On horror's head horrors accumulate.
William Shakespeare

All is not quiet on the domestic front. Homes sometimes erupt in anger and abuse. And the weakest are victimized the most.

Domestic violence and abuse can be physical, as in wife or child beating. Even battered husbands and abused elderly parents aren't uncommon. Sometimes it's sexual. It may even be emotional; there the cruelty is verbal, and words can hurt. In whatever form, domestic violence and abuse plunge the entire household into crisis. How can a pastor respond to these seemingly more prevalent and intensely difficult situations?

Child Abuse: Physical

Charles Shepson tells this story from his days in parish ministry: "One day I received an anonymous phone call. The woman said, 'There's a child being abused in a house two doors from your church. You need to help that poor little girl.' I couldn't get any more information before she hung up."

Shepson wondered, How can I verify the information? ...