Abuse, Healing, and the Church

Justin Holcomb is an Episcopal priest, Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, co-host of The White Horse Inn radio program and a counselor to victims of abuse. His talk will describe how the heartbreaking statistics on various types of abuse do not begin to reveal the darkness and grief experienced by the survivors. However, the work of Jesus Christ deals directly with the effects of abuse. Holcomb will explore how the church can respond and care for survivors in ways that are compassionate, practical, and informed. His many books include Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault; Is it My Fault? Hope and Healing for Those Suffering Domestic Violence; and God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies.

What the Church can Learn from Benjamin Franklin

Darryl Hart is a church historian and author of many books, including Benjamin Franklin: Cultural Protestant; American Catholic: The Politics of Faith During the Cold War, and A Secular Faith: Why Christianity Favors the Separation of Church and State. His talk will explore how the church is called to be in dialogue with our unbelieving neighbors in the world, or in the words of Christ, "in the world, but not of the world.” Drawing on his recent book, he will show what the church can learn from secular thinkers such as Benjamin Franklin, and what Ben Franklin can learn from the church.

The Church as Heaven’s Embassy

Senator Sasse is the author of The Vanishing American Adult and Them: Why We Hate Each Other and How to Heal. Senator Ben Sasse presents “The Church as Heaven’s Embassy,” in Christ Reformed DC’s spring lecture series, “Who Needs the Church in a Post-Christian World.” This talk will explore how Christ followers are called to live on earth as dual citizens. As Christians live out both heavenly and earthly callings, they should be engaged with faithfully serving their neighbors on earth, while investing their ultimate hope in the world to come.