Download or read book When Pastors Prey written by Valli Boobal Batchelor and published by World Council of Churches. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While clergy abuse of children has received worldwide attention from media and legal authorities, little has been written about the widespread and devastating phenomenon of clergy abuse of adult women. Gathering experts from around the globe, this prophetic project breaks the silence and gathers the resources to address a problem that undermines the very foundations of pastoral work and institutional Christianity. The book not only brings forward the stories of many women whose trust has been abused by their pastors, but it also offers a helpful framework to understand and address the problem in the following four sections: a) Identifying the Problem, b) the Experience of Abuse, c) Churches Addressing Clergy Misconduct, and d) Stopping Abuse for Good. Ultimately, clergy sexual abuse of women is a horrific expression of longstanding Christian misunderstanding and mistreatment of women. This book illuminates not only the phenomenon, but its roots and - in brave hope - the cures. *** "Christian community and witness hinge hugely on the personal integrity of professionals in ministry. Yet that bond is severed by sexual exploitation and abuse, a phenomenon sadly present in Christian churches around the world. When Pastors Prey, focused particularly on abuse of women, will be a vital resource for understanding and addressing a problem that undermines the Gospel itself." - Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches *** "The International Association of Women Judges is delighted to see this book - drawing attention to a serious problem which has been neglected for far too long - and welcomes the contribution it makes to the IAWJ's aim of increasing knowledge and understanding of what we call 'sextortion' - demanding sexual favours as the price of favourable treatment by those in authority generally." - Lady Brenda Hale, President, International Association of Women Judge

Download or read book Let Us Prey written by R. Glenn Ball and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jesus warned of wolves carefully disguised as shepherds who would come into the local church as pastors. It is the perfect disguise from which to devour the flock one lamb at a time. The authors were the first to study this phenomenon in North America and discover how serious the problem is. What they uncovered is shocking. The enemy has infiltrated the North American church. In this study of a large Canadian denomination, just under one in three pastors met the diagnostic criteria of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This is one of the most destructive and least treatable of all mental disorders, but is often well hidden behind layers of ""sacred"" deception. Some are charismatic while others are quiet and even awkward, but they share the same needs for power, control, praise, and public recognition. They are also rigid, unbending, never wrong, demanding, and full of hidden rage, leaving the people working for them in demoralized fear. They see you as inferior and God as a rival, while the worst see themselves as God. If they see you as a threat, they will do everything possible to destroy you spiritually and emotionally. Is your pastor one of them? ""Armed with research data and real-life examples, Puls and Ball provide an absorbing and alarming analysis of Christian clergy who suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, describing the toll these 'wolves in sheep's clothing' wreak upon their congregations and co-workers. A must-read for clergy and those who supervise and support them."" --Kevin Livingston, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Tyndale Seminary, Toronto ""Ball and Pulls do an amazing job of bringing a sensitive issue to the light. Filled with powerful stories, up-to-date research, and godly counsel, Let Us Prey is a great resource that brings wisdom, guidance, and healing to Christian leaders and church communities."" --Tim Clinton, President, American Association of Christian Counselors ""Let Us Prey contains ground-breaking research regarding the plague of narcissism in the church. It also provides practical direction for the diagnosis, intervention, and mitigation of narcissism in our pastorate and our congregations. A must-read . . ."" --Michael Patterson, PhD, LMHC, NCC, BCPCC, Chair, Department of Behavioral Science, Corban University ""Painstakingly researched and terrifyingly realistic, this book shocks us into facing up to the monsters within the body of Christ who prey on the sheep rather than pray for them. Read it and equip yourself to identify and confront these predators with firmness and faith."" --David Murray, Pastor, Grand Rapids Free Reformed Church; Professor of Practical Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Darrell Puls is a professional conflict interventionist with forty years of experience, and founder of Peacebridge Ministries, a Christian nonprofit that works directly with faith communities experiencing internal conflict. He is the author of The Road Home: A Guided Journey to Church Forgiveness and Reconciliation (2013). R. Glenn Ball is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, where he has served for more than thirty years in parish ministry and as a specialist working with distressed churches.

Download or read book Let Us Prey Revised Edition written by Darrell Puls and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2020-06-10 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jesus warned of wolves carefully disguised as shepherds coming into local churches as pastors. It is the perfect disguise for a predator to access and devour the flock one lamb at a time while proclaiming himself as their protector and guardian. The result is spiritual devastation, broken congregations, and even destroyed churches. Darrell Puls attests from experience that the enemy has infiltrated the North American church through pastors with dangerously high levels of narcissism. These pastors hide under layers of the sacred, but it is always an illusion of smoke and mirrors. Puls has experienced this reality from the inside as a staff pastor under a narcissist, and from the outside as a church consultant. He carefully unpacks toxic narcissism in everyday terms, and lets the victims tell their own stories. Let Us Prey, Revised Edition is as real as it gets.

