THE VISION OF SAS

Welcome to SAS (Sex Abuse Survivors), a place that welcomes women who desire to heal from the trauma of their abuse. SAS was founded with the understanding that sex abuse - whether it was a one-time event or repeated for years, is something that needs to be healed from. Its presence in our past must be acknowledged so we can take steps toward healing.

Connecting with other survivors helps us to know we are not alone in our path to healing. We can support each other, learn from each other, and encourage each other.

SAS believes in the healing Christ promises us when He told us that He came so we might have an abundant life (John 10:10). Survivors are worthy of healing, worthy of connection, and worthy of the love God created us for.

WHO WE ARE

Natalie

Founder

Natalie is a wife, a mother of 6, grandmother of 4 (so far!) and a survivor who has been pursuing healing since 2007. With a deep passion for supporting survivors and fostering healing communities, Natalie started SAS at her local parish in Colorado in 2022. Her vision was to establish a regular, safe place where through the courageous support of others like her, a survivor of sex abuse could find solidarity, empowerment, and healing.

Natalie has shared her testimony of how her abuse impacted her life as a wife and mother, and how, through her healing journey, she has been blessed, restored and even made strong and beautiful by the transformation of Love. Natalie's husband, Chris, is an internationally acclaimed author and speaker. Chris and Natalie have shared together how Natalie's healing journey has grown and strengthened their marriage.

HOW IT WORKS

Running a Sex Abuse Survivors group is extremely simple. Meetings are structured to encourage easy facilitation while allowing most of the time for radically vulnerable reading and sharing.

There is a free, downloadable, one page Script to read at the beginning and end of every meeting. In between those bookends, a testimony is usually given - either by a group member, or from the Sample Testimonies, followed by a short, pre-selected book excerpt from the Choose a Reading section and finally an open floor for the women to share their responses to the testimony and/or reading, and share current struggles. It is as simple as that. The primary benefit of the simple meeting format is that group sharing time is the prominent substance of the meeting. Members feel safe knowing what to expect and this consistency fosters the vulnerability needed for solidarity and healing.

In addition to the meeting format, we believe it's essential to provide some simple beverages and possibly food, e.g. coffee, juice, snacks, etc.

Run a Group

WHO IT'S FOR

Sex Abuse Survivors is for the woman who has been sexually violated, and wants to:

Acknowledge the abuse in a safe setting
Know she is not alone
Be in a supportive community of those with a shared experience
Accompany and be accompanied by those like her through the healing journey

The only requirement for membership is the desire to be well. While the program is based on belief in the Christian God, SAS is open to women of all religious affiliations.

WHO IT'S NOT FOR

Persons seeking a replacement for individual therapy
Underage participants unless accompanied by an adult or approved by a legal guardian
Partners or friends of abuse survivors (SSAS - Spouses of Sex Abuse Survivors - is currently under construction.)