The Acts 4:34 Project - Beyond a Community Closet

10/02/2025

🧩🚨 Red Flags for Neurodivergent Hearts:
Dating/Relationship Safety for Autistic Girls & Women

💔 Speaking from experience: The qualities that make us honest and loyal can be weaponized by abusers.This list combines general red flags of abuse with the specific tactics predators use to exploit autistic traits (literal thinking, loyalty, trust, difficulty interpreting subtle social cues).

✋️⛔️ Top Red Flags of Grooming and Abuse ⛔️✋️

🚨 Red Flags Related to Communication & Trust (Exploiting Literal Thinking)

🚩 Love Bombing & Rushing: They become intensely focused too quickly - professing deep love or a "soulmate" connection after only a few weeks. They use this intense focus (which can mirror an autistic special interest or fixation) to overwhelm you and speed past the necessary phase of earning trust.

🚩 Overly Vague Statements: They communicate indirectly or use heavy sarcasm, then get angry when you miss their "implied" meaning, using your literal nature against you.

🚩 The "Me Too!" Trap: They instantly claim to share all your unique interests, goals, or values without genuine knowledge. They are simply copying your needs to build an illusion of perfect compatibility and gain trust faster.

🚩 Isolating You: They constantly complain about your friends, family, or support systems, saying, "They don't understand you like I do." They work to become your only source of information and social interaction.

🚨 Red Flags Related to Control & Autonomy (Exploiting Need for Structure/Support)

🚩 Using Your Autism Against You: They dismiss your feelings by saying, "You're just overreacting because of your autism," or "You're too sensitive/literal/rigid." They minimize your need for routine, sensory calm, or rest.

🚩 Controlling Independence: They take over essential life tasks, like handling your finances, managing your appointments, or doing all the driving, claiming they are "helping" because you're "incapable." This cripples your ability to leave.

🚩 Ignoring Boundaries: They push past your clear verbal "No." If you say you need alone time, they show up anyway. If you say no to physical touch, they try to convince you or guilt you into changing your mind. Consent is non-negotiable. If you say no, the answer is always NO.

🚩 Forcing Dysregulation: They intentionally pick fights or force big decisions when they know you are tired, overwhelmed, or in sensory overload (dysregulation). They do this because they know you struggle to think clearly when distressed, making you easy to manipulate.

🍓🍏🍇🍍🍉🫐🍋🍒🍊🥥🥝

🍇🫒 The Biblical Safety Principle: Look at the Fruit

We can lean on the simple wisdom of Scripture: Look at their fruit:

🫒 ✝️ The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 🫒✝️

Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)

❤️ If a person truly loves and respects you, their actions will reflect the Law of God - a law rooted in love, respect, and selflessness. If their actions consistently bring chaos, fear, or tears, they are operating outside of God’s design for a loving relationship.

Remember: Being autistic can make you a target for manipulation, but it is never your fault they target your goodness. Your honesty and trust are gifts; an abuser is a thief who steals them. The Lord is the Light, and Light always wins. His Word, can help us discern who is acting in good intent and those who are not. We can tell a lot about a person by watching if their actions meet their words.

10/01/2025

10/01/2025

With Survivors, Always: Our October Commitment

The Acts 4:34 Project - Beyond a Community Closet is just that, beyond a helping hand; it is a heart that beats for those who are hurting.

I know what it is to need and not have. I know what it is to feel the darkness of domestic abuse try to overwhelm the soul. Because I am a survivor, my heart's deepest purpose is to ensure others feel safe and supported, to help them feel seen at their most vulnerable moment.

In those darkest times, the malevolence of abuse tried to extinguish my spirit. But thanks be to the LORD Himself, my light was not blown out. He is the Light, and Light always wins. It is from this unshakeable Light that I have learned to love again, and it is the Holy Spirit living inside me that keeps my heart from growing weary.

This October, during Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, we are committing to action: We stand with survivors, always.

We will be raising awareness, discussing practical ways to support survivors, and exploring how the Bible teaches us to love each other with God's perfect, unfailing standard of love.

As you may know, the color for Domestic Abuse Awareness Month is purple. This powerful color symbolizes courage, survival, and the dignity of those impacted by abuse, and our commitment to ending violence.

A Personal Testimony: Finding Light in the Darkness

And for myself, October 2025 marks a deeply personal commitment: I will share the story of my healing. This is not about me; it is my testimony of how I first trusted the Lord Jesus and how He has been my steadfast refuge ever since. My greatest hope is that by sharing how I found Jesus as my Lord and Savior, other survivors will find the same strength, comfort, and eternal hope that only He can provide.

Join The Acts 4:34 Project this month as we shine a light on the path to safety, support, and restoration through Christ Jesus.

08/09/2025

I didn't think healing was ever possible, but nothing is impossible with Jesus 🥹🙏💜

The world can see the chaos, a storm that rages wild
They see the scars, the broken parts, and wonder why I smile.
They say, "Where was your comfort? Where was your God so grand?"
But their idea of shelter, they don't quite understand.
For protection isn't hiding, no easy, smooth escape
It's a deeper kind of Presence, a different, holy shape.

He's Shamar, He's Ganan, my Maoz strong and true
The Lord of Hosts, Commander, with armies breaking through.
He doesn't keep the rain from falling, but shields me through the flood
His strength within the hardship, understood with tears and blood.
He's not just holding back the darkness, He's here within the fray
My Warrior, my Healer, through every single day.

This name, YHWH Sabaoth, a power I now embrace
A sovereign King, my Captain, in this wild and fallen place.
They say He didn't guard me, from the pain that cut so deep
But my Protector's standing near, the promises He'll keep.
He goes before, equips me, with courage for the fight
Knowing that in the ending, I'll stand within His light

It's a path less traveled, a choice against the tide
To offer grace and mercy, where vengeance wants to hide.
Like Joseph, in his suffering, chose goodness over scorn
Turning bitter harm to healing, a new day being born.
Not befriending every torment, nor excusing every wrong
But a radical forgiveness, where love can make us strong.

This selfless kindness sparking, a question in their soul
"Why this undeserved compassion? Why am I being made whole?"
A ripple starts, a turning, a love that spreads and grows
And perhaps they pay it forward, wherever the Spirit blows.
My Commander sees the broken, the hearts that won't repent
His justice will be rendered, when His will on earth is sent.

My job is to simply root for love, though some days I may fall
To cover countless failings, and answer to His call.
For as He called me holy, in His image I must be
"Be holy, because I am holy," a reflection for the world to see.

This is my healing journey, His glory I portray
Until that perfect morning, and the dawning of His day.

08/08/2025

08/07/2025

Good evening Rhome and Aurora friends! The Rhome Police Department was honored to speak to the summer reading club at the Rhome Public Library before they head back to school. We want to wish all of our new friends well this school year and we hope to see you back at the Rhome Public Library next summer. Thank you for taking a picture with us too!

08/07/2025

📣Rhome, Newark, Boyd, New Fairview & Aurora

Introducing, The Acts 4:34 Project: Beyond a Community Closet! ✨

We're here to meet the urgent needs of our community, day or night, driven by our faith and the belief that we are called to love and serve our neighbors by meeting their urgent needs.

Community leaders, if you encounter someone in need of baby supplies, hygiene items, school necessities, clothing, or household essentials, contact us ANYTIME! We'll respond and deliver (if available) within 1 to 24 hours. Let's work together to make a difference! 🙏🤝❤️

Email us at [email protected]