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We are excited. We only have three more full days till we begin our month of prayer and fasting from 1–31 October 2024 for the revival and restoration of sexual integrity to renew the individual, revitalise marriages, restore families and protect children.

The restoration of sexual integrity is a massive need. Our nation is trapped in a downward spiral of sexual immorality. Sexual abuse, pornography and the sexualisation of society, including children, are just some of the issues deeply plaguing individuals and communities – and even churches.

“Humble Hope”: Offering Hope for the Suffering

Sexual abuse has wrecked the lives of millions of people around the world. In the struggle to recover from it, survivors battle daily with its effects. In 2017, the team behind the Canberra Declaration helped facilitate the release of a documentary to help provide some answers called “Humble Hope”. Watch it in full below.

This documentary helps people understand the guilt, shame, and blame experienced by victims. It follows the journey with survivors, the abuse they received, their suffering, their healing and their willingness to forgive, which has given them true freedom from the past and hope for their future.

Background to “Humble Hope”: National Repentance Service for Sexual Abuse and Healing

In February 2015, a special service took place at the National Day of Prayer and Fasting in Canberra, Australia. Church leaders stood and publicly shared their pain, shame, and hurt. They apologised for the things that had happened in the past under their watch in their organisations.

Survivor Mark Stiles then shared his journey of abuse and healing through Christ, and then the leaders proceeded to wash his feet and his wife’s feet as a public demonstration of humble repentance on the issue. This event was broadcast live via satellite TV and the internet across the nation. Watch the National Repentance Service for Sexual Abuse and Healing here.

It was from this National Repentance Service for Sexual Abuse that the documentary “Humble Hope” was created. “Humble Hope” follows the journey of a few survivors, the abuse they received, their suffering, their healing and their willingness to forgive. Forgiveness has given them true freedom from the past and hope for their future.

“Humble Hope” has been recognised with seven international film festival awards including the prestigious Hollywood International Independent Documentary Award and Accolade Film Humanitarian Award, which well describes its purpose.

Sexual Abuse of Five Million Australians

In Australia, one in four women and one in six men are victims of child sexual abuse. That means five million Australians need access to the hope and inspiration that “Humble Hope” aims to provide.

Sharmaine and Alex Meek from Geelong, Victoria, also feature in the documentary. Sharmaine’s husband, Alex, is also a former child sex abuse survivor from the Catholic Church. They both have remarkable stories.

Sharmaine said, “I was abused as a six-year-old girl in my home by a friend of my mother’s boyfriend. I never spoke to anyone about it for 34 years. Carrying the weight of sexual abuse is like having a silent scream bottled up inside of you for years on end.”

Her husband Alex said, “I was eleven years old when I was sexually assaulted. I was an altar boy at a Catholic Church in rural Victoria. I never told anyone about it till I was 50 years old. Later I found out that the priest had been put in gaol.”

Join Us to Pray and Fast for Sexual Integrity This October

While a revival and restoration of sexual integrity is the main focus in October, it is not the only prayer point. The bottom line is revival, repentance and transformation in Australia, America and the nations of the world.

We need a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit. See the prayer points listed below. For resources to help you pray, please click here.

Prayer Points for October 2024

1. Revival and restoration of sexual integrity to renew the individual, revitalise marriages, restore families and protect children. Hebrews 13:4
2. Revival, repentance and reformation of Australia. 2 Chronicles 7:14
3. Revival, repentance and reformation of America. 2 Chronicles 7:14
4. That the Lamb that was slain may receive a reward for His suffering. Revelation 5:12

IMPORTANT NOTE: Join us each night as we pray on Zoom at 8 PM NSW time from 1–31 October. Use the Zoom link https://zoom.us/j/776881184.

Sign up below to receive daily devotions every morning to inspire you to pray each and every day during October.

Yours for the revival of sexual integrity in Australia,

Warwick Marsh