It’s important that you understand that you are not alone in this situation. There are others. It, unfortunately, happens all too frequently. The purpose of this News & Notes section is to help you to understand that there is hope. That you can heal. That you could one day help someone else going through this very situation. May God bless you.

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Articles:

Latest Updates—August 1, 2010

July 2010 Letter from Samantha Nelson (General Conference Session Update)—V.P. & CEO

Overcoming Dysfunctional ‘Forgiveness’—Martin Weber, D.Min., Board Chairman

April 2010 Letter from Martin Weber—Board Chairman, The Hope of Survivors

Holy Healing for Abuse Scars—Tom Lemon, Board Chairman Emeritus

The Day My Jouney of Healing Began—Susan

Steve & Samantha “Down Under”—Coralie Roll & Arlagene Groves

Letter from Samantha Nelson—VP & CEO

Calendar Project Update (April 2010)

Twisted Faith—MSNBC

Church Sex Abuse (Ireland)—CNN

Tackling Church Sex Abuse—CNN

InFocus—Christian News & Current Affairs (Television spot on The Hope of Survivors’ work in Australia 11/13/09)

Letter from Martin Weber—Board Chairman, The Hope of Survivors

A Sad Farewell—Tom Lemon, Board Chairman Emeritus, The Hope of Survivors

A Season of Change...—Samantha Nelson, V.P. & CEO, The Hope of Survivors

Was It An Affair?—Coralie Roll, The Hope of Survivors Australian Division Representative

A Candle in the Darkness—Wess Stafford, as published in Christianity Today

Christian School Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sex with Student—KOMO TV News Staff

Neighbor: Teen Girls Often Visited Teacher’s Apartment—Luke Duecy

Child Abuse Claims Sweep Catholic Church in Europe—AP

Therapy Teaches that Incest is Never Consensual—Elizabeth Landau, CNN

First Amendment Does Not Protect Criminal Activities By Staff At Religious Organizations, Says Americans United

Former Pastor Plans to Appeal Murder Conviction—Bob Allen, Associated Baptist Press

I Have a Secret: I Had Sex with My Pastor—momlogic.com

Women Share Their Stories of Clergy Abuse—Elizabeth Eisenstadt-Evans, Lancaster Online

Evangelist Alamo Sentenced to 175 Years on Sex Charges—CNN.com

Abuse Charge Against Worship Leader Rocks Prominent Fla. Church—Bob Allen, Associated Baptist Press

Shame And Fear: Inside Germany's Catholic Church Abuse Scandal—Free Internet Press

A Mother, a Sick Son and His Father, the Priest—Laurie Goodstein, The New York Times

Some Faith Leaders Offer Women More Than Prayer—NPR News

Many Women Targeted by Faith Leaders, Survey Says—By Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post

Survey Reveals Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Misconduct—Audrey Barrick, Christian Post

Baylor University Conducts Largest National Study of Clergy Sexual Misconduct with Adults (September 2009)

Baylor University Update (July 2009)

Australia Division Update (July 2009)

New Volunteer (July 2009)

Touching Lives Around the World—Samantha Nelson

Sanctuary for the Sexually Abused—Martin Weber, D.Min.

Healing the Craziness—Tom Lemon

Victims & Stress: The Effects of Stress Due to Pastoral Sexual Abuse—James L. Marcum, M.D.

Understanding the Mystery of Clergy Sexual Abuse—Martin Weber

If You Were There—Steve Nelson

Of Weeping and Joy—Samantha Nelson

A New Opportunity—Shyleene Rosado

Which One Will You Be?—Samantha Nelson

God Is In All The Details—Steve Nelson

“Peace, Be Still.”—Samantha Nelson

The Sower—Steve Nelson

Whiplash and Sin—Samantha Nelson

It’s the Trials...—Steve Nelson

Forgiveness is a Gift—Samantha Nelson

What Is Faith?—Steve Nelson

Vertical Vision—Samantha Nelson

Q&A About Pastoral Sexual Abuse & Misconduct—The Hope of Survivors Staff

Interview for Marie Claire Magazine (UK)—Roshan McArthur & Samantha Nelson

The Power of a Lie—Samantha Nelson

Traits of a Good Shepherd—Steve & Samantha Nelson

The Subtlety of Satan & Pastors Who Prey—Samantha Nelson

Victim of “Clergy Abuse” Now Helps Others—George Warren, KXTV News 10 Sacramento, CA

