Survivor Sanctuary

On today’s episode we’re chatting with Nicole Saylor, a whistle-blower in the church and an advocate for the sexually abused. Nicole did not experience sexual abuse herself, and she didn’t seek out an opportunity to blow the whistle on abuse. When the time came, though, Nicole rose to the occasion and fought hard in order to protect children from an abusive pastor. We need more Nicoles in the world! Listen to her story, and join the Survivor Sanctuary Facebook Group, of which Nicole is a member, and you can continue the conversation with her there!

It’s a brand new year, and as the rest of the world resolves to eat more kale and do more crossfit, New Years goals may look a little different for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Today I’m sharing three of my #survivolutions for hope and healing in 2020.

Holidays can be rough. For survivors of abuse, they can be brutal. In this episode, find out what each survivor can gift themselves this Christmas to get through the holiday in peace. 

I won't sugar coat this: I am a wreck right now. In fact, I'm more of a wreck than I can remember ever being (and there's been plenty of wreckage, I assure you). In my grieving, I am once again facing the number one reason I despise sexual abuse, and the slimy guts of child predators, with all my heart.

This isn't gonna be pretty.

Over the last several years, 15 states have changed laws to extend the statute of limitations on the filing of sexual abuse lawsuits. Eight of those states have implemented “look-back windows” for survivors who were time-barred by the meager statutes of limitations before the laws changed. How do these new laws, and look-back windows in particular, affect survivors? How do they affect churches? We’ll tackle these questions in today’s episode!

Resources:

Learn more about the states extending the SOL and opening up look-back windows here.

Isn’t it enough that an abuser has repented? Is it *truly* necessary to publicly name perpetrators? The answer really depends on who you ask. But if you ask a survivor of sexual abuse, most of us understand the importance of calling out abuse and abusers by name. Find out why survivors are driven by our duty to warn, and why it is so important to name abusers.

Can we take at face value the word of a person who has sexually abused a child? What if he/she claims to be sorry? What if he/she cries? On this episode of Survivor Sanctuary we'll chat about the Church's True Repentance Lie Detector Test, why it is an epic failure, and better ways to determine the genuineness of repentance. 

On today's episode of Survivor Sanctuary, we'll hear the second half of my interview with survivor and advocate Katie Trout who shares more of her story of experiencing abuse at the hands of a megachurch staff member. Found out how Katie is now advocating on behalf of the abused, and helping change the laws that too many churches hide behind. 

Resources:

Katie Trout on Twitter

Survivor Sanctuary Facebook Group

On today's episode of Survivor Sanctuary, I'm chatting with survivor and advocate Katie Trout who shares her story of experiencing abuse at the hands of a megachurch staff member. When Katie bravely came forward about the abuse, her lifelong home church had an opportunity to love and support her through her recovery as the hands and feet of Jesus. Did they seize that opportunity? Find out in part one of my interview with Katie. 

Resources:

Katie Trout on Twitter

Survivor Sanctuary Facebook Group

What is it about sexual abuse allegations that makes the Church respond so much differently than they do to other crises and tragedies? Matthew 6:24 probably holds the most accurate answer, and in this episode, Kelly unpacks some thoughts regarding the Church's struggle to serve both God and insurance policies. 

Episode Resources:

The Courage Conference

Thomas Edward