Transformation Powerhouse is a Christian ministry that is building a therapeutic community for the support and empowerment of female victims of child

Transcription

1 Transformation Powerhouse is a Christian ministry that is building a therapeutic community for the support and empowerment of female victims of child sexual abuse, and campaigning to promote awareness of the scale of sexual abuse to bring about change to the care and legal systems.

2 INTRODUCTION Gee Abiah Patchett When I was about 13 years old, I read an article in the newspaper about a group of children who had been sexually abused by their father. I was shocked and disturbed that children were suffering in such a way with no one to help them. Since then I have met many people who have been in the same situation. I am more shocked and disturbed now to know that one in five girls (21%) and one in ten boys (11%) in the UK are sexually abused before they reach the age of 16 (NSPCC research). The devil has been allowed to destroy lives in the worst possible way for too long. I got married one week after my sixteenth birthday and was pregnant two weeks later. When I was about eighteen I was out walking with my two children and was reflecting on my unbearable life with nowhere to turn to for help. The picture of a large house came to me with the thought that one day I would set up a place to offer support to young girls. We are now living and working from the building I saw all those years ago. In 2001 God spoke to me about some of the things He will do in this country. I believe the time is close when we will see Him moving just as He did in the days of great men of God like George Muller, Smith Wigglesworth, Evan Roberts and William J Seymour. My only desire is to see God moving through this country in such a way that no one can doubt that we serve the only living God. As I write this, the Holy Spirit says, Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit. For the past nine years, all my focus has been on what God wants to do through Transformation, which has required Him to do some major work on me. I am still learning the meaning of the words, Be still and know that I am God. I was told that everything I do would have to be done by faith, so that now, as we go public about our work, I trust that God will open the doors that He wants opened and close those that need to be closed. Since 1997 we have treated everything that we have as belonging to God, and have used only a small percentage for our I was shocked and disturbed that children were suffering with no one to help them. basic needs and wants. Since doing this we have seen the faithfulness of God in every way. Our aim is to be salt and light in this country and to walk in obedience to God so that He will manifest His power in the lives of the people who come to Transformation. They will become living witnesses to the power and greatness of God, and people will know that we serve a living God who wants to bring about healing and restoration to broken lives. I do not ever want to forget from where nowhere to turn to for help. The picture of I do not ever want to forget from where Director God has taken me. I owe everything to Him, and as we have devoted our lives and resources to do the work He has called us to do, He has supplied all our needs, and I have truly learnt that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Every blessing, Gee Abiah Patchett

3 SEXUAL ABUSE One in five of girls (21%) and one in ten boys (11%) in the UK are sexually abused before they reach the age of 16. 1% per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by a parent or carer Another 3% per cent by another relative during childhood. 11% of children experience sexual abuse by people known but unrelated to them. 5% of children experience sexual abuse by an adult stranger or someone they have just met. Three-quarters of sexually abused children do not tell anyone about the abuse at the time, and around a third still have not told anyone about their experience(s) by early adulthood. (NSPCC Research: Cawson et al Child Maltreatment in the UK: A Study of the Prevalence of Child Abuse and Neglect). Many of these abused children turn to drugs in their teenage years to numb the pain, which sometimes leads to prostitution to support the drug habit, and with many ending up in prison. It is believed that 80% of female prisoners are victims of childhood physical or sexual abuse. Other victims frequently end up in abusive relationships at great cost to themselves and in turn, their own children. Sexual abuse is one of the biggest evils in our society, such that most people prefer to pretend it is not happening, as they do not know how to deal with it. I frequently hear the words, but it has been happening for so long, how do you stop it? If we think like the world, then we will accept this statement. The Bible tells us that we are in the world but not of the world ( John 17:14). I know that with God, we can achieve anything we set our mind to do as long as it is in line with His will. To pretend that sexual abuse is not happening is a mindset that accepts and allows this crime to continue - but every voice that speaks out can become a link in a chain that is too loud to silence. We need to change our mindset and the mindset of victims. This can be done if victims and survivors see and know that the general public do care about their pain and suffering. Sexual abuse is one of the biggest evils in our society yet most people prefer to pretend it is not happening, as they do not know how to deal with it. The current legal and social care systems are failing at every level, and it is only by giving the people who have suffered the voice to speak out, that we will be able to bring about the change that is needed. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decide if a case should go to court. Given that children are the victims and most abuse takes place with no other witnesses, it is hard for the police to produce undeniable evidence. Even if the police do put together a good case, there are other factors that will be taken into consideration. The CPS do not have direct contact with the victims who have to accept their decision - once again confirming that they have no human rights. The general public who sit as a jury on sexual abuse cases need to have an understanding of the effects that abuse has on children. The stories are frequently too unbelievable for many who have no knowledge of the reality of sexual abuse. To tell a jury that your dad started raping you when you were 10 years old and that it continued until you were 16, will sound like a made up story to anyone not aware of how common this is. Juries often don t believe it because they cannot understand why the victim did not tell anyone whilst it was happening. It all sounds so far fetched - and it is much easier for the people on the Jury not to believe the truth because it is so vile. The job of a defense barrister is to get a not guilty verdict - truth and justice is not their priority. Therefore, people sitting on a jury need to be able to understand the symptoms and effects of sexual abuse on victims. It is time for our voices as Christians to be heard and we can do this by standing together with the children and adults who have been, and still are, victims. In doing so, we give them the voice they have never had. Some will be able to tell their own stories and will do whatever they can to help to bring about the change that is needed to the system which is meant to be in place to protect children. We are supposed to be the salt and light in our communities and to do great exploits because Jesus said, I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same work I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to the father. ( John 14,v12)

