Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2838

Tonight's special guest is Karen Leitzell from Silicon Valley, California, whose mother and aunts were abused by the men in their childhood home, after the girls lost their mother to breast cancer. "My mother suffered greatly and found solace in drinking until I was 19 when she entered AA. She was a very controlled alcoholic and dutiful mother. But she was profoundly broken and suffered deeply from her childhood abuse." She goes on, "In 2009, I began an endless quest to understand childhood abuse when it became apparent that one of my sons was suffering greatly with intrusive thoughts and bouts of depression." She goes on, "Quite honestly, I had a very vivid dream concerning this son at a Boy Scout campout. Of course I wanted to be wrong about any abuse he may have suffered in Boy Scouts. But I wasn't wrong." Her family was one of many. "Today, we are among the 84,000, tip of the iceberg claimants against the Boy Scouts of America. Abused In Scouting” attorneys have become dear friends and advocates for us." Karen goes on. "Many men, abused as boys, have helped us and stood by our family as we try to find ways to help and support our son. I felt it was time for me to give back to the community of men abused as boys so I began teaching a workshop in a men's recovery home. I have created a curriculum to teach relapse prevention to the men, and my husband and I have served for two years. I teach what I have learned from others and my husband bakes for the men. My workshop is called “More Than Conquerors: Trauma-Informed Recovery in Christ Jesus.” Serving in the Home is one of our greatest joys at this time in our lives. The man who runs the Home and the men are amazing. God is always good!"