Hi suzannah | the smitten word

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Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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one of the biggest things the church can do is to believe people who say they are being abused--even/especially if they are being abused by a respected church member or staffer.

so many victims/survivors are disbelieved or even blamed in cases of rape and sexual abuse. and we often privileged abusers with out narratives of grace without creating safe spaces, accountability, or room to heal.

as for tangible help, locally churches participate in a "suitcases/backpacks for foster kids" project. so many kids get taken from abusive and neglectful situations with nothing but the clothes on their back--and sometimes less. this project provides practical basics and toys for kids showing someone is looking out for them. congregants can train as court appointed special advocates, too, to help kids or find out from child and family services what kind of needs they can fill.