4 CASE EXAMPLES REALITY FOR MANY In June 2007 a nineteen year old girl was brought to see me who had been raped weekly since she was a toddler. The rape, arranged by the mother, was still taking place by a large gang of men, eight of whom she referred to as the regulars - one of them having been in her life since she was a toddler. This girl was taken into care when she was 14 years old after telling her cousins what her mother was doing to her. Despite being in care, the rape continued. In her file there are many instances where she tells professionals that she was still being raped. No one believed her or did anything to help her. Instead, her mother was allowed to break legal contact arrangements and even take the girl back to her house to be raped after supervised contact visits. At one placement, the mother made friends with the foster carer. This carer did not believe that a mother could hold her child down to be raped, so she chose to believe the mother s story instead of the girl s, and enabled access as she believed it was the right thing to do. When the girl started going to church she again tried to get someone to help her, so she told her mentor from the youth ministry. Again nothing was done and on one occasion she told me that her carer had gone away on holiday and so she had to stay at her mother s house. The men were downstairs and when the girl phoned her mentor to ask her to come and get her, the mentor told her that she would pray with her and that there were angels around her bed. The girl then said to me, She prayed for me and then they came up and raped me. I noticed that she would be agitated whenever she came to me after seeing her mother. It turned out that Sunday was one of the days when she was raped, and usually it would be by the latest man who was sleeping with her mother. Since being a little girl the men that her mother slept with had also always raped her. This may sound unbelievable to anyone reading this, but she still cannot be sure she would be able to resist going with her mother if she saw her. All she had to say was come and she would drop everything and go. If not, her mother would seek her She prayed for me and then they came up and raped me. out - go to her work place, wait at the tube station or go to the carer s house to get her because the carer always kept her mother informed of her movements. When she first came to me she would say that her mother loved her. She kept believing that one day she would change and the sexual abuse would stop. Since she was a small child, she would tell her that having the men raping her was her way of showing that she loved her. This girl is so damaged and yet if you met her you would not be able to tell because all her life she has worn a smiling mask. She feels nothing and does not know how to think like a normal person. When she is asked a question, her answer more often than not is I don t know. She has always just done what her mother told her to do. Yet this example is not just a one off many children are living or have lived this kind of abuse with no one doing anything to help them. By typing Sexual Abuse into Amazon, You Tube or Google, equally vivid details of the suffering are described by victims for all to see. We know that God brought this girl and her sister into our lives. The final chapter in their case is yet to come and their test will become their testimony. God will use what the devil did to destroy them to uncover this evil that has been tolerated for too long. FAILING SYSTEM young girl went to Social Services A and reported that her father had been having sex with her for many years. This particular local authority was very good in their dealings with the girl. Social Services put together all the information they had gathered and went to court to get a full care order to prevent

