Sexual Abuse Archives • Joel Horst

Ravi Zacharias: An Open Letter to the Christian and Missionary Alliance

Posted onFebruary 20, 2021February 20, 20215 Comments

If the church is to root predators out of their midst and protect the people, we must start with the understanding that there are vile people who intentionally abuse and hurt others. There are people who do not merely fall into sin by mistake. Instead, they carefully plan their moves and make calculated decisions to entrap and abuse those around them. They also manipulate and deceive non-victims to believe that they are godly people who would never commit such horrible acts. Read More …

Thoughts from a Survivor of Hell

Posted onJune 19, 2020June 19, 202011 Comments

Some of us were thrown directly into the flames. Others of us were slowly seared by the heat, like a hot dog on a stick. Still others of us managed to stay away from the flames most of the time, and were burned less than others. At least that’s what we think. Read More …

A Prophecy About Abuse in the Church

Posted onFebruary 15, 2020February 15, 20203 Comments

Early this morning, I awoke and sensed that the Lord was giving me something to write down. I wrote it as I heard it from Him. Read More …

Forget John Crist. Let’s Focus on the Women.

Posted onNovember 8, 2019November 8, 20191 Comment

In reality, this isn’t about John Crist. This is about an untold number of other women who were harassed, exploited, and manipulated by John Crist—women whose names and faces we don’t know, but who are very much human and who never deserved this. Read More …

Dark Side of the Super Bowl

Posted onFebruary 5, 2018Leave a comment

No, this isn’t about how the Super Bowl is terrible and you should turn off the TV and ignore it. In fact, I was going to watch it myself, but since I had to be in bed at 8:00 last Read More …

Rachael Denhollander speaks at Larry Nassar's sentencing

Rachael Denhollander: A Powerful Voice in a Dark Place

Posted onJanuary 26, 2018Leave a comment

On Wednesday, Larry Nassar got an unwelcome piece of news. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced him to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexual molestation. Nassar was formerly a well-respected doctor who worked with gymnasts. But behind the charming persona, Read More …

Sexual Abuse Recovery: Why We Help the Abuser and Shoot the Victims

Posted onSeptember 11, 20168 Comments

It was a meal together after a funeral. I was sitting at a table with a couple of my great-uncles, and the conversation turned to dealing with sexual abusers. As we talked, it became clear that their first priority was Read More …

10 Myths about Sexual Abuse in Anabaptist Communities [Reblog]

Posted onSeptember 4, 2016October 11, 2016Leave a comment

“In my last post, I wrote about Jesus being the answer to the horrific abuse that goes on in our Anabaptist communities. While I firmly believe that, I also believe that there is much ignorance and silence about it. This is not helping the situation. In fact, I would say that the secrecy, silence, and ignorance is only compounding sexual abuse in conservative communities.

“If we are going to stand up and fight for our children, we are going to have to ditch some misconceptions about sexual abuse that are widely believed in our culture. Here are a few of them…” Read More …