Many women suffer in silence following a hidden abortion—but they don’t have to do it alone. It is possible to heal from the burdens of shame, trauma, self-loathing and self-condemnation that appear after an abortion, but it’s not an easy process. According to Angel L. Murchison, this pain can only be overcome by the grace of God. In Secret Shame, Angel shares her personal story of overcoming the pain of brokenness following an abortion. Secret Shame will bring anyone healing from the realities of abortion to the Healing Waters of Jesus Christ where they can find freedom from their past. The reality of Angel’s story will strengthen anyone’s faith in God, as she shows the truth of His Word and His promises. Her experiences outline essential elements of grief recovery, while also celebrating the return of joy after the pain of trauma.

Everyone has pain in his or her life at some time. We all deal with that pain differently. When I was a teenager, I had a lot of pain. I began using drugs and alcohol. When I was twenty-four, I was raped. I had heard about this thing called self-injury. I did some reading on it and tried it for the first time. It changed my life. It gave me relief each time I cut. Unfortunately, I became addicted to cutting. It was my go-to vice. In order to deal with my addictions, I began writing poetry and getting my pain down on paper. It became therapeutic and a way to cope. Today I try to use my poetry to help others.

As sexual compulsives, we live almost continually with shame but often are hardly aware of it. We can act out repeatedly on this secret, pervasive shame while never even knowing it’s there. By increasing our awareness of the role that long-term shame plays in our lives, we can begin to heal from its toxic effects. The eradication of shame is critical for mental health and recovery over time. SCA sponsored a three-part seminar on shame in the spring and summer of 1990, attended almost entirely by gay and lesbian members. An SCA literature committee reworked and revised the notes from these sessions over six months. The committee preparing SCA’s Recovery Book further enhanced and revised the material. This pamphlet reflects these additions and revisions.

David Vine recounts how the British & US governments created the Diego Garcia base, making the native Chagossians homeless in the process. He details the strategic significance of this remote location & also describes recent efforts by the exiles to regain their territory.

“I’ve never told a soul, and you have to promise not to tell anybody.” “Pastor, I wanted you to know before we tell the kids, just in case they come to you.” “I’m so happy. Yes, finally, I’m pregnant. I just had to tell someone.” “Yes, it's terrible, but am I going to explain it to our friends here at church?” People need trusted persons as sounding boards and confidants. Not many weeks go by that someone does not confide a secret to a church leader, whether pastor, youth director, church secretary, choir director, or board member. While pastors have a unique role when it comes to confidentiality, listening to secrets is something that every church leader does. But there are both privileges and responsibilities in reporting, discerning the truth, and helping people bear the deep sins or temper the anger that threatens to overflow.