Praying for Rapists

On Superbowl Sunday, I was with friends, and I picked up one of their magazines, “O,” to read during the commercials. In Oprah’s magazine was a testimony written by Beverly Donofrio, an American writer living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She was raped by a serial rapist living in her town on 23 July 2006. When the attacker entered her home, she did not talk with him, as he wanted her to do, but started praying the “Our Father” and the “Hail Mary” in Spanish. When the rapist asked her why she was praying, she said, “I am praying for you.”

The man left her home after one assault instead of the several he had perpetrated against four other women in the town.

When Beverly Donofrio made her story known, many others began praying. She wrote that fear would titillate the rapist and resistance would infuriate him, but prayer made him leave her house. Within five days of her story being published in her town, the rapist was caught.

As I read this story, I was reminded of the power of God to answer prayer. JSASSN International is first and foremost a prayer ministry, and Beverly’s story is just one more reason why it should be. God’s power to answer prayer is why I began praying last night when I came home and found a “Sex Offender Notification” had been mailed to me from the DuPage County Sherrif’s Office.

A convicted sex offender has moved into my neighborhood. His name is Ross J. Scanio, and he has been found guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against his family. He is a Caucasian, six feet tall, weighing approximately 280 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. By law, he is required to notify the Sheriff’s Office when he moves into a new neighborhood, and by law, the Sherrif’s Office must notify those living nearby so that they can take precautions to protect themselves and their children.

When I looked at the picture of this man’s face on the “Sex Offender Notification” mailing, I thought about how sad he looked. I thought about how this man would not be welcomed here like other neighbors. Who would go over to his house and offer him a meal or an invitation to come to church or just friendship? I thought about all the small children in my neighborhood under the age of ten. I thought about how their parents might feel getting this mailing: afraid. But fear doesn’t deserve to have power over anyone. God is the One with the real power.

So this is my prayer: Heavenly Father, You in your sovereignty know everything. I pray that You would bring your salvation, your redemption, and your heart-healing power into the life of Ross Scanio. God, I pray for his family, that You would heal them completely. I pray for my neighbors and their children, that You would take away their fear, cause them to put their trust in You, and protect them from all harm. I thank You for your promise in your word that no weapon formed against us will prosper. God, I thank You for your might and your power to redeem that is working, even now, in ways that we do not understand. AMEN.

Tags: Beverly Donofrio, sexual assault