Download or read book The Black Church Where Women Pray and Men Prey written by Deborrah Cooper and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2012 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book continues an uncomfortable examination of Prosperity Gospel, the con game of religion and slick preachers. The truth is revealed about the many ways Black women are set up in churches by unscrupulous men out to control, demean, sexually abuse and rob them and their children. (Back cover)

Download or read book Pastor s That Prey written by Elaine Gates and published by Author House. This book was released on 2014-09-11 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: So many people have been hurt within some churches today and unfortunately, a lot of the hurt has come from the leaders in these churches. The Pastors, Elders, Bishops, whatever their title may be, seem to have lost their way, thus leading those who follow them astray. This book has been written to remind those leaders that God is watching how they are handling ?His? sheep. And for the members, to remind them to worship God more than they worship man. If they are successful in doing that, then they will remain focused and avoid being led astray by those Pastors who Prey.

Download or read book Let Us Prey written by R. Glenn Ball and published by . This book was released on 2017-06-15 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jesus warned of wolves carefully disguised as shepherds who would come into the local church as pastors. It is the perfect disguise from which to devour the flock one lamb at a time. The authors were the first to study this phenomenon in North America and discover how serious the problem is. What they uncovered is shocking. The enemy has infiltrated the North American church. In this study of a large Canadian denomination, just under one in three pastors met the diagnostic criteria of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This is one of the most destructive and least treatable of all mental disorders, but is often well hidden behind layers of ""sacred"" deception. Some are charismatic while others are quiet and even awkward, but they share the same needs for power, control, praise, and public recognition. They are also rigid, unbending, never wrong, demanding, and full of hidden rage, leaving the people working for them in demoralized fear. They see you as inferior and God as a rival, while the worst see themselves as God. If they see you as a threat, they will do everything possible to destroy you spiritually and emotionally. Is your pastor one of them? ""Armed with research data and real-life examples, Puls and Ball provide an absorbing and alarming analysis of Christian clergy who suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, describing the toll these 'wolves in sheep's clothing' wreak upon their congregations and co-workers. A must-read for clergy and those who supervise and support them."" --Kevin Livingston, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Tyndale Seminary, Toronto ""Ball and Pulls do an amazing job of bringing a sensitive issue to the light. Filled with powerful stories, up-to-date research, and godly counsel, Let Us Prey is a great resource that brings wisdom, guidance, and healing to Christian leaders and church communities."" --Tim Clinton, President, American Association of Christian Counselors ""Let Us Prey contains ground-breaking research regarding the plague of narcissism in the church. It also provides practical direction for the diagnosis, intervention, and mitigation of narcissism in our pastorate and our congregations. A must-read . . ."" --Michael Patterson, PhD, LMHC, NCC, BCPCC, Chair, Department of Behavioral Science, Corban University ""Painstakingly researched and terrifyingly realistic, this book shocks us into facing up to the monsters within the body of Christ who prey on the sheep rather than pray for them. Read it and equip yourself to identify and confront these predators with firmness and faith."" --David Murray, Pastor, Grand Rapids Free Reformed Church; Professor of Practical Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Darrell Puls is a professional conflict interventionist with forty years of experience, and founder of Peacebridge Ministries, a Christian nonprofit that works directly with faith communities experiencing internal conflict. He is the author of The Road Home: A Guided Journey to Church Forgiveness and Reconciliation (2013). R. Glenn Ball is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, where he has served for more than thirty years in parish ministry and as a specialist working with distressed churches.

Download or read book Betrayal of Trust written by Stanley J. Grenz and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2001-09-01 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sexual misconduct by clergy is a devastating issue that reaches across all denominations, damaging the credibility of the church in its wake. The media regularly reports on the moral failure of leaders and abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to be trustworthy. Betrayal of Trust focuses on a common scenario of abuse--sexual involvement between a male pastor and a female congregant--and offers practical solutions on how to respond to and prevent this betrayal of trust. This book presents methods that will help churches respond sensitively to victims and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse from taking place. For clergy who may be at risk for this behavior, it offers help in establishing appropriate boundaries. This second edition includes a new chapter that offers help for the wandering pastor and a risk-determination questionnaire for pastors who may become abusers.

