Mass shooting, fatherless homes, sex trafficking and child sexual abuse cases like the Jerry Sandusky trial are very troubling situations. Things are happening so fast that it can almost make your head spin. Fear and anxiety has been gripping the hearts and minds of children for years. But no one is really talking about it. Well, I want you to know that we must find comfort in the words of David in Psalm 50:15, "Call on me when you are in trouble and I will rescue you". It is during perilous times like these that we must cry out to God for our families.
Jesus LOVES little children. I don't know what society thinks about that. But Jesus told His disciples,
"Let the little children come to me" in Luke 18. He's still calling for us to bring our babies to Him. Our children must be reminded that we love them and so does Jesus. Our children need to know that angels are watching over them to protect them. What are you doing on Sunday, April 14, 2013.
This is going to be a very special day for me. April 14, 2013 is my father's birthday. Last year I traveled to New Jersey to be the "guest speaker" at a service held in his honor. You don't know how honored I was. It was a special night for me and him. Seeing tears stream down of the face of the most important man in my life was amazing. I was on an assignment with a God ordained word.
Traveling from North Carolina to New Jersey was not too much to ask. It was just another awesome opportunity to pay tribute and honor my father, Bishop James D. Wright. Love you dad!!
But this year on Sunday, April 14, 2013 Crossroad Women and Family Services will be hosting, "Restoring Families, Reclaiming Youth" a two day youth and family empowerment conference. The Innocence Revolution is a new organization bringing organizations from across the globe together for "A Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse".
This is going to be an amazing day. There are 20 countries and 25 states hosting events in their communities. As you know child sexual abuse leads to so many other issues such as shame and guilt, depression, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, low school performance, cutting, social isolation, obesity, violent behavior and prison. Statistics show that on a daily basis 300,000 children around the world are sexually abused by someone they love and should have been able to trust. And in the United States alone it is estimated that there are at least 42 million men and women who are adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Isn't it time that we come together to protect our children and help heal adult survivors?
The key to reducing this epidemic is helping those who are struggling with the aftermath of abuse. Helping people work through the horror and deep wounds that are oftentimes unresolved and manifesting in other areas. Let's STOP telling people to just "get over it" and provide a safe place for them to heal. Let's STOP meeting about it and being about it. Let's come together and make a difference.
We are hosting a family fun day on Saturday, April 13, 2013. If you own a business and would like to donate some door prizes of give-away for kids, PLEASE contact us ASAP. Restoring Families, Reclaiming Youth weekend events are quickly approaching.
If you'd like to make a donation, you can do that righ here on this page. Just click on "Donate" and you can do so via paypal or debit card. Thank you for taking the time out to read this blog.
We appreciate you. We love you. We're here for you. Let us know how we can serve you. We want you to know that no matter what has taken place in your life, you are NOT broken beyond repair.
Agape Love,
Patrina Wright
During my morning devotions I read about parents bringing their little children to Jesus. "One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them" (Luke 18:15). I begin to think about the parents. They obviously knew something about Jesus. I don't believe that these parents would have brought their precious children to Jesus if they had not believed that Jesus loved the little children. I also believe that these parents recognized who Jesus was.
In other words, these parents knew that making an effort to take their children to Jesus could change their lives, their futures, their hopes and their dreams. It could put their lives on the right path and give them a reason for living. Luke said that the parents brought the children so that Jesus could touch and bless them. One touch from Jesus can heal our hearts, change our perspectives and transform our lives.
Jesus is our healer, great physician, redeemer, refuge, protector, provider, deliverer, restorer, counselor and prince of peace. The earlier we introduce children to Jesus how much better their lives can be. To know that they are loved in a real and personal way by Jesus can make such a world of a difference.
Luke 18:15 says, "But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering Jesus".
Can you imagine that? Jesus loves the children. Yet the disciples treated their parents as if bringing
their children to Him would be an inconvience. Well, Jesus didn't agree with their behavior.
"Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples let the children come to me. Don't stop them. For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children", (Luke 18:16).
What Jesus was saying is bring the children here and do nothing to prevent them from coming. And if you want to enter the Kingdom of my Father you would do well to become like these little children. After reading the scriptures I went into my kitchen to make breakfast. While I'm cooking I started thinking about the many ways children are at-risk for not coming to Jesus.
