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Christian Strategies for Abuse Survivors
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Various forms of extreme, nonconsensual and/or traumatic abuse are discussed at the the various websites listed below. Several other websites listed deal with healing and recovery issues for abuse survivors. Hopefully, you'll find some of this material to be appropriate in your own situation, wherever you may live.
My main purpose for this page, however, is to show abuse survivors that their main ally and source of healing is Christ and that their most effective defense is the Word of God, also known as 'the sword of the Spirit.' Please know that He cares about every aspect of your life and that He promises to be with you every step of the way.
Human Experiment Survivors
A Nation Betrayed
Sidran Institute
Survivorship
Documented Proofs
Healing From Sexual Abuse
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
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Dedicated to all persecuted and victimized/traumatized individuals, worldwide:
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Out of Solitary
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Alone
I crawl forward
Too slowly
Fellow soldier
We struggle into
Tomorrow
Together
An audience
Of survivors
We gain strength
And begin to walk
Drawing out the wounded
Those left for dead
The crippled find legs
And wings to fly
Upon our shoulders
A cloud of witnesses
Beckoning us all
To make the grade
To rise above
As we run
Into His arms
Home at last
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- Donald W Pendergast Jr., March 2007
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CHRISTIAN STRATEGIES for ABUSE SURVIVORS
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* First things first; ask Jesus to save you from your sins, invite Him into your heart and begin to learn more about the incredible gift of eternal life that he has just given you. If you're afraid that He will reject you because your past is just too sinful, remember this - His offer of forgiveness depends only on your willingness to confess (and then turn from) your sins and His free offer of forgiveness and grace. What's stopping you from getting your heart renewed with Him right now? Don't wait. (Isaiah 1:18)
Listed below is a link to a website that will explain the wonderful truth of the Gospel to you and your loved ones. Don't miss this:
The Gospel in Six Minutes
* Tell another Christian that you have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, join with other Christians at a church that proclaims Jesus as Lord and then begin to study His message to you, the Bible. Start with the Gospel of John and then read through the entire New Testament. Learn to be a 'doer' of the word and not just a 'hearer' of it. Finally, commit all of your harassment, torture and abuse issues to the Lord - He is more than willing to carry the burdens for You and to fill your heart and mind with His peace. Jesus will never fail you nor forsake you, no matter what happens. No wonder the Gospel is also called the 'Good News!' (John 3:16, James 1:22 and Isaiah 1:18)
* Know how much God really loves you, even if the abuse you've endured has left you feeling unlovable, unworthy or fearful. Listen to the word of God and take comfort in the following scriptures:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
- Jeremiah 29:11-13
"For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord ......"
- Jeremiah 30:17
Seek Him and He will answer you, for He truly cares for those who are hurting, lonely and abused. He will be a stronghold for you as you move forward again with your life - with Him leading you safely on toward healing and restoration.
* Strive to live a normal life even in the midst of an abnormal situation. Be aware of threats and intimidation tactics, but keep on doing whatever you want or need to do. Abusers, bullies and perps run from the light because they are driven by fear. Live in the light of truth and God's protection, forcing abusers to risk exposure if they attempt to attack you openly. Don't let anyone terrorize you into silence and isolation. Consider sharing important details of your abuse with 'trusted' individuals, therapists or organizations as a safety precaution.
* Refuse to base your self-identity solely on the fact that you've been horrendously tortured, abused or experimented on. Victimized individuals can choose to see themselves as survivors, victors, overcomers or whatever other kind of life-affirming badge of honor they choose to bestow upon themselves. Victimized people can still choose to pursue other worthwhile pursuits in life apart from seeking resolution of their own personal abuse/trauma issues. This is much easier to do if you have friends and if Christ is leading and guiding you. There is always a way - always, in Him.
* Know that God cares about whatever abuse you have endured and that he will intervene in due time. While we do not always know why He allows such abuses to occur, we do know that he is touched with the feelings of our infirmities and that His heart is full of compassion for those who suffer. (Psalm 40:1-3, Job 42:10-17, Hebrews 4:15-16)
* Devote adequate time toward developing and fulfilling your God-given talents and gifts. Care for your health with proper nutrition, rest and exercise, as you are able to. (Luke 19:12-26)
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The book found at the link below may help provide more insight (from a biblical standpoint) as to why the world is becoming more unstable and ungodly:
The Vision and Beyond (Prophecies Fulfilled and Still to Come)
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* Refuse to live in fear, and resist the urge to isolate yourself or withdraw from life. Prayerfully consider how to re-engage with life by way of support groups, qualified (safe) counseling and educational resources. (1 John 4:17-21)
* Learn, with God's help, to forgive all abusers, past and present, no matter how badly you've been harmed or victimized. Bitterness and anger will destroy your life, so don't go that route; choose to walk in love and forgiveness instead - this will allow God's healing power to renew your entire life. Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. It's not easy, (at first, it may appear impossible) but blessing your tormentors will allow you to remain at peace. Don't give in to hate and anger; bless them, forgive them and give them to God. Remember that those who have abused you may very well have endured plenty of abuse of their own, and they also are in need healing, forgiveness and compassion for their own lives. Forgive them and pray for them every day, asking God to set them free from their sin and pain.
