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Understanding Sexual Abuse: A Guide for Ministry Leaders and Survivors
“It is said that the true test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.” As many as one in four girls and one in six boys experience sexual abuse during childhood, and it’s estimated that as many as half of the incidents are never reported. This means that countless millions in our societies, both children and adults, carry this complex, often hidden pain. What does the path to healing look like for survivors? And how can ministry leaders, pastors, and counselors best help them as they walk this difficult road? Drawing on both his own experience and his wife's experience as survivors of childhood sexual abuse, minister and lecturer Tim Hein offers his expertise, practical guidance, and empathy—for both ministry leaders and survivors themselves. How can we best respond when a survivor shares their secret with us? Where can survivors turn for encouragement when the road to recovery seems so long and lonely? Hein presents clinical data and resources alongside pastoral wisdom and care, addressing both psychological and spiritual aspects of sexual abuse. Both for those who have suffered sexual abuse and those in a position to help them, this book is a rich resource. Filled with both sober truths and the hope of Christ, it calls survivors to take courage and walk unafraid down the road of healing.
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2018
15 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Tim Hein
2 books3 followersTim Hein is vice principal and director of discipleship at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology in Adelaide, Australia. He is an ordained minister in the Uniting Church in Australia and speaks and preaches regularly on the Christian faith. He lives in Adelaide with his wife, Priscilla.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 20, 2023
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I shared in several reactions of during childhood and adulthood from the author and his wife's child sexual abuse and plenty that I didn't experience or don't experience. It speaks on how leaders (of a church or church group) should do or keep in mind certain things and behaviors and things they say to more of what they may not we aware that they do and could be harmful to those with sexual abuse in their story.
"Jesus is the ultimate trauma survivor"
Enjoy what was said about those that were sexually abused find comfort in imaginary worlds. That's VERY much me when I started writing my fictional world in '91 and the stories I play out in day dreams now.
I shared in several reactions of during childhood and adulthood from the author and his wife's child sexual abuse and plenty that I didn't experience or don't experience. It speaks on how leaders (of a church or church group) should do or keep in mind certain things and behaviors and things they say to more of what they may not we aware that they do and could be harmful to those with sexual abuse in their story.
"Jesus is the ultimate trauma survivor"
Enjoy what was said about those that were sexually abused find comfort in imaginary worlds. That's VERY much me when I started writing my fictional world in '91 and the stories I play out in day dreams now.
April 5, 2018
“In our society today, it is estimated that up to one in four girls and one in six boys experience sexual abuse in childhood. Experts also estimate that as many as half of the incidents are not reported. Millions of people, both children and adults, face each day with this hidden, complex pain.”
Tim Hein opens Understanding Sexual Abuse with this astounding and depressing statistic. It’s one that pastors and church leaders need to think about. Although we’d like to claim that sexual abuse happens out there (the world), not in here (the church), we all know that’s false. Sexually abused children and adult survivors of sexual abuse fill our pews, join our small groups and lead our teams. The question, then, is how well we minister to them in their pain.
This is not a book about “how to prevent abuse or how to deal with perpetrators.” Hein wrote this book out of his personal experience of childhood sexual abuse in order to help pastors and other church leaders “support survivors of sexual abuse.” He shares his story of abuse, without going into unnecessary and potentially triggering details, to help readers understand how a child experiences abuse, how it shapes his or her perspective on life, and what kinds of needs it leaves the child with.
Hein skillfully weaves together his personal story with psychological insights about the emotional toll abuse takes on child victims. As a Christian minister, however, he also brings biblical and theological resources to bear. He shows that the biblical narrative emphasizes justice for the abused, not just forgiveness for the perpetrator. He raises the question of theodicy, i.e., “Where is God when evil happens?” He shows how the Bible offers practical guidance for making sense of and lamenting our pain.
Most importantly, Hein shows that recovery is possible, though it may be a long process. “Wherever we are on our journeys of life,” Hein concludes, “including the journeys of recovery and healing, we can make choices about the paths ahead. We can choose life, and go on doing so, because Jesus, the author of life has come.”
