Respond Conference

The Respond Conference on April 25, 2013 is a free one day conference dealing with and responding to sexual abuse. It is geared toward church leaders to equip them to foster an environment whereby sexual abuse victims are cared for, shepherded well, and most of all responded to in a way that brings glory to Jesus and healing to victims.There will be four speakers and they will each discuss different facets of sexual abuse care and prevention. Justin Holcomb will share highlights from his book (Rid of My Disgrace) and how ‘Jesus is the answer for [sexual abuse] and everything’. Matt Chandler  will discuss pastoral care and responsibility. Paul Tripp will give a brief apologetic for biblical counseling and will also share about pastoral counseling and shepherding. Greg Love will discuss prevention.We need men and women to step up and be committed to care for the victims of sexual assault. We need our church leaders to be well equipped in responding to you, the church, on matters of sexual assault. But most of all, we need to see that a thief in the night has silenced many of us. Through crippling shame and acts done against us we have remained silenced. Through fear of the response and exposure we have kept it hidden, but Jesus being Love has come with a response: Himself. He is our redemption and our perfect Father who longs for us to know Him and to know the freedom and redemption that only He can give.Pray for this conference. Pray for our leaders. Pray that the darkness of sexual abuse will cry out proclaiming the glory of God and His goodness.If you are intrested in helping with the conference, please email me to find about our needs at present: lacey.kesler@gmail.comLearn more about the Respond Conference here.Follow the conference on twitter: @RespondConLacey Kesler is a partner of The Paradox Church, and a member of the Wedgwood City Group you can find her personal blog here.