Download or read book Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs written by Cindi McMenamin and published by Harvest House Publishers. This book was released on 2003-03-01 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Women long to be loved, to be known, to be understood. But who can meet those needs at their deepest level? Only the One who created women--who knows them by name and who designed them--can bring fulfillment that truly satisfies. "Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs" shows how God desires to help every woman: I need acceptance... God loves, forgives, and accepts I need security... God promises He will never leave I need to feel pretty... Christ sees me as new, spotless I need a companion... He is the perfect friend I need communication... He talks to me intimately through His Word Formerly "Heart Hunger."

Download or read book Black and White Bible Black and Blue Wife written by Ruth A. Tucker and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2016-03-01 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ruth Tucker recounts a harrowing story of abuse at the hands of her husband—a well-educated, charming preacher no less—in hope that her story would help other women caught in a cycle of domestic violence and offer a balanced biblical approach to counter such abuse for pastors and counselors. Weaving together her shocking story, stories of other women, and powerful stories of husbands who truly have demonstrated Christ’s love to their wives, with reflection on biblical, theological, historical, and contemporary issues surrounding domestic violence, she makes a compelling case for mutuality in marriage and helps women and men become more aware of potential dangers in a doctrine of male headship.

Download or read book Calvin s Company of Pastors written by Scott M. Manetsch and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Calvin's Company of Pastors, Scott Manetsch examines the pastoral theology and practical ministry activities of Geneva's reformed ministers from the time of Calvin's arrival in Geneva until the beginning of the seventeenth century. During these seven decades, more than 130 men were enrolled in Geneva's Venerable Company of Pastors (as it was called), including notable reformed leaders such as Pierre Viret, Theodore Beza, Simon Goulart, Lambert Daneau, and Jean Diodati. Aside from these better-known epigones, Geneva's pastors from this period remain hidden from view, cloaked in Calvin's long shadow, even though they played a strategic role in preserving and reshaping Calvin's pastoral legacy. Making extensive use of archival materials, published sermons, catechisms, prayer books, personal correspondence, and theological writings, Manetsch offers an engaging and vivid portrait of pastoral life in sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century Geneva, exploring the manner in which Geneva's ministers conceived of their pastoral office and performed their daily responsibilities of preaching, public worship, moral discipline, catechesis, administering the sacraments, and pastoral care. Manetsch demonstrates that Calvin and his colleagues were much more than ivory tower theologians or "quasi-agents of the state," concerned primarily with dispensing theological information to their congregations or enforcing magisterial authority. Rather, they saw themselves as spiritual shepherds of Christ's Church, and this self-understanding shaped to a significant degree their daily work as pastors and preachers.

Download or read book Healing Together written by Anne Miller and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2019-10-15 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sex is such an intimate topic historically wrapped in shame and when someone shares they were sexually abused, we may not know how to respond. With recent #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, we are learning just how many men, women, boys, and girls have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted person, often family members or leaders in the church. Sexual abuse is rampant in modern society and now--sometimes many years later--sexual abuse survivors are sharing their stories. Anne Marie Miller is a survivor of childhood clergy sexual abuse and has shared her journey toward healing with audiences all over the world. After speaking with thousands of survivors and their loved ones, she saw the need for a fundamental and practical guide for helping supporters of sexual abuse survivors understand the basics of abuse, trauma, healing, and hope. Drawing from her own experience as a survivor and evidence-based research, Anne addresses these questions and more in Healing Together: What is sexual abuse? How can I help survivors? Who are predators and how do they groom victims? How does trauma affect survivors? What happens when someone doesn't remember the details of their abuse? How does abuse wound the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of people who have been abused? When and how should authorities be contacted? How do you talk to your children about sexual abuse? What are the warning signs of abuse? Is healing possible? Whether you are a spouse, a family member, a friend, or a church leader looking for easy-to-navigate resources to understand and support sexual abuse survivors, you'll find answers and hope in these pages.

Download or read book Pastor s Prey written by Charles H. Hood and published by On Demand Publishing, LLC-Create Space. This book was released on 2014-02-26 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the true and chilling story of a young woman forced to live a traumatic life of rape and faith at the hands of a small-town, middle-aged pastor. Pastor Tony Allen saw Carolyn Crawford as an answer to his prayers and seized the opportunity to befriend, capture and imprison this young teenage girl. For him it was the start of an exciting new life and a very rewarding career, one he had long-since envisioned and planned. For Carolyn, her new life became one wrapped in constant terror, degradation and secrecy that would last more than twenty years. Despite living in the same home as the pastor and his wife, she had unwittingly become the sex prisoner and baby-making business partner who would enable this pastor to elevate his popularity within his church and community, as well as allow him to enhance his lifestyle by selling their future offspring to families seeking children to adopt.

