It is not often that a book launch includes a prayerful call to repentance.

But that is just what took place last Saturday (April 22), at the launch of Assault on the Body: Sexual Violence and the Gospel Community, published by Graceworks.

About 260 church ministry workers and members of the public who packed the Church of Our Saviour chapel, were led by Pastor Ben KC Lee to pray in one voice over Psalm 10 for “forgiveness for the times we have neglected the vulnerable”.

Uppermost in Pastor Ben’s mind as he considered how to lead those present in a prayer of repentance, was “to adopt a right heart posture of brokenness and lament, remembering when one member of the body hurts, the whole body hurts”, he told Salt&Light.

He was moved from anger to hope in the course of the various sharings by a survivor of sexual assault as well as church leaders who have worked to set up safeguarding policies in their churches, he added.

“Ultimately, the Church is called to mend the broken shalom in the world (Luke 15:11-32, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20). This happens when we embrace our calling as reconcilers.

“When one member of the body hurts, the whole body hurts,” said Ps Ben Lee, as he led those at the book launch to repentance and renewal. Photo by Sean Lim.

“The adventure we’re called to is joining the Holy Spirit in making that shalom real in our world, to empower us to love as He loves, because healing, reconciliation and love are beyond our human capacity alone,” said Pastor Ben, Senior Pastor of RiverLife Church, who previously served as Head of Sexual Wholeness with Focus on the Family (Singapore).

Can we recognise sexual assault?

About 300 copies of the book were snapped up at the launch, said publisher Graceworks.

Chief Editor Dr Nicole Ong mooted the idea for the book after she realised that some of her close friends had been sexually assaulted, but not everyone in the body of believers – including well-intentioned church leaders – was equipped to support them. 

Her friends’ stories made her wonder: “Can we recognise sexual assault when we see it? Or do we simply walk by?

“In our focus groups with pastors from 10 churches, we heard how they wished they had better handles in supporting victims and dealing with perpetrators,” she said.

Assault on the Body spans 28 chapters and is divided into four parts. The first section sheds light on the experiences of sexual assault victims; the second discusses a biblical response to sexual violence; the third looks at how young people, including children, are especially vulnerable to sexual predators; while the final section includes reflections from ministry workers and volunteers who have taken concrete steps to make the church a safer place.

Chief Editor Dr Nicole Ong (centre), with contributors Melissa Tee (left), Integrated Ministry Resource Inner Care Therapist at Prison Fellowship Singapore, and Benita Lim (right), Faculty-in-preparation at the Singapore Bible College, who co-wrote the chapter on “The conditions of biblical forgiveness and reconciliation in sexual abuse cases”. Photo courtesy of Benita Lim.

The editorial team and chapter contributors at the launch of the book, which took almost 18 months to come together. Photo by Sean Lim.

The book came together after almost 18 months as sexual assault survivors, church leaders, ministry workers and relevant professionals contributed articles.

The chapters were then edited by a team of six and published by Graceworks.

Fearing the wrong thing

Those present at the book launch not only heard a survivor’s story, but also heard from Lead Pastor of Redemption Hill Church Simon Murphy, Director of Thinking Faith Max Jeganathan, and Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church Deaconess Deborah Liew on how to provide support to victims and create a safe space in our churches, how to manage sexual assault cases and minister to perpetrators.

“People are precious as they are made in God’s image,” said Max Jeganathan. “A cross-shaped theology of abuse must therefore be centred on the victims.”

Citing the words of the shepherd prophet Amos, he noted that the kingdom of God is synonymous with a call and an effort for “justice to roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”.

“The church, of all institutions, would understand the intrinsic brokenness of man and should put into place high levels of accountability,” he added. 

Pastor Simon pointed out: “We tend to fear the wrong thing. We need to change what we fear, change how we see the church’s witness, and remember the public, yet gracious, way God deals with sins.”

In 2021, his church, Redemption Hill, gathered a team of members with expertise in areas such as trauma-informed care, child abuse and sex crimes.

“A cross-shaped theology of abuse must be centred on the victims,” reminded Max Jeganathan. Photo by Sean Lim.

“We need to change what we fear, change how we see the church’s witness, and remember the public, yet gracious, way God deals with sins,” said Pastor Simon Murphy. Photo by Sean Lim.

Deborah Liew shared how the Safeguarding Team of Zion Bishan Presbyterian Church searched the Scriptures and were guided by its principles to raise awareness of sexual assault issues. Photo by Sean Lim.

A year later in 2022, the church launched an Abuse Response Team to provide victim-centric care, counsel and assistance; give first responder training among staff and small group leaders; and set up special funds for emergency situations for those who need immediate help. 

Deaconess Deborah Liew also shared about Zion Bishan’s Safeguarding Team, formed in 2018, who searched the Scriptures and were guided by its principles to raise awareness of sexual assault issues and train ministry leaders and volunteers to “create a safe environment that guards everyone, especially the young and vulnerable, against the risk and effects of abuse”.

If there’s whistleblowing in the workplace, why not the Church?

The response to Saturday’s event was unanimously hopeful.

Said audience member Peck Sim: “The proceedings were not set up to condemn churches. Instead the message from the speakers was: We’re here to help. We’re here to bring awareness. And Max, Pastor Simon and Deborah gave very practical handles to church leaders based on biblical principles.

“For me personally, I was struck by what the victim said about her friend, Susan, who journeyed with her throughout her ordeal. It reminds us all that we may not be experts on sexual assault, but just checking up on people, telling them they are loved, that we are not giving up on them, can make a difference.”

Another audience member, Mr Lee, added: “Some of the things Deborah talked about – safeguarding policies, whistleblowing policies – made me wonder how many churches have that – a follow-up for the victims as well as the discipline and restoration of the perpetrator?

“It doesn’t help if we stick our head in the sand and pretend it doesn’t happen because in some churches, it does.

“We have whistleblowing in the workplace, why not the church?”

There were lessons for parents and children’s ministry workers as well.

“I volunteer in children’s ministry, and when I heard the victim say how her mother got her to memorise Bible verses as a child, and how she remembered those verses during her lowest points, it made me want to cry,” said Peck Sim.

“It reminded me of Proverbs 22:6 – to really teach our children in the way they should go and they don’t forget.”

The launch and the speakers drew almost 260 audience members, including church leaders, with the COOS chapel filled to capacity. Photo by Sean Lim.

For another audience member, Carmen, hearing the survivor’s sharing was “painful”.

“Someone whom I oversaw in my church went through a similar incident,” she told Salt&Light. “I told her I think we need to bring this out into the light. But she said ‘no’ because she wouldn’t be able to cope with the shame. So immediately I shut down. In fact, I didn’t know who to trust with the information. I felt I couldn’t protect her.

“Tonight, what spoke to me was what Pastor Simon said about shifting our fear to the right thing: Fear of the Lord, not of man. If I could go back, I would do things differently.”

A true representation of Christ’s heart 

The overwhelming response was unexpected and moving for the team behind the book project.

Chief Editor Nicole said: “I think it would mean a lot to many victims and survivors of sexual abuse to know that there are so many people in the Church who are willing to learn how to respond to sexual violence in a Christ-like way.

“I hope that this book will spark much-needed conversations about this issue. God has so much love for victims and survivors of abuse and I hope that the Church will one day be a true representation of His heart for them.”