I remember it like it was yesterday. 

As a young teenager, I was walking home after dark from a friend’s house when a car pulled up beside me and stopped. The driver pushed the passenger door open and told me to get in. That driver was my father. I will never forget the serious conversation we had as he drove me home. 

My father taught me that the world is not a safe place for daughters—a hard fact that remains unchanged today—and that I needed to be wary. 

According to United Nations research, 

“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.”

The appalling 2017 #MeToo/#ChurchToo Twitter tsunamis confronted us with the fact that the USA is no exception. Even worse, we learned that the American evangelical church is not a safe place either. 

Tragically, #ChurchToo sexual abuse continues today inside the church and the battle against it has lost momentum. New allegations surface almost weekly of another evangelical clergy leader facing sexual abuse charges. This battle is far from over.

See The Roy’s Report for current updates.

Evangelical support of Donald Trump for U.S. president—now for his third campaign—creates an alarming dissonance in efforts to end this epidemic of abuse. It contributes to the growing exodus from American churches. We’ve all heard the Access Hollywood tape. 

The For Our Daughters video powerfully reminds us that this battle is ongoing. Its message exposes the need to examine our political commitments and how we vote.

Kudos to producer, Kristin DuMez, and director, Carl Byker, for presenting this timely challenge. God bless the courageous ezer-warriors—Tiffany Thigpen, Rachael Denhollander, Jules Woodson, Cait West, and Christa Brown—who faced the cameras and told their stories to enlighten the rest of us. 

So whether you’ve already voted or are still making up your mind, I’m asking you to watch For Our Daughters, share it with others, and take what you learn with you when you cast your ballot.