ABUSE IN THE CHURCH & CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS
The link will take you to an interview with Boz Tchividjian who heads the investigative organization, G.R.A.C.E.. GRACE deals with abuse within churches and Christian organizations. Interestingly GRACE was just weeks away from submitting their final report on the pedophile missionary Donn Ketcham when the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) dismissed G.R.A.C.E. Was ABWE frightened of what the report might reveal? Sadly, we will probably never know what G.R.A.C.E. discovered in their investigation.
Boz says in this interview that “In 1994, I became a prosecutor in central Florida, and eventually became the chief of the sexual crimes division. During that time, God opened my eyes to the physical, emotional and spiritual harm resulting from child sexual abuse. After leaving the prosecutor’s office in 2001, I was burdened to apply what I had learned on the front lines as a child sexual abuse prosecutor in helping to train and equip the faith community to address the many issues associated with abuse. In response to this burden, I formed GRACE in 2004.”
Boz continues “It was not until I became a prosecutor that I saw for the very first time the utter devastation that is caused by the horrors of sexual abuse. I will never forget sitting across my desk from weeping parents who had only recently learned that their 9 year old daughter had been sexually victimized by one of their best friends. I will also never forget meeting that beautiful 9 year old little girl. A girl whose life had just begun, but who never had the opportunity to enjoy childhood because of the evils perpetrated upon her. Though the abuse had forever changed the life of this precious child, I came to realize that the abuse had not destroyed her soul and that underneath it all she was still a 9 year old who had childhood interests, aspirations for what she wanted to do when she “grew up”, and even dreamed of going to Disney World. It was during those moments when I realized that God had given me an incredible privilege to be placed in such a position for the purpose of expending myself to those who were struggling through these very dark and painful valleys of life.”
This interview is a must to read. Sexual, mental and physical abuse is happening right now within many churches and Christian organizations. If you do not believe this do a little search on the internet and you will soon read not only of the abuse but the all too often cover-up that occurs to either protect the offender, the organization or both!
One could almost (and I stress almost) understand the cover-up when it is in the world but churches and mission organizations?! Whatyareckon?
whatyareckon 