Empowering Survivors of Relationship Violence
Empowering Survivors of Relationship Violence
Studies show that creating a support network for survivors increases their chances of getting the help they need.
Offering a support group gives survivors a safe place to talk, and can be an outreach opportunity that connects your church with members of the community. Having trained volunteer advocates tells survivors they are important and gives them individualized support. Both methods educate and raise awareness about relationship violence among church members.
Our FAQ walks you through the most-asked questions from pastors just like you. Inside we'll explain:
men and women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.*
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men report abuse that results in negative impacts to their lives.*
in the United States 20 people experience intimate partner violence.**
Chances are one of them is a survivor of abuse.
Survivors who have a strong network of support have a greater chance of experiencing true and lasting healing. (National Domestic Abuse Hotline)
Support groups provide:
Some survivors are uncomfortable talking to their pastor and don't want to be part of a group. Volunteer advocates offer one-to-one support to reach survivors with God's love.
Advocates provide:
We know talking about abuse is not easy. But by speaking up about abuse, we’re able to create a safe place for survivors to begin to heal.
We provide churches with:
We know pastors are busy, so our goal is to reduce the amount of time and commitment added to your plate. We help you discover volunteers in your own church and provide the necessary, in-depth training so that they’re ready to serve.
Volunteer Roles
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
Unmasking abuse so that you can serve and minister to survivors. In this 1-hour webinar you will learn how to identify signs of potential abuse and what to do about it.
WHEN CHRISTIAN LOVE HURTS
Knowing how to reach out to, connect with, and establish trust with a survivor is vital for the physical health and spiritual well-being of your church members. In this 1-hour recorded webinar, you’ll learn best practices that you can start using immediately.
Michelle Markgraf is the Director of Family Support Services at Kingdom Workers. She assists congregations and their schools as they work with survivors of sexual and domestic/dating violence. Before coming to Kingdom Workers, Michelle was a volunteer rape crisis advocate and the executive director of a rape and domestic abuse center.
For a survivor to come to you for help, they need to know they can trust you. Here’s how to do it.
Learn what to do and say when someone confides in you that they’re experiencing abuse