Table of Contents

Contents Acknowledgments...7 PART 1: THE NATURE OF ABUSE 1. A Wake-up Call Regarding the Extent and Power of Abuse...11 2. Abuse as a Perversion of the Image of God...22 3. Profiles of Abusers...38 4. Portrait of an Abusive Family...54 PART 2: THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE 5. Shame...73 6. Powerlessness and Deadness...92 7. Isolation...109 PART 3: THE HEALING PATH 8. Facing the Brokenness...131 9. Rebuilding Intimacy with God...157 10. Forgiveness...180 Epilogue: A Word from Mary...195 Appendix 1: Child Protection Policy---First Church...198 Appendix 2: Application for Children's/Youth Work---First Church...204 Appendix 3: Child Protection Oral Screening---First Church...210 Appendix 4: Warning Signs of Potential Abusers...213 Appendix 5: Bible Passages That Address Abuse...217 Notes...225 Scripture Index...259 Subject Index...264

About the Author

Steven R. Tracy is Professor of Theology and Ethics at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (MDiv, ThM), and a received a PhD in New Testament from the University of Sheffield, England. He was a pastor for fifteen years and has extensive pastoral counseling experience. He and his wife Celestia, who is a family therapist, are the founders of Mending the Soul Ministries, a non-profit Christian organization that provides training, curriculum, and education on abuse prevention and healing. Dr. Tracy is the author of various articles on abuse and sexuality, serves on the Governor's Commission to Prevent Violence against Women for the State of Arizona, and serves on the Fatality Review Team for the City of Phoenix. A Mending the Soul workbook is available for individual or group use, and can be obtained at: www.mendingthesoulministries.org.