Nine-year-old Dipa lives in India. Her uncle raped her last week. But that’s not the truly shocking part.
More than half of Dipa’s fourth-grade class has been raped or molested, according to a 2007 government survey. Visit any playground or school in India, rich or poor, boys or girls—53 percent are victims of sex abuse.
The atrocity of sexual abuse spans the globe and millions just like Dipa suffer in silence. They need hope and healing for wounds that run deep, piercing even into adulthood.
But often that hope never comes. Many victims don’t dare risk the stigma and shame associated with telling their story. No one talks about sex abuse.
That’s where the Healing for Marked Hearts campaign makes a difference. The Christian publisher I work for hopes to place a purse-sized book in the hands of these silent victims—a book translated into their own language.
Dipa speaks Marathi, and few resources exist in her language. As a Christian publisher we want to fix this problem, and we have the perfect solution.
Mary DeMuth gave us permission to translate her book, Not Marked—a guidebook for sex abuse victims—into Dipa’s language.
With your help, we can translate this book into Marathi, Mandarin, Spanish, and even more, to provide hope to Dipa and others just like her. Translating, producing, and printing books cost money, and we can’t do it alone.
Will you help us bring hope to these marked hearts?
Not Marked voices Mary’s healing journey and beckons readers to risk the same journey toward emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health.
Heal Marked Hearts with Ultimate Hope
The Healing for Marked Hearts campaign will equip churches, crisis centers, and missionaries with both the full-sized book and mini books.
Although full of practical advice for trauma survivors, “Not Marked” sets itself apart by offering everlasting hope. Sex Abuse victims bear scars only Jesus can heal.
Each book includes a beautiful story of the gospel, which brings hope. And fewer than 2 percent of people who speak Dipa’s language —Marathi— know Jesus.
This book may be the only opportunity for these victims to hear the hope Jesus gives.
How You Can Help
If you would like to help many like Dipa you can give here. Millions need the hope this book brings. The money from this Generosity campaign goes directly to producing Not Marked into Marathi, Spanish, and Mandarin. Donations cover:
- Translating Not Marked into 3 languages (full sized book, one Mini book version, and one Q&A Mini book)
- Editing
- Cover Designs
- Marketing
- Formatting
- Book Printing
- Shipping to these countries
Marked Hearts Costs
Other Ways You Can Help
We understand some cannot contribute financially, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help.
- Share the campaign using Generosity’s sharing tools.
- Like our Facebook page.
- Check out our blog posts about sexual abuse.
- Ask God to use these books to change lives.
Author’s Note: I originally wrote this post for my day job. But I couldn’t wait to share it on my personal blog. I want to thank you for helping make a difference for these marked hearts around the globe.
Reblogged this on Fran Geiger Joslin and commented:
Here’s a great article on a worthy cause. Please help make a difference this Christmas. Also, Trisha is one of my favorite authors. Her blog is worth following.
AS part of my own personal mission this season to “Share! and share a ‘like’!”, this post will be the first I “like” and share on social media. I pray for great success in this endeavor, for my family is one which has personally experienced the pain of sexual abuse. Healing is very hard to come by for all. but the grace of our loving Savior is giving us strength to overcome and move forward.
God bless!