JAMAICA
The Gleaner
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it – Proverbs 22:6
Growing up, it has always been the norm for parents to advocate that children be ‘raised’ in the Church. Be it Sabbath or Sunday School, the principle was that if they even turned away to focus on ‘things of the world’, then the innate training would manifest itself once more.
But with the many reports coming out of Christendom regarding the abuse by leaders of the flock on their young charges, reports on pastors swindling poor souls out of their hard earned monies, doubts have arisen on how much of a sanctuary the Church really is.
Dr Edina Bayne, associate pastor and member of the American Associations of Christian Counsellors, who is currently in Jamaica reached out to Family and Religion on what she termed ‘a burning issue’.
“The Church, which one would love to think would be the final frontier, a place that is built on family, and where families should feel safe – especially safe from sexual abuse, manipulation and control – is everything but safe. Now we find that in all too many instances in the churches, charismatic pastors and leaders are preying on the Church instead of praying for them,” she said.
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