5 The father was allowed to go home and carry on with his life as normal, as if he had done nothing wrong. the girl from going back home to her father. All they required was for the judge to rule that there was a possibility that the girl was abused by her father, as this was sufficient for them to get the necessary care order. The senior Social Worker said after the court case, that when she heard the details of the abuse, both she and the girl s social worker were physically sick when they left court. The judge ruled on seven counts that the father had sexually abused his daughter and Social Services were able to get the necessary order to keep the girl in care. The father was allowed to go home and carry on with his life as normal, as if he had done nothing wrong. The police did not bring charges against the father as all the information Social Services had used in court could not be used in a police case, and the police would have had to do their own investigation. The police cannot use the evidence from a family court this in itself does not work for the victims, and only gives further protection to the people who are guilty of abusing their children. WHY CHANGE IS NEEDED People who have been abused are trapped by shame, fear, loyalty and other emotions. They are kept bound in darkness and the perpetrators know they have nothing to fear should their victims get the courage to tell someone. The system does not have anything in place to ensure that victims are supported in a way that will enable them to speak freely about their ordeals. Most of the time the child is left feeling isolated, for fear of repercussions from the family for talking about their abuse. They are all too often blamed for breaking up the family and have to cope with the guilt for doing so. One young person told me that when Social Services got involved in her case, all it did was confirm what my mother said was true. She had always told me there was no point in talking, because nobody would believe me. She summed up the situation: The way Social Services allowed her to get away with doing whatever she wanted proved to me that she did have all the power and control she said she had. It is not only sexual abuse that causes the damage. Victims also suffer from physical, emotional and psychological abuse and this is what actually keeps them enslaved. This abuse does not only happen in any one class or culture, it happens in all classes and cultures. Children need to know that they do not have to suffer in silence and that the people outside their reality are willing to listen to what they are saying and do something to give them the safety and security they need. Men and women in this country need to know they can no longer continue with abusive behaviour towards children safe in the conviction that nothing will be done to stop it. We believe it is only when those who have been affected and the organisations that work with survivors and victims start to speak out, that we will be able to stop the cover up of the extent of sexual abuse in this country. The people who are supposed to be working to protect children need to know they cannot work in both the interest of an abused child and the parents at the same time. The people working with victims should have special training in understanding the effects and behaviour of someone who has been abused. They also need to work for the child s interest - too often it is much easier to believe the adults and allow them to get away with what they are doing.

6 TRANSFORMATION POWERHOUSE Transformation Powerhouse is a Christian ministry that works with victims and survivors of sexual abuse and also campaigns to raise awareness of the broken lives and emotional cost to people who have been sexually abused as children. Transformation aims to: Provide a supportive and safe environment that will give victims the security they need, so that they will no longer be fearful of their abuser or the consequences of speaking out. Offer support so that they can be empowered to change the negative mindset they have accepted as normal. Create a residential and extended community that will provide a caring, supportive, accepting family environment. Give victims a platform to talk about what happened to them when the police and Social Services were first informed of their abuse. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. (Proverbs 31 v8-9) Mobilize the general public to demand a change in the way that victims are treated by agencies which should be working to help them. As disciples who know the power, love and faithfulness of God, we believe our mandate is to go where others are afraid to go because we serve the God of impossibility. The saying, United we stand, divided we fall comes to my mind whenever I spend time reflecting on what needs to be done to bring about the required change. New day centre POWERHOUSE FACILITIES We currently offer a limited personalised service to respond to the physical and emotional needs of individuals who have been referred to us. We plan to build a 14-bed residential facility alongside our existing facility. Our service will consist of courses, workshops and one-to-one support as part of a therapeutic community, all underpinned by prayer, praise and worship to include: residential facility for weekend, one week or longer coffee-bar, IT suite, music studio, gym, sauna sessional complimentary therapies group keep-fit, arts and crafts sessions group therapy and one-to-one counselling sessions external speakers leading small and large group workshops individual or group training for specific life skills and/or independent living Anyone not able to take time away from their home situation will get the support they need through the day centre. We believe that it is necessary to let all who come to us know that they are valued by us. We will spend quality time with everyone who comes to us to assess their needs in order for us to know how best we can support them. For those who need to have someone on call night or day when they first come to us, this will be seen as a priority. We have seen the positive effect it has on someone when they experience Planned new residential facility We are about to build a 14-bed residential unit alongside our existing facilities. for themselves that we do what we do because we care. Everyone who comes to us will be treated in the same way that we would like to be treated if we were in their position. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12, v30-31)

