When #MeToo Is Your Reality

Leila Sommerfeld and Kathleen Terrill openly share about the pain and devastation they've experienced as rape survivors, and offer hope to women who've been sexually assaulted as they discuss the healing and restoration they've found through the power of God's love. (Part 1 of 2)

You might have heard that your identity should be that of a survivor instead of a victim. God’s goal for you is far bigger than mere survival. His goal for you is to become His servant. When you are God’s servant, you are defined by His love for you, and that identity is profoundly liberating.

Whether you're looking for support, information, advice, or a referral, our trained support specialists are ready to help.

Coping with sexual abuse? There is hope here. You can be be a whole person, healed and recovered from what happened in your life.

Mercy for Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is a violation against a person’s body that has deep and devastating effects on their life. Guilt and shame often silence the secret and leave you paralyzed with overwhelming emotions. Expose the painful truth about your past and allow God to bring wholeness and healing into your life.

In a previous entry, we talked about the idea of sex and consent being mutually exclusive: You can’t have sex without consent because sex without consent is not sex—it’s rape.

Nicole* loves her husband. She likes sitting with him on the sofa, holding hands and sharing thoughts in conversation. Any more intimacy than this is out of bounds. Hidden, unresolved memories of her sexual assault are affecting her and their marriage. Her husband, Trevor, knows nothing about the aftermath of sexual assault.

If you are in a position of trust and are able to offer assistance to the victim of a recently committed rape, we suggest that the following steps be taken without delay:

Our mission is to champion dignity and compassion for those harmed by crime and crisis.

Each tweet was written by a person just like you, someone created in the image of God who had experienced a horrible wrong done against them.

Sexual assault and rape are devastating. Find out ways to help the victim or to be proactive in understanding this tragedy.

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to raise public awareness about a global tragedy.

When we come to Jesus, afraid that our uncleanness will repel him, he does not withdraw in disgust. He makes us clean.

How can we comfort and support a young child who has just been through the trauma of rape? We just learned that one of our children was recently the victim of a sexual assault. We are absolutely devastated. How can we help our son or daughter heal from this traumatic experience? What first steps should we take to come alongside them?

Are you haunted by sexual trauma? Do you long to be free of shame, anxiety, and anger? Facing the trauma and working through the pain of sexual abuse is overwhelming, but so is living as its victim. You want to believe healing is possible, but where do you start? Using guided strategies based on research, Scripture, and prayer, Heartmending invites you to encounter God's gentle healing power that restores what was taken from you.