Download or read book Leaders That Last written by Gary D. Kinnaman and published by Baker Books. This book was released on 2003-12-01 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thousands of ministers burn out every year; others fall prey to sexual temptation. With piercing honesty, Leaders that Last dismantles stale stereotypes about pastors and offers hope for handling their recurring, daily struggles. Co-authored by a minister who admits to struggling with periodic bouts of depression, this practical resource offers a hopeful message for pastors of every denomination. Serving a church is a lonely business no matter how big the congregation. A pastor is expected to be nearly perfect, modeling holiness, generosity, and kindness. In need of moral and emotional support, pastors often try to go it alone, satisfied with a collection of acquaintances but no true friends. Starting a Pastors in Covenant support group changes all that. Struggling leaders can throw each other a lifeline when they agree to communicate with caring and candor. Geared primarily for those in ministry, Leaders that Last is an important message from two authors who understand the difficulties that come with ministering 24-7 . . . with no Sundays off.

Download or read book Practicing the Power written by Sam Storms and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2017-02-07 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bible teaches us that we are to be filled with God's Spirit and that God's presence and grace is manifested among his people as they serve, love, and minister to one another. Yet some of the gifts that God offers to his people aren't commonly seen in many churches today. Gifts of prophecy, healing, tongues, and other supernatural gifts of God seem to be absent, and many Christians are unsure how to cultivate an atmosphere where God's Spirit can work while remaining committed to the foundational truth of God's Word. How can Christians pursue and implement the miraculous gifts of the Spirit without falling into fanatical excess and splitting the church in the process? In Practicing the Power, pastor and author Sam Storms offers practical steps to understanding and exercising spiritual gifts in a way that remains grounded in the word and centered in the gospel. With examples drawn from his forty years of ministry as a pastor and teachers, Storms offers a guidebook that can help pastors, elders, and church members understand what changes are needed to see God move in supernatural power and to guard against excess and abuse of the spiritual gifts. If you long to see God's Spirit move in your church and life, and aren't sure why that isn't happening or where to begin, this book is for you.

Download or read book Through the Eyes of a Lion written by Levi Lusko and published by W Publishing Group. This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What will you do when the unthinkable happens? Her parents called her Lenya Lion because of her ferocious personality and hair that had been wild and mane-like since birth. But they never expected that, five days before Christmas, their five-year-old daughter would suddenly go to heaven after an asthma attack. How do you walk out of the ER without your daughter? More a manifesto for high-octane living than a manual for grieving, Through the Eyes of a Lion will help you turn your journey into a "roar story" by guiding you to look past what you can see with the naked eye survive Saturday--the space between promise and fulfillment let God turn your pain into a microphone cue the eagle and run toward the roar Whether you're currently facing adversity or want to prepare yourself for inevitable hardship, it's time to look at the adventure of your life through Jesus' eyes--the eyes of a Lion. "He has this story. And he has told it well. With candor. With honesty. With hope." --Max Lucado, pastor and New York Times bestselling author of Before Amen "One of the most powerfully transparent books I've ever read . . . a book we all need to read." --Sheila Walsh, speaker, Bible teacher, and bestselling author of 5 Minutes with Jesus "This is more than a book. It's a lifeline." --From the foreword by Steven Furtick, pastor and bestselling author of Crash the Chatterbox

Download or read book Jesus and Gender written by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and published by Kirkdale Press. This book was released on 2022-04-06 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Loving one another as sisters and brothers in Jesus Many Christian women and men carry heavy burdens. Much teaching on gender relations, roles, and rules binds the conscience beyond what Scripture actually teaches. Gender has become a battleground for power. But God created men and women not to compete for glory but to cooperate for his glory. In Jesus and Gender, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher paint a new vision for gender—Christ's gentle and lowly heart. The centrality of the gospel has been lost in gender debates. Our ultimate example is Jesus, our humble king, who used his power to serve others. So we must rethink our identities, roles, and relationships around him. Christ transformed enemies into family. Men and women are allies in God's mission. Drawing from Scripture and experience, Fitzpatrick and Schumacher show how Jesus's example speaks to all areas of our lives as men and women, including vocation, marriage, parenting, friendships, and relating to each other as sisters and brothers in Christ. Real--life testimonies from a variety of Christians—including Christine Caine, Justin Holcomb, Karen Swallow Prior, and others—show a variety of men and women freed to pursue their gifts for God's glory. Fitzpatrick and Schumacher's perspective untangles what God has said about gender from what he hasn't. By coming to Jesus, women and men can find rest.

Download or read book God s Reconciling Love written by Nancy A. Murphy and published by Faithtrust Institute. This book was released on 2003 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: