Church Holds Training to End Child Sex Abuse

By Mary Stackhouse
Rocket City Now
September 30, 2018

https://www.rocketcitynow.com/news/church-holds-training-to-end-child-sex-abuse/1487626872

Huntsville - The Village Church opened its doors on Sunday to members within the church as well as to the Huntsville community for a training designed to protect kids from child sex abuse.

Mary Anne Hunter, Director of Children's Ministry at The Village Church, said that the church partnered with Stewards of Children for the training. The training was for members of the church who work with children, along with members outside the church who advocate for children as well.

Topics covered include recognizing child abuse, preventing it, and responding to it.

Responding the right way is key, she explained. The wrong response may cause the individual to go silent about the abuse they have experienced.

"So many people -- children and adults as well are just silent. When that happens, abusers can go and abuse more people," said Hunter. "So as the church, we have to love people. We have to be Jesus's hands and feet so that children can find hope and healing."

Hunter said child sex abuse affects 1 out of 10 children before they come to the age of 18.

Research shows that people who are sexually violated as a kid are far more likely to experience psychological problems lasting into adulthood, including PTSD, depression, suicide, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and relationship problems.