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Beyond Despair
By Samantha Nelson
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Hope Bencho with Samantha and
Steve Nelson |
September 30, 2006, was a special day for Hope Bencho. It was the day she was baptized. Now, for most Christians, that would be special enough and all would be rejoicing at her decision to follow the Lord and Bible truth. However, for Hope, the event had even more significance.
On December 31, 2005, Hope contacted me through The Hope of Survivors, a supporting lay ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that addresses the painful topic of pastoral sexual misconduct and abuse. Hope had been abused by her pastor in another denomination. He had betrayed her trust, took advantage of her vulnerability as he counseled with her and, ultimately, was the reason she lost her husband, many of her friends and her church family. She determined she’d never set foot in a church again, nor would she ever trust a pastor. She was desperate to find hope and healing. Yet, in the depths of despair, the Lord did not leave her there.
As she contacted The Hope of Survivors for help, she unknowingly began a journey down a path of healing and truth the Lord had already prepared for her. As our conversations through phone and email, increased, so did her desire to heal and walk in the Lord’s ways. This made the devil angry and he tried to stop Hope in her tracks. From January 17, 2006 until June 19, 2006, there was no communication from Hope. She became convinced there was no hope for her--which caused her to become suicidal and lay plans to end her life. The last week of July found Hope in our home in Illinois for a few days of intensive support. She left a “New Hope”—filled with peace and a desire to live. She now wanted to live her life for the glory of God.
Something to Celebrate
As September rolled around, Hope began dropping hints that she was ready for something more. She had been surprised to learn some of the Adventist teachings while at The Hope of Survivors. Without our knowledge, she had gone home to West Virginia, downloaded the Adventist beliefs and was studying them on her own. She decided, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, she wanted to be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. God surely had a plan. On September 30, 2006, during a special series of meetings in southern Illinois, Hope Bencho made history as the first freshwater baptism in Thompsonville’s Adventist Church history, as well as the first baptism performed by Steve Nelson (under the supervision of Pastor John Lomacang).
Hope's baptism was also the first baptism that The Hope of Survivors ministry was able to have a part in. As Pastor Lomacang remarked at the baptism, it is only fitting that one who should be responsible for so many "firsts" should be named Hope. May there be many more in the days, months and years to follow. Glory be to God!
For more information visit The Hope of Survivors.
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