Baaad Sheep: When God's People Let You Down

From Baaad Sheep...
"As a teenager, I was molested by a trusted family friend in our church. Over the years, I suffered from the gossip mill that routinely operates among congregations of all shapes and sizes. I've sought help and counsel from pastors and left wondering why I'd bothered. I know what it's like to have someone at church say, 'I'll be there for you' and then disappear. I know what it's like to have Christian friends forsake me based on rumor or assumption - or even based on accurate information...to walk into church and not feel safe so that no one is able to catch me alone and inflict more pain. I know what it's like to watch people be publicly affirmed as pillars of the congregation who have knowingly hurt me and my loved ones. It was at just such a point during a Sunday morning service, that my husband turned to me and said, simply, 'I think we need to be somewhere else'. Unfortunately, 'somewhere else' can easily become nowhere at all...
"If you fall into the category of 'formerly churched', my prayer is that this study will encourage you to make the effort to step back into the fray. Strictly speaking, church attendance is an obedience issue, not to be treated lightly (see Hebrews 10:25), but more than that, it's a 'God thing'. Church isn't full of perfect people, but it is full of people God wants us to learn to love. With all the potential for hurt in the church, you've got to admit it does make the perfect classroom!"