In his recent sermon on Revelation 2:8–11, Pastor Jim shared how the church in Smyrna endured intense persecution for nearly 60 years—even to the point where believers were killed each year for their faith. Such suffering could devastate a community and make it difficult for others to join. It’s a sobering thought: What if we experienced something similar? What if 20% of our congregation were diagnosed with cancer? What if one in five families had lost a child, or a breadwinner lost their job? Undoubtedly, these deep wounds would become a central focus of our ministry. Pastor Jim’s sermons would speak directly to the heartache, and as a church family, we would rally around one another to provide love, care, and support.

In light of that, consider this: approximately one in four women and one in six men have been sexually abused as children. That means our churches are filled with survivors of abuse. In a congregation of 200 people, around 41 of us—roughly 20%—carry this hidden pain. And yet, sexual abuse is rarely talked about in churches. Perhaps these statistics can awaken in us a renewed commitment to make our church a place of refuge and healing. At ACC, we have a Safeguarding Team and established policies designed to prevent, detect, and report abuse. But safeguarding is not the responsibility of a few—it’s a shared calling. We need everyone’s help to ensure ACC is a safe and nurturing community where abuse has no place and survivors are seen, supported, and loved.