How to Care for Victims of Abuse

“When you are violated, you feel alone. It took me years to tell more than five people.” — Trillia Newbell

How can the church become a place for those who are victims of sexual abuse? How can we give victims the courage to voice their stories?

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In this roundtable discussion, Scotty Smith, Trillia Newbell, and Justin Holcomb talk about their experience of sexual abuse and discuss the message that the church needs to proclaim to those struggling with shame after abuse.

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Scotty Smith is the founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee. You can follow him on Twitter.

Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and children’s books Creative God, Colorful Us and God’s Very Good Idea. She encourages and supports other writers as the acquisitions director at Moody Publishers. Trillia is married to Thern, and they reside with their two children near Nashville. You can find her at her website and follow her on Instagram.

Justin Holcomb is an Episcopal priest and a theology professor at Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is author with his wife, Lindsey, of God Made All of Me, Is It My Fault?, and Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault. Justin also has written or edited numerous other books on historical theology and biblical studies. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and at JustinHolcomb.com.