The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide

Churches have always sought to be a safe haven for children and families, but many today are dealing with the tragic reality of child sexual abuse.

This handbook, authored and edited by a multidisciplinary team of child abuse experts, is designed for use by a group that will be formulating policies and procedures to protect children and deal with possible child abuse in their ministry, school, and/or church. Working through this book will assist churches and ministries to assess their current child abuse polices and then guide them through each step they need to take to address the safety of children under their care. It will cover vitally important topics including:

—Protecting the children in a Christian environment from child abuse
—The warning signs of child abuse
—Crafting and implement a child protection policy
—Responding to abuse allegations
—Caring for victims of child abuse
—The legal implications and requirements for churches and Christian ministries

Written by a GRACE team with multi-disciplinary knowledge, headed by Boz Tchividjian, a lawyer and former child abuse prosecutor, this handbook will be an invaluable resource to Christians who are seeking to educate themselves and others about child abuse and how to best protect the little ones under their care.

My thoughts: This is a great book for churches to have on hand to help educate those working with children and adults who may come into contact with either those who have been abused, those who are being abused, or the warning signs for potential abuse. I think that this is an excellent book for churches and ministries to keep on hand, since it is very informative and takes any guess work out of how to handle keeping children safe and helping those who have been abused. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World

Nothing fuels prayer like seeing a need with your own eyes. Journey with Brian Stiller as he gathers firsthand information and prayer requests direct from Christians around the world. Filled with stories of faith and risk, tragedy and hope, An Insider's Guid to Praying for the World will help you intercede with greater focus and understanding all while learning about other lands. An ideal resource for prayer and study groups, too.

My thoughts: If you are looking to add a breath of fresh air to your prayer life, then this is an excellent place to start! (it's also a great resource if you are looking for more direction in your prayers past your nation) I enjoyed reading the chapters on each nation that is featured, since they include a bit about the country and where it is located, a personal story, scripture reading, and item(s) to pray for. I appreciated the personal aspect, since it helps the reader to connect. I also appreciated that there are chapters on praying for different ministries or specific issues, like those persecuted. This book is an excellent resource!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Fallen

After more than a decade as a victim of the commercial sex industry, Annie Lobert shares not only her redemption story but those of others involved in sex trafficking.
Annie Lobert was not so different from most girls. She grew up in a small town and had common struggles with friends, school, and boys. Her home was filled with turmoil, and, as happens far too often, she was sexually abused by a family friend. She knew heartache, but she didn’t know love. Sadly, Annie’s story is not uncommon. Young people are stumbling into the arms of the waiting world of the sex industry. Human sex trafficking and involvement in the sex industry – whether by choice, force, or coercion – is a sad world full of broken dreams.
Hookers for Jesus , a non-profit ministry, was founded by Annie to address the harmful effects of prostitution and sex trafficking. Its mission is to Hook, Give Hope, Heal, and Help those who have been negatively affected by sex trafficking and the adult entertainment industry.
- See more
My thoughts: What a heartbreaking story! But, it is also a beautiful one, since it shows the redeeming power of God's love, even when we hit rock bottom and think there is no where else to go. I really admire Annie's honesty as she shares her story of getting caught up in the world of sex trafficking. My heart broke for her, as she fell for a man who she later comes to realize is a pimp, causing her to become his slave. She is very open and honest about what her life was like, and for that reason, I would recommend this book for older teens and above, due to some of the subject matter. I think it is a powerful story though.
If you are interested in learning more about Annie's ministry, visit her site
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.