The Healing Spirit: A Study of Seven Journeys to Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse
This book traces the journeys of seven victims of childhood sexual abuse who have experienced recovery through the activity of the Holy Spirit within the context of the local church. These recovered victims have been enabled to move beyond the devastation of abuse by others whom they trusted to a place of emotional and psychological stability, appropriate sexual intimacy with their spouses, and a growing level of spiritual maturity. While the Christian community has been slow to grasp the severity and extent of the problem or to provide the healing resources of the gospel, some victims have found recovery in local churches. The author has undertaken in-depth interviews to elicit and explore the narratives of their journeys from woundedness to well-being. These narratives are an important source of information on the activity of the Holy Spirit in healing. While the Spirit is an entity hidden to us, the author has explored the experiences of seven recovered victims to disclose meaning for the work of the Spirit in all areas of Christian ministry.
“The Healing Spirit addresses with great care and
sensitivity a Christian response to the abuse of children, an issue
that has become a scourge in our times. Stossich cites examples of
abused individuals and seeks in a caring, objective, and clinical
way to examine, with careful analysis, a redemptive and pastoral
way forward. I commend this book to the serious student of pastoral
care, those committed to restoration, and those who believe that
recovery is available through the power of the Spirit.”
—Timothy W. Jack, National Leader, Apostolic Church UK
“Leo Stossich’s timely book explores the active role that local
churches can—and do—play as safe environments where survivors
feel able to disclose their pain and find emotional support. In
this eminently readable book, Stossich’s pastoral compassion shines
through.”
—Graham Buxton, Professor of Theology, Fuller Theological
Seminary
“Leo Stossich has written an important book on the process for
finding healing from sexual abuse, especially when
churches around the world are grappling with the implications of
inquiries into institutional sexual abuse.”
—Angelo Cettolin, Vice Principal, Eastern College Australia
“In a world sensitive to the horrors of childhood sexual abuse,
particularly in church institutions, The Healing Spirit
reminds us how the local church can be a source of recovery for
victims. With deep care, Stossich retells the healing stories of
survivors noting the place pastors, churches, and the Holy Spirit
played in their journeys. The result is a compassionate,
thoughtful, and challenging book that will offer hope to victims
and churches, and be a valuable tool in the hand of pastors.”
—Stephen Baxter, Senior Pastor of Hobart Baptist Church, State
Leader for Tasmanian Baptists
“The Healing Spirit addresses with great care and
sensitivity a Christian response to the abuse of children, an issue
that has become a scourge in our times. Stossich cites examples of
abused individuals and seeks in a caring, objective, and clinical
way to examine, with careful analysis, a redemptive and pastoral
way forward. I commend this book to the serious student of pastoral
care, those committed to restoration, and those who believe that
recovery is available through the power of the Spirit.”
—Timothy W. Jack, National Leader, Apostolic Church UK
“Leo Stossich’s timely book explores the active role that local
churches can—and do—play as safe environments where survivors
feel able to disclose their pain and find emotional support. In
this eminently readable book, Stossich’s pastoral compassion shines
through.”
—Graham Buxton, Professor of Theology, Fuller Theological
Seminary
“Leo Stossich has written an important book on the process for
finding healing from sexual abuse, especially when
churches around the world are grappling with the implications of
inquiries into institutional sexual abuse.”
—Angelo Cettolin, Vice Principal, Eastern College Australia
“In a world sensitive to the horrors of childhood sexual abuse,
particularly in church institutions, The Healing Spirit
reminds us how the local church can be a source of recovery for
victims. With deep care, Stossich retells the healing stories of
survivors noting the place pastors, churches, and the Holy Spirit
played in their journeys. The result is a compassionate,
thoughtful, and challenging book that will offer hope to victims
and churches, and be a valuable tool in the hand of pastors.”
—Stephen Baxter, Senior Pastor of Hobart Baptist Church, State
Leader for Tasmanian Baptists
Product Details
- Title : The Healing Spirit: A Study of Seven Journeys to Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse
- Authors:
- Stossich, Leo O.
- Devenish, Stuart C.
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2019
- ISBN: 9781532644290
Leo Stossich is a qualified teacher, an ordained minister, and
has planted several churches. He gained his doctorate of ministry
at Tabor College of Higher Education in Adelaide, Australia. His
dissertation was “The Healing Spirit: An Investigation of Spiritual
Healing for Christian Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.”
Stossich has lectured at the Tasmanian College of Ministries and
Tabor College in Hobart. He is married with four adult children and
four grandchildren.