Local Church Leaders Accused of Misusing Their Power—Katherine Boyd, WKYC News 3 Cleveland, OH (Click here to view the news broadcast)

The Hope of Survivors—Karen SuvanKahm

Pastoral Sexual Abuse Informational Materials to be Distributed—Samantha Nelson

TheHopeOfSurvivors.com Recognized by Top International Honor for Web Sites—Samantha Nelson

The Hope of Survivors Survey Results (November 2008)

Kenya Division Update (October 2008)—Hephzibah Akunga

Kenya Division Update (July 2008)—Hephzibah Akunga

Pastor Porn Addict Admits Struggle—CNN News

Former Pastor Giffin Faces 6 Rape Charges—Peter H. Milliken

Haggard Asked Volunteer if They Were Going to be ‘Godly or Bad’—Tak Landrock

Clergy Sexual Abuse Research By Baylor Social Work Dean Awarded $200,000 by Ford Foundation—Vicki Kabat

Cathedral Offers Garden to Sex Abuse Victims—CNN.com

Dinah’s Silent Cry: How Jesus Heals Abuse—Charisma Magazine

Sexual Misconduct at Church—Marian V. Liautaud, Christianity Today

Pastor Lies About Cancer (Video)—CNN.com

Former Youth Pastor Sent to Prison; Given Lifetime Probation—Vanessa Miller

Sexual Abuses Issues in the Church; Raising the Bar—Gregory Love and Kimberlee Norris

Pope Said to Meet with Victims of Sexual Abuse—CNN News

Former Music Minister Timothy Mann Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse—Patricia M. Murret, Gazette.net

Hoover Man Charged in Maryland Child Abuse Case Resigns as Music Minister at Shades Crest Baptist—Birmingham News Staff

When Your Pastor Fails You—Yonat Shimron, Staff Writer, The News & Observer

Jerome Minister Gets 2 Yrs. Probation—Jay Michaels, KMVT

Reverend Placed on Probation—Andrea Jackson, Times-News*

Jerome Preacher Charged with Battery—Cass Friedman, Times-News*
*Please note: The pastor charged in this case, Rev. Ronald Matheney, happened to be the host during radio interviews for Friendly Fire with Samantha Nelson during March/April 2007. We have only just (9/9/08) become aware of the charges against him. The interviews have been removed from this web site. The Hope of Survivors does not condone or support abuse in any form, by any individual.

Pregnant Teen Can No Longer Hide Secret Affair With Pastor—Yahoo! News**
**Please note: Below is our brief response to the Dear Abby article which appeared in Yahoo! News on February 3, 2008. We are aware that others replied and shared information from The Hope of Survivors with Dear Abby, too.

February 6, 2008
Dear Abby,
Regarding the article from February 3, entitled, PREGNANT TEEN CAN NO LONGER HIDE SECRET AFFAIR WITH PASTOR, please let IN TRUE LOVE IN WASHINGTON know that she did not have an affair, nor is this love, and that organizations such as The Hope of Survivors exist to provide free counsel and support to those who have been abused by a pastor or other spiritual leader. Thank you for making it clear to her that Reverend Ron is the only one who should be shamed in this case.
Samantha

More from Dear Abby on Pregnant Teen—UExpress.com

Auntie Anne’s Success and Private Tragedy—ABC News

A Pastor’s Dark Secret—CNN.com

Sex Scandal Rocks Famed Megachurch—Associated Press

Pastor Sued in Sex Scandal—Kevin Martin, Calgary Sun

Sexual Predators Often Fly Under the Radar at Church—Hannah Elliott, Associated Baptist Press

