Shannon Jammal-Hollemans

Robin will be missed. She contributed much to this discussion forum.

I look forward to getting to know Monica. Welcome!

Thank you for sharing this piece, Robin! There is too much silence in our families and congregations about abuse, particularly sexual abuse. I think when most of us picture victims of childhood sexual abuse, we usually think of girls, but as the story you share illustrates, boys are victims too. Too many suffer in silence and shame. I pray that, as family members and church family, we will cultivate communities where children will share when they are being hurt.  

Thanks for sharing this, Mark. I have seen these tense conversations going on in facebook groups as well. Whether about the decision to vaccinate your children, circumcise infant boys, or use pain medication in labor; there is a lot of judgment going on. I think, at the root, is all of our desire to do what's best for our children. Conversations and questions are good when they happen in relationship, and not just as shots on someone's facebook wall. 

Excellent. Thanks for this, Ron!

This is a very timely piece, Robin. Thank you for sharing it. Some of us who are involved in the CRC's Discipleship & Faith Formation Ministries have been talking about the possibility of creating a workshop and maybe some tools for Christian parents. I think this story demonstrates how many Christian parents feel--ill-equipped to discipline their children as they grow. As congregations, I think we could be doing so much more to support parents in raising Christian children. 

The question you pose is an important one, Robin, "What are our churches doing to walk with not only our children who have been on the receiving end of any type of abuse but the adults among us as well?" There are many adults who carry the scars of abuse, which is why it is so critical that our worship, adult discipleship activities, and education programs are at least cognizant of it, if not addressing it directly. Thank you for sharing this story, and the link to the Faith Alive booklet! 

This is beautiful, Bonnie. Thanks for sharing this meditation and challenging us to keep the long view in mind.

Thank you for posting another fine piece on how we can better love our Muslim neighbors, Greg. It is much needed in a culture that spends far too much time demonizing the "other." I have been particularly discouraged by how church prayer lines have been hijacked by false reports. Thank you for being persistent in calling us to be holy as our God is holy. Salaam and shalom, Brother.

This is a great piece with some solid wisdom. Thanks for sharing, Albert!

Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Bonnie. They challenge us as the Church to have the courage to confront injustice and hurt. May we follow the Spirit's prompting to do so win spite of our fears.