Brenda from KY

Kentucky

I was married to a sexual abuser (pedophile) who was a minister of youth and music at a Baptist church. Although I was totally oblivious to what was going on, I found out many years later that several pastors and more than one church covered up my husband's activities.

When I asked one of the pastors why they had not told me, he said he was afraid it would jeopardize our marriage. In effect, that's saying that I was being sacrificed on the altar of the institution of marriage.

The fruit of that secrecy was many more young boys being assaulted, and most likely the son we adopted. After 20 years of marriage, I divorced my husband due to domestic violence, and it was only during the custody battle that one of my husband's victims came forward to testify about being sexually assaulted when he was a teenager. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations had expired and my husband could not be prosecuted. This was the first time I knew about his history of abusing young boys.

I read your book, This Little Light, and I've heard many of the same responses from pastors and church leaders that you talked about in the book, both in the context of domestic violence and sexual assault.

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. However, I am ashamed to be labeled as a Southern Baptist for many reasons. I identify myself only as a Christ-follower.