7 WHY IS TRANSFORMATION NEEDED? The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners to comfort all who mourn, to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. (Isaiah 61,v1-3) We were planning to go abroad in 2003 to begin a ministry working with abused women and girls. At the time we did not intend to focus on sexual abuse, but wanted to support and provide education for women to enable them to have choices about their future. On the 25th January 2001, whilst at Bible school, the Holy Spirit told me to share the vision for Transformation with another student. During the morning break I told her of our plans. She looked at me and said, Yes, but God is saying you should step out Transformation aims to be a beacon in the community and stands to show what we can achieve as believers if we are willing to live and to show by our actions that we believe what the Bible says. in faith and start in this country. I was shocked at this as I thought God was going to release me and allow me to leave the country in The following day, the Holy Spirit told me He had a building for me to start the ministry. Four days later we went to see a local pastor, and again the Holy Spirit told me to tell him the vision. After I had shared some things, he said, There is a pub in this community that has been the cause of a lot of damage to many people and for the last four years I have believed that healing will come from the building. When I saw the building, I knew it was the one. I started praying for the building and twenty-six months later we completed on the purchase of the pub, now know as Transformation Powerhouse. Once I had said yes to God, I spent many hours praying and waiting on Him. The Holy Spirit started to give me instruction on what to do and how to do it. One morning in my prayer time the Holy Spirit said, Sexual abuse is one of the devil s most powerful weapons. I did not understand this statement at the time. To campaign for change, Transformation will have to be financially independent from anyone who could control what we say or do. We need to be able to have the freedom to speak without the fear of any funding being withdrawn. We are not prepared to compromise what God wants to do through this ministry. We are totally dependent on Him to direct our actions. Transformation aims to be a beacon in the community and stands to show what we can achieve as believers if we are willing to live and to show by our actions that we believe what the Bible says. God wants to replace despair and darkness with light and hope, and bring true healing and restoration to broken lives. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5,v16)

8 POWERHOUSE LOUNGE In 2001, I spent many hours praying for the building, whilst waiting on guidance about how we should move forward. I was shown a picture of myself sitting in a place, like a wine bar. The Holy Spirit told me that there would be a room in which music would heal people just by them being in the room, and without anyone touching them. In July 2011 during my quiet time, I felt in my Spirit that God was saying I should start the refurbishment of the area that used to be the Pub. I was quite stunned at this, as I had always thought God would provide the finance for us to do all the building work at the same time. In August 2011, whilst attending a Sunday Service at one of the Churches I had visited, we spoke to a young couple who were visiting the church for the first time. I asked the husband what work We didn t have the money to complete the refurbishment when we started, but we were able to complete the work, and dedicate Powerhouse Lounge to God. he did, and he said he was a labourer, and as we were now thinking about the refurbishment of the pub, we took Victor s phone number. The following week he came to see us and brought another of his friends, Gheorghe, and then two weeks later he brought two other builders to see us. One was called Gabriel and the other, Angel. We could not help but check out the meaning of Everything became clear and so obvious. The concepts of music, healing and the bar area were all coming together Gheorghe, which means to proceed. Gheorghe then brought another builder friend to work with us, and his surname was Agape. We started with the refurbishment and although it was very difficult, God made a way with every step of faith that we took. We didn t have the money to complete the refurbishment when we started in August 2011, but we were able to complete the work, and dedicate Powerhouse Lounge to God on the 25th August After we started the refurbishment, I also became aware that the Lounge was to be used for something else apart from the day centre, but I did not know what it was to be. In the November, I was listening to a song called Lord, you are welcome in this place. All of a sudden it was like my Spirit opened up, and I was receiving a download. I remember saying, Oh my God, oh my God, a music venue. It was like a light bulb had been switched on, and everything Powerhouse became clear and so obvious. The concepts of music, healing and the bar area were all coming together. Powerhouse Lounge was conceived when I was given the first part of the ministry name on the 19 September 1999, the Holy Spirit said, Powerhouse, God within. I was also aware that there was a second part to the name. Two years later as I felt God was saying it was time to step out and start the work, I asked, what is the second part of the name? and immediately the Holy Spirit replied, Transformation. I said, Transformation Powerhouse? The Holy Spirit said, like when Jesus met the Woman at the Well, and her life was transformed. Lounge

