapist/Gregory-andrews-fort-wayne-in
260-479-0423
 
 
Ministries helping abuse victims
Jennifer’s Harbor
Jennifersharbor.org
260-443-2103
 
Victims Assistance
fwpd.org/victim-assistance
260-427-1205
 
 
Please Note: These counseling resources are suggestions based on our most current information. St Joe Community Church is not directly affiliated with any of these services. We rely on feedback from members and attenders who use these services to determine whether to continue recommending them.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Visit RAINN online (English)

Visit RAINN online (Spanish)