Understanding Sexual Abuse is a short, but realistic book. Realistic not only about the pain of sexual abuse, but about the hope for healing. Given how widespread the problem of sexual abuse is, pastors and other church leaders will benefit from reading it and knowing how to serve the victims in their congregations.
Book Reviewed
Tim Hein, Understanding Sexual Abuse: A Guide for Ministry Leaders and Survivors (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2018).
P.S. Cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine.com with permission..
P.P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
Tim Hein opens Understanding Sexual Abuse with this astounding and depressing statistic. It’s one that pastors and church leaders need to think about. Although we’d like to claim that sexual abuse happens out there (the world), not in here (the church), we all know that’s false. Sexually abused children and adult survivors of sexual abuse fill our pews, join our small groups and lead our teams. The question, then, is how well we minister to them in their pain.
This is not a book about “how to prevent abuse or how to deal with perpetrators.” Hein wrote this book out of his personal experience of childhood sexual abuse in order to help pastors and other church leaders “support survivors of sexual abuse.” He shares his story of abuse, without going into unnecessary and potentially triggering details, to help readers understand how a child experiences abuse, how it shapes his or her perspective on life, and what kinds of needs it leaves the child with.
Hein skillfully weaves together his personal story with psychological insights about the emotional toll abuse takes on child victims. As a Christian minister, however, he also brings biblical and theological resources to bear. He shows that the biblical narrative emphasizes justice for the abused, not just forgiveness for the perpetrator. He raises the question of theodicy, i.e., “Where is God when evil happens?” He shows how the Bible offers practical guidance for making sense of and lamenting our pain.
Most importantly, Hein shows that recovery is possible, though it may be a long process. “Wherever we are on our journeys of life,” Hein concludes, “including the journeys of recovery and healing, we can make choices about the paths ahead. We can choose life, and go on doing so, because Jesus, the author of life has come.”
Understanding Sexual Abuse is a short, but realistic book. Realistic not only about the pain of sexual abuse, but about the hope for healing. Given how widespread the problem of sexual abuse is, pastors and other church leaders will benefit from reading it and knowing how to serve the victims in their congregations.
Book Reviewed
Tim Hein, Understanding Sexual Abuse: A Guide for Ministry Leaders and Survivors (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2018).
P.S. Cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine.com with permission..
P.P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
August 5, 2020
Excellent book! I found it to be very eye opening. Whether you have dealt with abuse personally or know someone who has, I think this book can help people understand how important this issue is to talk about and find healing. The vulnerability of the author and his wife to share their stories is wonderful. They share how they have been impacted. I think stories are often the best way to to help bring understanding. Very well done!
April 18, 2023
Having read several books on the subject I find that this is the most helpful in understanding how to help others. I also find this is the least “triggering” book on the subject that I’ve ever read. It’s well written, full of grace and thoughtfulness. This book offers help for leaders and people who work with children along with hope for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I loved many things that were said “Jesus is the ultimate trauma survivor” along with God is justice and it talks deeply about how grace is a gift to someone in repentance and how consequences for earthly actions are still needed.
September 17, 2018
I was expecting a dry book on this painful topic.
How wrong I was. It has insightful analysis on sexual abuse, plus first hand knowledge by the author as a survivor of sexual abuse.
The secrecy that surrounds sexual abuse is laid bare.
Highly recommended.
How wrong I was. It has insightful analysis on sexual abuse, plus first hand knowledge by the author as a survivor of sexual abuse.
The secrecy that surrounds sexual abuse is laid bare.
Highly recommended.
Read
June 15, 2019Loved
Very insightful, brought clarity and understanding. It was honest and want to read again right away. Highly recommend to survivors and leaders
Very insightful, brought clarity and understanding. It was honest and want to read again right away. Highly recommend to survivors and leaders
July 29, 2019
So helpful - practical, theological, personal and relevant. Tim Hein brings clarity and wisdom to a very difficult area of ministry.
May 29, 2021
Must read for ministry leaders. A gift.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews