The statistics on sexual abuse in the U.S. are horrifying, but the greatest tragedy is when

abuse happens in a church setting. What is the UPCI doing to protect the vulnerable from

becoming victims of this horrible crime? Dr. David K. Bernard answers this crucial question next.

Welcome to Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, a podcast dedicated to helping modern-day

believers live out the teachings of the First Century.

This podcast is part of a teaching ministry of Dr. David K. Bernard.

Dr. Bernard is dedicated his life to studying the Bible and helping believers apply its message to their daily lives.

In apostolic life in the 21st century, Dr. Bernard answers your questions about what the Bible teaches

and how those teachings apply to everyday life. Thank you for joining us for this episode.

Today's topic that we want to talk about is very

heavy. I'll start by saying that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than half

of all women and almost one in three men will be the victim of some sort of sexual violence

during their lifetime. Those are very sobering and sad statistics.

And the real travesty is that some of these incidents take place in a church setting or they're

perpetrated by church leaders or by church members.

And even worse is when the victim is a minor.

Unfortunately, these types of crimes have happened at UPCI churches or they've been

committed by ministers and church leaders. So first of all, I'd like to ask, how widespread is this

problem, specifically in the church? And what is the UPCI doing to prevent sexual abuse from

happening in our churches? Well, first of all, this is a very important and

serious and, as you say, sobering topic. And it's a culture-wide problem. It's a society-wide problem.

And the church is not immune. I sometimes use the example, churches like your home, the temperature

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