Forgiveness is the single most important concept discussed on this page, and it should be put into practice at every opportunity. You will be amazed at the freedom, peace and joy that you will experience as you learn to forgive others! Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:27-36, Romans 12:14 and Galatians 5:6)
* Know that if you are a Christian, that you will, without a doubt, at some point, come into direct conflict with the sinful world system that we live in, and that you will be persecuted as you make godly choices. Doing the Father's will caused Jesus to be nailed to a criminal's cross. Are you willing to suffer with Him, no matter how high the price is? Even if your friends and family abandon you? Even if your livelihood is destroyed along with your reputation? Count the cost. And then decide that He is worth it all. (Mark 6)
* Realize that we may be living in the 'end-times' that Christ warned us about, and don't become anxious about it. The 'psycho-civilized' and/or 'technotronic' society that Satan and his human agents are developing may be the forerunner of what the Bible describes as a one-world system of tyranny, persecution, enslavement and war. (see Revelation, especially chapters 13, 18 and 19) Make sure that Christ alone is your source of life, trusting Him to lead and guide you, no matter what the future may hold.
Prophetic visions of catastrophic war in the Middle East, the rise of the False Prophet and the Antichrist and global economic devastation may be fulfilled within the timespan of this generation, and the Lord is warning all with ears to hear to turn to Him now before His final, cataclysmic judgments begin to fall on the earth. Only the Father knows exactly when Jesus will return for His church, but Jesus did say we could know the general 'season' of His likely return. (See also Joel 2:28-32, Amos 3:7, Mark 6:32-44, Mark 8:1-9, Luke 21 and Revelation 13-19).
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The Vision and Beyond (Prophecies Fulfilled and Still to Come)
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* Use your time wisely, and in addition to using spiritual warfare strategies, help spread the Gospel using any means available. Encourage others and offer assistance to individuals who may be going through especially traumatic kinds of torture or other abuse.
* Eliminate unproductive relationships or commitments that add nothing to the quality of your life. Focus on the key goals that you wish to achieve and delete anything else that seems to be holding you back. Reduce financial commitments and eliminate all debts if possible.
* Live consciously. Ask your self why you are doing what you are doing - while you're doing it! You may find that much of your life is lived on 'autopilot', where you simply go through the same old routines over and over without ever stopping to ask yourself 'why'. You may be able to discard a lot of unproductive, time-wasting activities by employing this kind of conscious awareness.
* Take fellowship where you can with other Christians. Remember, Jesus is present whenever two or three of His people gather together in His name, and wherever He is, His power is sure to be manifested. Network with other abuse survivors, creating alliances whenever it's safe and mutually beneficial to do so. Use discretion when sharing your story with anyone, even fellow believers. Matthew 28:20)
* Pray without ceasing, trusting the Lord with all your heart, thanking Him in advance for His healing, comfort and deliverance. Eventually, all abusers are made to stop, and that by God's direct intervention. Pray for abusers that they will receive His grace and mercy today.(Psalm 107:20)
Finally, lest you leave this page thinking that ordering one's life in accord with biblical principles involves living like an Old Testament prophet or in being so heavenly minded that you become no earthly good, realize that Christ deals with real people, ordinary people who are 'in the world' without being 'of it.' He wants to live His life through you, in your everyday life, reaching as many of your friends, neighbors, co-workers and persecutors/abusers with the gospel as possible. Christianity is a 'real-world' relationship with a very real Lord, Savior, Healer and Provider who is still transforming the world, one life at a time.
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DISCLAIMER:
Thanks for reading this material - put it to good use, for the purpose of healing and understanding, as God leads you. You alone are responsible should you decide to act upon any of the above information. None of the above is intended to be specific advice for any particular individual.
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Copyright © 2008 Donald W. Pendergast Jr.. All Rights Reserved