‘We’re Moving On’, Church Members Say—Jim Schoettler, The Times-Union

The Recycle of Clergy Abuse—Greg Warner, Associated Baptist Press

Stepping Over the Line: Should Sexually Straying Clergy Be Restored to Ministry?—Ken Camp

Pastor Accused of Punishment Spank—FOX 4’s Dionne Anglin

Woman Accuses Pastor of Sex Abuse—Melanthia Mitchell, The Associated Press

Haggard Confesses to ‘Lifelong’ Sexual Problem—CNN’s Eric Marrapodi contributed to this report.

Pastor, His Family Accused of Molesting Children—Associated Press

Pentecostal Preacher Sherman Allen Turns Out to Be Reverend Spanky—Julie Lyons, Dallas Observer

Sherman Allen Gets Spanked—Julie Lyons, Dallas Observer

Police Say Pastor Coerced Sex Using God’s Word—Associated Press

Pastor Charged After Sexual Relations—Norway

Southern Baptists Confront Their Own Sexual Abuse Scandal—Adelle M. Banks

Churches in Trauma—Phil Jones, Religion & Ethics

Abuse Knows No Time Limit, House Told—Jim Siegel and Gerald Tebben, The Columbus Dispatch

Why “Pastoral Affair” Is An Oxymoron: Thoughts On Clergy Sexual Misconduct—René Drumm

Bishop Paulk Allegations—Dale Russell, Fox News, Atlanta, GA

Minister Unbowed—By Tobi Oluwa, Columbus Post

Sex-Abuse Complaints Voiced at Site of Detroit Conference—Dennis Pelham, Daily Telegram Staff Writer

Woman Says Church Warned—Laurence Hammack, The Roanoke Times

In Missouri Court, a Choir Director Claims Minister Raped Her—Emanuella Grinberg, Court TV

Sex In the Forbidden Zone—Barrington H. Brennen

Blaming Women for the Sexually Abusive Male Pastor—Ann-Janine Morey

Sexual Misconduct in the Ministry: The Pastor, Sexual Sin, and the Bible (Part 3)—Professor Miroslav Kis

Sexual Misconduct in the Ministry: Unforbidden Fruit (Part 2)—Professor Miroslav Kis

Pastor Fired Over Sexual Exploitation Charges—Staff, KCCI Channel 8, Iowa

Pastoral Sexual Abuse: It’s Not an Affair, It’s Abuse—Sandra Gates

Pastoral Immorality, Another Perspective—Condensed version as posted on the Recorder web site

Pastoral Immorality, Another Perspective—Full version as originally written by Steve & Samantha Nelson

Sexual Misconduct in the Ministry: A Biblical Sketch of Pastoral Identity (Part 1)—Professor Miroslav Kis

Are Baptist Leaders Doing Enough About Clergy Sex-Abuse Revelations?—By Hannah Elliott

Boston Archdiocese Reveals Abuse Findings—CNN.com

Finland: Church Cooperating in Abuse Investigation

Sexual Ethics for Ministers Discussed

Organizational Misconduct—James A. Cress

Priest Gets Life for Assaulting 13-Year-Old

Church to Reveal Details of Abuse by Preacher—Martin Daly

Dear Editor...The Flock Responds—Adventist Review

Unfaithful: When Shepherds Become Wolves—Adventist Review

The Forbidden Zone: The Nature and Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Abuse—Christian Ethics Today

When Clergy Prey, Women Pray to Be Heard—Fortworth Star-Telegram

Hope & Healing Comes to Bloomington, MN!—April 2008

The Hope of Survivors & Applebee’s Working Together!

Update from the General Conference Session in St. Louis, MO—June-July 2005

Update from the ASI International Convention in Sacramento, CA—August 2005

Update from the ASI International Convention in Cincinnati, OH—August 2004