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by Stephanie Myers-Lewis (Author)
When the psalmist penned these words from King Solomon in Psalm 127:3-4 (NLT), "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him..." the Israelites understood the essence of the meaning as a song of worship that they would sing on their pilgrimage to the Holy City.
From a scholarly perspective, there is an inherent belief within this repeated refrain that there is an expectation that God's children will be treated as gifts. When this expectation is not heeded, there is a breach in safeguarding our children - especially in the church - the impact and trauma are inextricably tied to what happens in the worship atmosphere.
The issue of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) continues to wreak havoc upon the lives and future of our most vulnerable asset - our children. This social issue transcends political, racial, gender, socio-economics, and denominational constructs. The Black Church pulpit has always been known for being the strong voice for justice, morality, ethical responsibility, spiritual renewal, and redemption. But unfortunately, the pulpits often do not sound the alarm to admonish the predator and would-be predators.
She's Watching: The Revelation for the Black Church and Child Sexual Abuse confronts, identifies, and challenges Black Preaching to shift its theological, cultural, and societal constructs to one that advocates for our largest community of victims, which statistically identify as little Black girls.
