You helped me integrate my faith and the healing process.
I had almost given up on God, wondering how He, being all powerful
would let this happen to me. My bitterness at Him and my
parents had plagued me my entire life and I didn't consciously see
it, until you help me at the retreat. My relationship with God
is back on track and I'm still working with my therapist on the
parent portion. I now can share my full experience with the
therapist, which has made it so much easier.
I am not saying this to discredit anyone, but you help bring me to a
level that no, pastor, or therapist could. Having experienced
childhood sexual abuse also, it was as if you were reading my mind
at times. I didn't have to explain everything because you
could relate.
Thomas I am
forever indebted to your commission to love other men of faith
dealing with CSA to the point of opening your heart and building
this ministry. - Sal
Participating in this workshop is definitely one
of the most important things
I have done in my life. I have really transformed into a different
person. I am more loving, trusting, open, kind, understanding and
caring, with myself, my friends, family and even strangers.
There were definitely difficult moments throughout the workshop.
Periods of fear, anger, sadness and mourning. However there were
also periods of joy, insight, hope and honesty. It really was an
experience unlike any other. I shared parts of myself that I have
shared with no one else. This speaks volumes of the intimacy and
trust I found in the men at the workshop.
We came together as strangers and became family. Having other men
who can emphasize with you validates who you are. It allows you to
trust yourself, trust other people, and to trust God in greater
ways. Suffering sexual abuse is such an isolating experience. This
workshop broke my cycle of isolation because I saw that there were
others like me. Thomas is a great inspiration. To see someone who
has been through such hardships and came out such a great man is
incredible. To know that Thomas (and the other men) have gone
through these horrible, potentially crippling experiences, yet come
out even stronger for them is amazing. It gives hope to know that I
can strive to be a person with as much compassion, love and
dedication as Thomas. It shows that sexual abuse can break a person,
but if that person is willing, they can put themselves back together
in a stronger, healthier way than would have been possible
otherwise.
I am so very grateful to God, Thomas, the other guys, my family, and
myself for making this experience possible. I can’t wait to attend
the next workshop and further my healing and personal growth!”
– Alex -
I didn't know that leaving the retreat
was going to be so challenging. I had shared
a little but not as much as I could have. I now understand
your statement at the retreat " take advantage of this opportunity
to put it on the table, it's not often we have opportunities to be
in this type of supportive environment.." The first week would
have been chaos if you had not prepared us for the return home and
the post-workshop debrief conference calls. Thank you for
thinkin of putting these strategies in place. It' has been 2
months and life is much better. There are still rough spots as
you mentioned there would be, but I have a place to go and brothers
from the retreat who still supportive through calls and emails.
Thank you is not enough! -Ron -
...if
I had not attended the retreat, I would not be writing this now.
Where in the Christian community could I openly admit I had been
sexually abused and had sexual gender issues without feeling like a
leper? No where! I know the retreat is not a formal
therpeutic treatment center or anything, but it really helped me
start on a healing path where I thought there was none. Thank
you for sharing the sexual abuse and excitement section. This
was something I really needed to deal with from a truth perspective.
It was the only way to deal with the false shame and guilt that you
talked about. Yes..I will be attending Phase Two
workshop with the rest of my CSA brothers. - Andy-
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