We often receive the questions, “Can you help me? How does it work?” In an effort to help you better understand, and to explain the process by which The Hope of Survivors works, we have created this information page about our services and conferences. We’ll start by telling you what you won’t find here…

You won’t find an online chat forum. While we believe it is helpful to have the input of others, we believe too many conflicting personal opinions, many not based on principle or Scripture, can be counter-productive to your recovery and future spiritual, emotional and physical health.

What you will find is loving, caring, compassionate people who are willing to listen, encourage, help and provide support based on Biblical principles. You’ll find people who know how you feel because they’ve experienced the devastation of pastoral sexual abuse themselves. We’re not talking textbook knowledge. We’re talking real-life experience. You’ll find individuals who are seeking, by God’s grace and power, to educate clergy and laity, alike, on the perils and devastation of pastoral sexual abuse and misconduct. You’ll find answers, hope and, we pray, a renewed relationship with Jesus.

In addition, you’ll be able to attend conferences designed to facilitate healing and restore hope to victims (and their spouses) of pastoral sexual misconduct.

Seminar Outlines

Hope & Healing Conference
The purpose of this conference is to provide information and support to those who have been abused by members of the clergy (of any denomination). The conference is primarily for adult female victims of pastoral sexual abuse and their spouses, however, anyone who desires to learn more about pastoral sexual abuse and prevention is welcome to attend. This is a four-hour conference and is presented by Steve & Samantha Nelson. Topics Include:

• What is pastoral sexual abuse?
• How does this happen?
• Is there an imbalance?
• Who is vulnerable?
• What are the vulnerabilities?
• Why is this not an affair?
• How do we prevent this?
• Where is God?
• How to start over?
• How should the church respond?
• And much more!

To review comments about our Hope & Healing Conference from attendees, please click here.

View Hope & Healing Video! (Compressed for Broadband speed.)
In this half-hour television program, part one in a three-part series, Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) host Shelley Quinn interviews The Hope of Survivors’ founders, Steve and Samantha Nelson, on the topic of pastoral sexual abuse and how it affects the female victim. This interview is a general overview of the Hope & Healing conference for victims.

Faith & Fidelity Conference
Our pastoral seminar, Faith & Fidelity, is presented by Steve & Samantha Nelson. A very simple outline of the presentation includes a brief testimony and the following topics:

• Why is this abuse & not an affair?
• A pastor’s temptations
• A woman’s perspective
• 6 steps to avoid falling
• A pastor’s weaknesses
• God’s plan for purity
• And much more!

We discuss relevant issues such as pornography and temptation, and provide encouragement and support for pastors to remain pure and stay close to Jesus. Additional resources are provided. Approximately four hours is ideal for the presentation (depending on audience size).

To read letters of recommendation from the church leaders who requested our Faith & Fidelity Conference, or from those who attended, please click one of the following links:

Alaska Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Testimonials from Attendees

Universidad Adventista de las Antillas

View Faith & Fidelity Video! (Compressed for Broadband speed.)
In this half-hour television program, part two in a three-part series, Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) host Shelley Quinn interviews The Hope of Survivors’ founders, Steve and Samantha Nelson, on the topic of pastoral sexual abuse, how it can be avoided, and how it affects the pastor. This interview is a general overview of the Faith & Fidelity conference for pastors and church leaders.

Trust & Truth Conference
Presented by Steve & Samantha Nelson, the purpose of this conference is to discuss how pastoral sexual misconduct and abuse affects the entire church, not just the pastor and the woman (and their respective families) involved, and how to survive the aftermath. Again, four hours is ideal for the presentation (depending on audience size). A basic outline of the presentation includes a brief testimony and the following topics:

• Why is this abuse & not an affair?
• How could this happen in our church?
• What should we do?
• Who can we trust?
• Coming together
• And much more!

To read a letter of recommendation from one of the pastors who attended our Trust & Truth Conference, please click here. To review comments from other attendees, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page for Trust & Truth conference reviews.)

View Trust & Truth Video! (Compressed for Broadband speed.)
In this half-hour television program, part three in a three-part series, Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) host Shelley Quinn interviews The Hope of Survivors’ founders, Steve and Samantha Nelson, on the topic of pastoral sexual abuse, how the church should handle this sensitive subject, and how the church can recover from the devastation of it. This interview is a general overview of the Trust & Truth conference for church and community members.

Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day programs are also available and include a morning sermon covering the topic of abuse and an evening benefit concert with testimonies from victims of pastoral sexual abuse. If you would like to learn more or schedule a conference/program in your area, please call (866) 260-8958 or email us.  Thank you very much!