In other words there are things that have happened in the lives of children that have prevented them from coming to know God's love for them. So many children today are falling through the cracks but I believe that Jesus wants us to help the children come to Him. He wants to touch and bless them. We must NOT allow the following circumstances to stop children from coming to Jesus. He is our only hope.
Children are at-risk of falling through the cracks when:
1. There is poverty, low-income and dependency on government assistance.
2. There is violence, anger and uncontrollablle rage modeled in the home.
3. There is a substance abuse problem in the home and no treatment.
4. There is child is a victim of child abuse and neglect.
5. The child has become the parent to the parent instead of being raised as a child.
6. There is no spiritual training, instruction or discipline.
7. There are no values or morals being modeled.
8. The child feels unloved, unwanted, uncared for.
9.The child feels there is no hope for their future.
10.The child has no sense of purpose, direction or meaning for their existence.
11.The parent is physically, mentally, emotionally, verbally abusive.
12.A parent or both parents are incarcerated.
13.The child is made to sell drugs or steal food just to survive.
14.The child is illiterate, not able to read or write.
15.The child has no one who cares about their well-being or shows interest.
16.The child has experienced parental rejection and abandonment.
17.The child is has been experienced the trauma of sexual abuse, molestation or rape.
18.The child is a victim of sexual trafficking.
19.The child has to relocate from shelter to shelter or state to state.
20.The child has know one to talk to or anyone to listen.
21.The child's sexuality has been tainted by through sexual exploitation.
22. The child's identity has been stolen and they don't know who they are.
23. The child's innocence has been stolen.
24. The child lives in a community plagued by crimes, gun violence and drugs.
25.The child has joined a gang to experience a sense of belonging.
26. The youth ages out of foster without proper resources, guidance, support system in place.
27.The child have never met their father.
28. The child is allowed to do drugs with their parents or other relatives.
29. The child has been exposed to pornography.
30. The child is trying to fill the hole in their hearts with multiple sex partners.
31. The child is living in the home with a mentally ill parent.
32. The child becomes pregnant as a student.
33. The child has contracted HIV/AIDS and hasn't shared with anyone.
34. The child is involved with the Juvenile Justice System.
35. The youth has or is at-risk of dropping out of school.
36. The child runs away from home due to problems in the home.
37. The child is forced into prostitution and feels there is no way out.
Regardless of the circumstances JESUS loves the children. We must help the children get to Jesus by any means necessary so that He can touch them with His love and grace. So that He can heal them.
The Innocence Revolution is slated to be launched throughout the World on April 14, 2013. This is a global crusade to end the crime of child sexual abuse. People from all walks of life will unite and energize a coalition or organizations and individuals to sustain a global effort to end sexual abuse of children.
We are inviting people to participate in this historic event. I believe that this will be one of the greatest healing movements that will ever take place. This is what the world needs NOW. Hope, healing and restoration. It's time to for healing to take place within families. Adults need to be made aware that they can be healed from childhood scars and children can receive healing for crimes committed against them.
We need YOU. We need your VOICE. We need your SUPPORT. We want you to know that you can make a huge difference in the life of a child!!
Here are 21 reasons to consider joining The Innocence Revolution. You should join if you:
1. Want to stop child abuse of any kind.
2. Want to specifically help to stop child sexual abuse.
3. Want to stop manipulation in the federal/state child care systems.
4. Want to stop child trafficking.
5. Want to stop human trafficking (trafficked children become trafficked adults).
6. Want to stop the proliferation of child pornography.
7. Want stiffer penalties for sex crimes.
8. Want to stop placement of children in the custody of molesters.
9. Want to stop the arbitrary alienation of parental rights.
10. Want to protect the children of the world.
11. Want to reduce the number of children and adults addicted to drugs, alcohol, etc.
12. Want to reduce the number of sex offenders and , specifically, child sex offenders around the world.
13. Want children and adults to have a plan of protection against sexual crimes.
14. Want an effective system for supervision & management of individuals on the sex offender registry.
15. Were a victim and want to heal.
16. Were a victim and want to help others.
17. Were not a victim, but want to learn how to effectively help and support others.
18. Want to help children abandoned or abused by the "system".
We'd love to hear from you. Let us know how you want to get involved. Contact us at info@crossroadwomenfamily.org, we look forward to hearing from you!