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Heart to
Heart
July 2001 - "To The Least of
These..."
We travel the information highway and live in the cybernetic
era. Media has invaded our homes, bringing violence, crime,
and pornography in unprecedented ways. The result? Cauterized
consciences to the point that society has lost its sense of
dignity and of right and wrong. Oppression and abuse are placed
particularly upon women and girls. Society's largest "minority"
face unthinkable suffering: a universal malady more devastating
than cancer, AIDS, or war.
In this issue, we have focused on the millions of exploited
girl children worldwide. This touches a very tender spot in
my heart. You see, broken women are not born that way. They
were broken as little girls or in their teen years, and grow
up to be broken women.
In Europe recently, a woman tearfully shared with me her dark
secret. She was raped by her brother. Her mother never believed
her story and always protected her brother. The abuse continued
until she was married. Feeling dirty and ashamed, she lied to
her husband and said that she had slept with other men. (In
a sick way she was punishing herself.) Her childhood innocence
and joy had given way to feelings of unworthiness and despair.
After 34 years of silence, she sat before me a broken woman
covered in shame and engulfed in bitterness.
We wept together and travailed in prayer for her to be delivered
from pain and shame. The promise of Psalm 34:18 was fulfilled
right then: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit." She was forgiven,
and received strength to forgive her brother and mother. She
stood redeemed by the One who "heals all our diseases,"
and became a new woman dressed in dignity. And the little girl
inside of her was restored by Jesus' loving touch.
Oh, when will we learn that our future is our children? They
are our precious resources for a better tomorrow! Unfortunately,
society is not protecting them, as we see in these reports:
- More than 30,000 Albanian girls and teenagers are
kidnaped and auctioned off into a world of prostitution in Europe.
It is believed that most of these prostitutes were trafficked
into Europe as children. (World News Tonight May 21, 2001)
- An estimated 1 million children are believed to enter
the multi-billion-dollar illegal sex market each year! The UN
suggests that 10 million children may be involved globally.
- 250 million copies of child porn videos are said to be circulating
globally, according to Sexually Exploited Children, edited by
P. Kilbourn and M. McDermid.
How repulsive! What unthinkable evil surrounds tomorrow's adults!
Child sexual abuse is a hideous sin. It breaks vulnerable and
defenseless children. Those who misuse or fail to protect them
will receive utter condemnation from God (Matt.18:6 and 19:14).
We need to stand up against this injustice and cry, "Enough!"
Radio has been called "the quiet revolution." It changes
lives one by one. I have seen countless women, girls, and men
transformed through prayer and through Women of Hope.
Would you join us in touching these broken lives with your prayers
and support? Together we can make a difference. As Jesus said:
"...Inasmuch as you did to the least of these... you did
it to ME."
- Marli Spieker
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