Dear Brooke,

"Christ didn't tell the wounded to, 'Get over it!'" In fact, how many times does He tell us, "I have heard your cry..."

I somehow navigated my way out of an uber-conservative, fundamentalist, authoritarian home where abuse was the norm. I have also experienced my share of church and church-organization abuse. Wrote a whole book about it! :) Since this subject is very near and dear to my heart, I decided to grow up and be an English teacher and help kids find their voices. And since my book came out, I am finding many opportunities to help grown adults do the same. It is amazing to me to see people begin to speak and untether themselves from their painful pasts and to try to help the church remain open and embracing of those who are "victims" of any kind.

No easy task!

I facilitated a discussion last Sunday night at a church (not my own--I was a guest speaker) and shared some excerpts of my story. While they were very sweet and welcoming, I think I blew their hair back a little by asking them, basically, not to shut their ears and eyes to the pain that too many carry. I said, "You know, if the church would have spent half its time providing a true sanctuary for me as they did arming us against other religions/denominations or warning us against secular music, I might've been all right." But we were continually admonished to be obedient to the authority God has placed over us--and that was/is the culture all too often.

Anyway, great article. Thanks for posting. I'll check out your site. Mine is www.daisyrainmartin.com. 

Stay cool,
Daisy