9 WOMEN AT THE WELL Since the Lounge dedication in August 2012, we have held events to bring about awareness of the work we are doing and our future plans. It is an ideal venue for anyone wanting to have a special night out with friends or loved ones. We serve a two or three course meal in a relaxing atmosphere with different Christian singers and Christian music. All proceeds go to our charity to support the work we are doing. I can be very slow in getting the obvious, but excuse myself by saying, Nothing before its time, and all in God s time. I originally intended using the name Women at the Well for the ten bedroom residential unit that we want to build next door. In early 2013 I spoke to a Christian singer about bringing together different singers to minister in the Lounge. That night I felt strongly that we should use the name Women at the Well and have singers sing and minister under the name Women of the Well. We had our first Women at the Well night in April We had two singers who spoke about the effects of sexual abuse, and they ministered through words and song. The following day I spent many hours listening to the recording of the two singers who had ministered. The feedback we were given was phenomenal. I was dazed as I realised that when the Holy Spirit said, Just like when Jesus meets the Woman at the Well, that He meant healing would take place in just the same way. CHRISTIAN BUT NOT FREE One of the things that has disturbed me for many years is seeing women in the church bound by their past, despite them being Christian. God has placed great things in each of us, but we will never be able to reach our potential if true healing from God does not happen. It is no good covering the wounds because we are Christians who go to church, sing and raise our hands, pray and praise God. Healing is a process, and only the truth will set us free. As I prayed, and waited on God for direction on what He wanted, He gave me many key principles, one of which was that Transformation should never work with anyone until they are ready and want to change their personal situation or circumstance. I know, without a doubt, Healing is a process, and only the truth will set us free. that until someone really wants to deal with their abuse, they will not allow anyone to get to the root of their issues. I have met many people who have had counselling for many years, and have only allowed the surface to be scratched. Therefore, the damage that the devil intended to inflict on that person is still active, even at a subconscious level. I want to say to anyone reading this who has been a victim of sexual abuse, that by keeping the secret, you are helping the person who has abused you. Until the secret is no longer a secret, the stronghold on your life will not be broken. It is a painful process, but a necessary one. The pain that comes with brokenness also takes you to healing and restoration. The Bible says, I placed before you life and death: choose life. Healing and restoration will only take place when we are willing to face the truth. The shame that goes with abuse is real, but this is only part of the devil s tool to keep his dirty secret. Do not be party to helping to keep things covered. Use what the devil meant to destroy you, to expose the scale and impact of sexual abuse.

