Article January 17, 2011 Issue

Prayer for rape victims

How one writer from Canada is praying about disturbing incidents in the news.

By Joni Overton-Jung

First appeared as a web original on December 3, 2010

Recently, people in Ontario, Canada, have been grappling with the extensive media coverage of the court case involving the rapes and murders of two Bellville women. The perpetrator was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Heather Mallick in The Toronto Star paid special tribute: “There’s a portrait in my head of these two women. It’s not like their killer’s modern stream of digital porn, but something vivid and timeless, painted on warm stone, like a fresco. I am so grateful to them—is it their after-image?—for showing me how to attempt to withstand the force of pure, woven, acidic, long-nurtured cruelty. They didn’t win, but they did win, if you know what I mean.” 

This image brought to mind the story of Stephen from the Bible. The book of Acts describes him in this way: “full of faith and power, [he] did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8). When falsely accused and brought to trial, he spoke with boldness and courage. For this he was stoned, but not before two significant things happened. First, “he . . . looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God.” Then, as they stoned him, he said, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:55, 60). 