Sexual abuse ravages the soul, causing unimaginable distress and damage. The Evangelical community has once again been jolted into this awareness by the just released article Abuse of Faith: 20 Years, 700 Victims: Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Spreads as Leaders Resist Reforms, by Robert Downen, Lise Olsen, and John Tedesco with Multimedia by Jon Shapley of the Houston Chronicle (Part 1 of 3).

Many are writing to discuss how to respond at the denominational level. I write today focusing on resources that can help us to respond as families, churches, friends, and counselors to prevent abuse in the church and to care and counsel for victims of sexual abuse.

I’ve collated these resources from my longer document: The Annual Guide to Biblical Counseling Resources. Thus, they focus on resources developed by those in the biblical counseling community and recommended by biblical counselors. There are, no doubt, many additional resources. In the Join the Conversation section at the end of this blog, I invite you to share via the comment sections additional resources that you would recommend.

Sexual Abuse Prevention 

On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church, by Deepak Reju 

In On Guard, Deepak Reju examines why child predators target churches. He offers eleven straightforward strategies to protect children from abuse and to help young victims recover if it does happen. While On Guard does provide practical help for building a child protection policy, it provides much more. Full of pastoral wisdom, On Guard recognizes that the church’s response to abuse must be more comprehensively in line with her calling than a simple legal policy or clinical analysis. On Guard moves church staff and leaders beyond fearful awareness to prayerful preparedness with an actionable plan.

God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies, by Justin Holcomb and Lindsey Holcomb 

It’s easy to convey the message to children that their bodies or particular parts of their bodies are shameful. This misconception fuels confusion, embarrassment, and secrecy, and often prevents children from recognizing or reporting sexual abuse. God Made All of Me is a simply-told, beautifully-illustrated story to help families talk about these sensitive issues with two-to-eight-year-old children. Because the private parts of our bodies are private, the home is the ideal environment where a child should learn about his or her body and how it should be treated by others.

Protecting Children from Abuse in the Church: Steps to Prevent and Respond, by Basyle Tchividjian 

How do we protect the children in our Christian community from sexual offenders? From his years of experience as a child abuse prosecutor, Boz Tchividjian unpacks the dynamics of a church environment that allows perpetrators to thrive and offers constructive help for educating and training your church to recognize and deal with potential abuse. Using biblical principles and the example of Jesus, he shows you how to cultivate an attitude and environment in your church that provides safety and protection for these young ones.

Sexual Abuse Healing and Hope in Christ

Sexual Abuse: Beauty for Ashes, by Bob Kellemen 

Sexual abuse ravages the soul, causing unimaginable distress and damage. It is faced honestly and openly in the Bible—but can the church truly help those who have been sexually abused? Bob Kellemen says, “Yes, it can;” and using the biblical story of Amnon and Tamar, he compassionately portrays the damage done by sexual abuse and the relevancy of God’s Word for this difficult topic. He then takes us on a journey toward healing—helping sufferers to reclaim beauty from the ashes of abuse.

Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault, by Justin Holcomb and Lindsey Holcomb 

The statistics are jarring. One-in-four women and one-in-six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. But as sobering as the statistics are, they don’t begin to speak to the darkness and grief experienced by these victims. Because sexual assault causes physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain, victims need clear help, hope, and healing. In Rid of My Disgrace, a couple experienced in counseling victims of sexual assault explains how the grace of God can heal the broken and restore the disgraced. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb outline an approach for moving from destruction to redemption. While avoiding platitudes and shallow theology, Rid of My Disgrace combines biblical and theological depth with up-to-date research. This book is primarily written for those who have been assaulted (either as children or adults), but also equips family, friends, pastors, and others to care for victims in ways that are compassionate, practical, and informed.

In the Aftermath: Past the Pain of Childhood Sexual Abuse, by Pam Gannon and Bev Moore 

Studies show that thousands of children are sexually abused in the US every year; most by someone they know and trust. Being abused by a known, trusted older person adds to a child’s devastation of the pain and terror they experience. Adult victims of CSA have tried looking for answers within themselves or other people’s theories, but have not found the hope and help they are seeking. That is because the only true and lasting hope, joy, and peace are not found within us, but in God who created us. This book will point you directly to God’s Word where you will find His comfort and peace.

Treasure in the Ashes: Our Journey Home from the Ruins of Sexual Abuse, by Sue Nicewander and Maria Brookins, Shepherd Press

Treasure in the Ashes is an interactive workbook that gently leads readers on a biblical journey through the grueling questions and doubt, emotional turmoil, and relational fallout that follow sexual abuse. The authors encourage honest and thorough Christ-centered discipleship through the aftermath of sexual abuse. They address hard questions and painful issues that are feared and often denied by the Christian community.

Recovering from Child Abuse: Healing and Hope for Victims, by David Powlison

The damage you suffered may have been done in one terrible moment or over time. But the healing and the restoration will unfold at your pace. It unfolds as part of your story, and it unfolds over time. As a vulnerable child, instead of being protected, helped, and comforted, you were physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abused. Learn from David Powlison how to express your experience to God by composing your own personal lament. Pouring out your heart to God will begin the healing process and lead to steps of faith and restoration.

Sexual Assault: Healing Steps for Victims, by David Powlison 

Sexual assault is an invasive event of traumatic evil. You were victimized, and now you are suffering. Whenever sexual abuse occurs, love is not part of the equation. Rather, the perpetrator uses power, domination, and control to injure innocent victims. David Powlison gently leads those who have been wounded sexually to a deeper relationship with God—beyond the pain—with biblical action steps. By embracing their identity in Jesus, sufferers will not only understand the emotional and spiritual battles they face as sexual assault victims, they will be equipped to effectively overcome any fear, worry, anger, and shame and to offer hope to others in similar situation.

Help! Someone I Love Has Been Abused, by Jim Newheiser 

Abuse is a growing problem, and those who have been abused need help. This mini-book equips the reader to offer compassionate biblical counsel to a victim of abuse. As well as providing practical instruction on how to help the victim gain safety and deal with the abuser in a biblical way, it points to the victory possible in Jesus Christ, who was abused for His people and who has compassion on all hurting people.

Abuse: Finding Hope in Christ, by John Henderson 

None of us can escape the brokenness of our world. The reality of physical and sexual abuse in our world is a blatant and painful proof of this brokenness. What does the gospel have to say when we are victims of evil? How do we minister to those who have suffered under abuse? John Henderson provides Psalm 22 as a framework for responding to these questions and understanding how God comforts the afflicted through His Word, bringing it to bear in the life of a couple deeply affected by childhood sexual abuse. Their example shows the beauty and light of the gospel, and how it brings hope and perspective in the darkest of our circumstances.

Join the Conversation 

What additional resources would you recommend for the prevention of sexual abuse and for sexual abuse healing and hope in Christ?