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An Opportunity to Spread Hope
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During these intense and sometimes disconcerting days leading up to the Federal election we want to share with you an opportunity to spread a message of hope.
Humble Hope is a documentary that looks at the Christian view on the issue of sexual abuse. This subject has had a very high profile with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. This has resulted in a strong focus of the issue within the church in the media. However, none of the media coverage has considered the issues for individuals...and that most abuse has occurred in family situations not institutions.
In this documentary we hear from survivors on how they have found healing through Christ. The film explores the spiritual aspect of the human condition, forgiveness and repentance that needs to occur for people to move on in their lives. It
centres on 3 incredible and different stories from survivors, who each share their life journey, and their healing through Christ. Church leaders also share their thoughts on the responsibility of the Church and the healing process. All this is backed up by the sharing of experts about the need for a Christ-centred process, and why this is so important for people to experience true healing.
A team is now in post-production of the film, and need funding to be able to finish and market the film effectively. They also want to make sure that the film is of a high quality and well resourced.
As you read further ask God to speak to you about how you can be part of this project with its huge potential for healing and transformation. .
Sexual abuse has affected 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 6 men in families alone. This means, on average, that 1 in 5 Australians are survivors of child sexual abuse, which equates to 5 million people! In Humble Hope experts in the field are interviewed about the problems associated with abuse, and the psychology of the survivor and perpetrator.
One highlight of the film is the power of forgiveness demonstrated at the National Day of Prayer & Fasting 2015 when leaders proceeded to wash a survivor's feet as a public act of humble repentance. This service was a moving public acknowledgement by these church leaders of them taking responsibility for the past actions of their churches.
The Humble Hope documentary also looks at what leads to abuse, and how survivors can become perpetrators. It explores our modern society and the issues that are before us now, the moral decline around the family, and acceptance of anything goes...such as online dating, marriage breakdown, the sexualisation of women, society in general, and the rise of pornography, paedophilia and self harm...how will this impact our world in the next 20 years?
Pre-Screening Fundraising Dinners will be held in different cities around Australia in the next 6 weeks starting in Brisbane this weekend. Details here.
- Please pray that God will go before the final productions stages of the Humble Hope documentary.
- Please pray about how you can be involved. Pray for the fund-raising dinner at New Hope Church in Brisbane on Sunday as shown in the above poster.
- Please pray that God will use this documentary to communicate a message of hope and healing to millions of Australians.
Thank you!
"May the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
(Romans 15:13).
Yours for the healing of the victims of sexual abuse,
Warwick Marsh and David Rowsome
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An Update on the New Queensland Abortion Bill
On 8 May the Prime Minister called for a Federal Election on 2 July. Two days later on 10 May the shocking Abortion Law Reform (Women's Right to Choose) Ammendment Bill 2016 was tabled in the Queensland State Parliament. The Bill went to a Committee and on 26 May they announced that submissions would close on 30 June and a report given by 24 August.
As we shared earlier, if left unchecked, the proposed abortion laws could give Queensland the worst abortion laws in the Western world. The situation in Queensland in regard to abortion is already dire. Just last week the Health Minister for Queensland shared that between 2005 and 2015 records show that 204 babies were born alive after late-term abortions and left to die unattended.
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Queensland MPs Rob Pyne and Jackie Trad
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It was disturbing that the new Queensland Abortion Law Reform Bill was introduced just as the Infant Viability Bill in Victoria was nearing the final debate and vote on 25 May. This Bill sought to put an end to late-term abortions in Victoria. Had it been successful it would have been one of the biggest breakthroughs for LIFE in over forty years.
At a rally supporting Independent MP Rob Pyne, who introduced the new Queensland Bill, the Deputy Premier of Queensland, Jackie Trad, shared that she was "unashamedly pro-choice". She is one of eight Queensland MPs who belong to Emily's List. Babette Francis of Endeavour Forum writes, "Emily's List is a feminist organisation which raises money to have pro-abortion women elected to parliament." In this article she explains that "to have the financial and political support of Emily's List, a candidate must support the abortion of a full-term baby right up to the moment of birth".
The Canberra Declaration submission dated 22 June is entitled 'Please Vigorously Recommend Against Abortion in Queensland'. It quotes relevant statements made in the 'Human Life' section of the Canberra Declaration and points out to the Committee that the Canberra Declaration has been signed by 67,710 Australian citizens of which 18,207 are Queenslanders. We also registered our concern that calling for submissions in the lead up to a Federal election would limit a fair response.
There are still six days left before submissions close at 4pm on Thursday 30 June. We encourage you to write something if you are a Queenslander. It doesn't need to be long. Make your view known in the subject line. Send your submission to the -
Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee by
Australia Post: Parliament House, George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000
The Abortion Rethink website has facts and figures to help you. Please note that a submission will not be accepted without a name, address and phone number.
For those in other states please continue to pray. Thank you!
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