10 A CHILD IS CRYING, DO YOU CARE? In September 2010 we held our first meeting to talk about the campaign. Before the meeting, I was in my prayer room and the Holy Spirit said, A child is crying - do you care. I picked my book up to write it down and continued writing. By the time I had finished, I realised that I had written the words for a song. As I sat reflecting on the words, the tune also came to me. A mask covers up the truth - the pain, lies and secrets cannot be seen. Once it s morning, the mask has to go on. A smile is never a smile. It is only at night when no one is around that the mask can come off and reality becomes real. On the surface, some of these abused children appear happy or normal. It is a mask they wear to cover up what is happening to them. Their act is seen as proof that all is okay. They are not acting weird and they even appear to like their abusers. These children are often very frightened of the repercussions of exposure as presented to them by their abuser, or else they think it is normal and just fight or suppress the internal feelings of shame they feel inside. The song is available to hear from our website and to purchase as a download from the usual channels or as a CD. All the proceeds will go to the build programme. The song and video are available to hear from our website A CHILD IS CRYING DO YOU CARE? A child is crying do you care? There is only darkness No one cares I cry, but no one hears There is only despair When will it stop? I have lost all hope Because no one cares They see but they are blind Who am I? I am only one of many in despair Who am I? I am only a child do you care? Can it change? Yes it can You can see, you can speak Every voice becomes a link That is broken from the chain What chain? The chains of lies Secrecy, deception and fear 26th September, 2009 YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE It has been a very difficult journey since we bought Transformation building. I know God is breaking up the ground, and exposing the truth about sexual abuse in this country. The borough we live in has made things more difficult for us. In one meeting the Then assistant Director of Social Services said, I am not aware of any issues to do with Sexual abuse. Thank God the Truth about Jimmy Savile has exposed some of the cover up that victims have had to accept, because they were too vulnerable to challenge the system that dismiss them. We would like to see Christians come together as believers and stand on the word of God. The Bible says that we are one body and that if we all contribute what we can, the building will truly stand as a symbol of what can be done when we take God at His word and put it into action. Unless we unite together and say, Listen to the victims, Look at the facts, We would like to see Christians come together as believers and stand on the word of God. Stop the abuse, child sexual abuse will continue. It can only change if we all stop burying our heads in the sand because it does not affect us. The Bible tells us that we shall know the truth and it shall set us free. In the same way we can face the truth and do something to stop this crime against children. Sexual abuse is a worldwide evil and God wants Transformation all over the world with the same vision and aim. It has been a very difficult journey since we bought Transformation building. I know God is breaking up the ground, and exposing the truth about sexual abuse in this country. Listen to the victims. Look at the facts. Stop the abuse.

11 Donation/Standing Order Form Please use BLOCK CAPITALS Please fill in your name and details here: Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms) Address SINGLE DONATION [tick as appropriate] Other Amount Payment method Cash Cheque Pledge Please make cheques payable to Transformation. Postcode Phone STANDING ORDER [tick as appropriate] Please pay to Transformation Nat West Account No: Sort Code: Other Amount each month, or my preferred amount of (monthly) until further notice and debit my account. Starting on (date) and thereafter on the of each month GIFT AID If you are a UK taxpayer, you can make your donation worth more with Gift Aid. For every pound you donate to us, we get an extra 25p from the Inland Revenue. All you need to do is to check the statement below and tick the box. I would like Transformation to reclaim the tax I pay and have paid on all my donations made and any further donations I may make. Please note that to qualify for Gift Aid, what you pay in income or capital gains tax must at least equal the amount we will claim in the tax year. Print name Account number Sort code / / Name(s) of account holders To the manager (bank name and address) Signature Date Signature(s) Postcode Date Thank you for your support If you would like to make a donation or set up a regular standing order to support the work of Transformation Powerhouse, please complete this form and return to: Transformation, 33 Vicarage Lane, London, E6 6DQ. Please do not send this form to your bank. There are three ways of making a regular donation to Transformation 1. Fill in the form above, and then return it to Transformation 2. If you bank online, log on to your current account and set up the standing order there, using the bank account details for Transformation above, and complete and return the Gift Aid form 3. You can go to our page on Charity Choice: Transformation Powerhouse will hold and use the data you have provided for administration purposes and to keep you informed of future activities. If you prefer us not to contact you in the future, please tick this box. We will not share your data with any other organisation. Transformation Powerhouse, 33 Vicarage Lane, London, E6 6DQ Registered Charity No : info@transformation.gs Web: Please fill in the Gift Aid declaration overleaf»

12 A child is crying, do you care? The child who has been abused carries that child into adulthood. Many aspects of their lives are affected by the violation they suffered. God has placed Transformation here to be a catalyst to their healing and restoration you can be part of that change. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. TRANSFORMATION POWERHOUSE 33 Vicarage Lane London E6 6DQ Phone : info@transformation.gs Please visit our charity website at where you will get more information about us and our activities.