G.R.A.C.E. is a wonderful resource for churches!

I've mentioned G.R.A.C.E. on the blog before, but they deserve another mention tonight. Led by Boz Tchividjian and a great team of professionals, G.R.A.C.E. provides all kinds of resources for churches, from prevention of child abuse training, to response assistance when something happens, to all kinds of articles and even consultations if a church wants to contact them.

Not too long ago, a church in West Virginia found themselves in a very difficult situation. Boz blogged about it here. 

"A former church youth volunteer in Bluefield, West Virginia, was recently arrested on charges of child sexual abuse.  The arrest was a culmination of the actions by an amazing church that actually took the right steps when learning that one of its members was suspected of abusing a child.  As a result, at least 12 individuals have stepped forward to report being sexually abused as a child by this individual." (read the rest here)

Please read the whole blog entry. It's encouraging and well worth the read. 

I can't help but be encouraged to read this story. It brought tears to my eyes to think of the difference the way this church handled things will make in the lives of the victims as they journey to become survivors. 

It was my great pleasure to meet Boz Tchividjian in person at a conference in which he participated in Greenville, SC in September 2013. The host of the conference, North Hills Community Church, has posted all of the conference videos and power point files online. 

Tina Anderson came to visit during September so she could attend the conference as well. I remember sitting in the conference room at one point while we were taking a break and watching Tina hug and interact with some of the attendees at the conference. I couldn't help but smile and think about the good things God has done. So many survivors have been encouraged by Tina's willingness to tell what happened to her. More people than I can count have shared how her courage has inspired them. 

As Boz likes to say, "Aslan is on the move." Even in the dark and difficult days, God's grace is apparent. 

Thank you, Boz, for your faithfulness to assist churches so they know what to do. Your experience as a prosecutor of crimes against children has to have left you with some heavy heart burdens, but your willingness to use that to help others is making a difference!! 

Posting with a thankful heart,

Laurie Moody