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JUNE 2002
A Statement on Abuse and Family Violence Division Highlights: North American Division
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A Statement on Abuse and Family Violence from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Seventh-day Adventists affirm the dignity and worth of each human being and decry all forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and family violence. We recognize the global extent of this problem and the serious, long-term effects upon the lives of all involved. We believe that Christians must respond to abuse and family violence both within the church and in the community. We take seriously reports of abuse and violence and have highlighted these issues for discussion at this international assembly. We believe that to remain indifferent and unresponsive is to condone, perpetuate, and potentially extend such behavior. We accept our responsibility to cooperate with other professional services, to listen and care for those suffering from abuse and family violence, to highlight the injustices, and to speak out in defense of victims. We will help persons in need to identify and access the range of available professional services. When changed attitudes and behavior open possibilities for forgiveness and new beginnings, we will provide a ministry of reconciliation. We will assist families in grief over relationships that cannot be restored. We will address the spiritual questions confronting abused persons, seeking to understand the origins of abuse and family violence and developing better ways of preventing the recurring cycle. This statement
was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists Administrative Committee (ADCOM) and was released by
the Office of the President, Robert S. Folkenberg, at the General
Conference session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 29-July 8,
1995.
Good Morning, Lord, We bow our hearts before you today and praise you as a God of Justice, a God of Faithfulness, and as our Defender. While you love all of us, we know from your Word that you have a special place in your heart for the downcast and oppressed, and the victims of violence: the violence that takes place on the battlefields of war, the battlefields in our streets, in our schools, and, sadly, in our homes. We know it is painful for You to watch, and that You wish You could just step down and eradicate it all. When Your children cry out, "Lord, how long do we have to watch this?," and it appears that violence will be victorious, You show us the cross. And Your Word to us today is, "Wait patiently. The just shall live by faith." And you remind us that violence will not be victorious, for You have already won the victory. Give us the mind of Christ to be instruments of justice in a world of injustice, to be instruments of peace in a world of chaos, to be instruments of godly action in a world where it is so easy to stand idly by and allow violence to reign in the lives of those around us. And also show us how to be instruments of comfort to those who are hurting and bleeding physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You have given us the promise in Revelation that we cling to-that one day there will be no more tears, no more crying, no more pain. And we thank You for that in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen. Prayer given
by Bonita Shields, Assistant Editor, Adventist Review, at the
National Day of Prayer Breakfast at the General Conference on
May 2, 2002. DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS : North American Division The North American Division consists of 4,892 churches with a membership of 941,887. There are nine unions and 58 conferences. Mary Maxson is the Women's Ministries Director for this division and works with a team of dedicated and Spirit-led union, conference and church directors. During the year 2001 some 337 retreats were held with 102,429 women attending. Of this 7,189 were non-SDA women. In the area of evangelism their main emphasis is Heart Call, a reclamation ministry using gift subscriptions to "Women of Spirit" magazine. This year Nicolle Brisee, WM Director for Southeastern Union Conference, will hold 30 prayer vigils and revivals in 30 churches at the same time. There are a number of outreach programs that the women are involved with. Take Heart Retreats are becoming more and more popular and minister to those who have suffered abuse in any form. Burden Bear is another outreach ministry where the women take a stuffed bear with a poem attached and gives it to someone who is hurting, whether an adult or child. This year Leadership Training is being emphasized. NAD has developed a training program called "The Passionate Leader" that will be taken to all the unions. It will cover topics such as mentoring, discipling and writing skills. Plans for the future include increased involvement of young women in WM, education of church administrators and pastors of WM as a vision-driven and ministry based ministry, creating more Spanish resources, and reaching out to professional women. Please visit
their website at www.nadwm.org and
keep these courageous women in leadership in prayer. Focus on Division News South American Division - Evangelism Through Literacy Project The Paraná South Conference in Brazil has developed a successful program focusing on literacy and evangelism. Many volunteers are involved and the church has been supporting all the needs. Many souls to Jesus are fruits of this program. Hug Project The Paraná
North Conference in Brazil has also begun a new out- reach ministry.
The Hug Project is basically friendship and brings back to the church
friends who are not in church anymore. Maria Quadrado, WM director,
and the WM ladies have been instruments in bringing them back through
Adopting, Seeking, Reintegrating,
someone to Jesus Teen's Friend Project In the South Brazilian Union, Meibel Guedes, WM director, is developing a project for teens, supporting and orientating the teens on how to behave with the opposite sex, parents and friends. The groups meet once a week or monthly.
Women's Ministries
of Bangladesh Union Mission started a village health evangelism
program six years ago. The director trains women to go to the villages
to do health evangelism. Using flip charts they have produced, the
women teach the villagers about sanitation, how to stop diarrhea,
etc. This method of health evangelism/outreach is still very much
alive and recently was conducted in Jalchatra village (North Bangladesh)
and Chaulturi (South Bangladesh). After one week of reaping campaigns,
22 were baptized in Jalchatra and 14 in Chaulturi. We praise the
Lord for using women in reaching out to remote villages who have
not heard of the gospel.
Congress plans are underway for the Africa Indian Ocean Division- the first part being held in Madagascar July 29-August 4; the second in Accra in the second week of August 2003 when the new division is formed. Thirty WM directors attended the AID advisory in Sahel in April, making plans for the remainder of this year. Earlier this
year, an evangelistic campaign was held by Priscille Metonou, WM
division director. Sixty-two were baptized and a church planted. KEEPERS
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We'd like to share some e-mails we've received regarding the Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day: I was very happy to read about your upcoming emphasis on abuse.... I have thought about including pastoral abuse in an upcoming brochure or meeting. It is a sadly common problem, even in Adventist churches and should be addressed, especially since the majority of the women who fall victim...are the ones who have suffered sexual or physical abuse in their pasts.... May God bless your efforts to shed light on the pain that abuse brings, and give hope to the women it affects. Samantha In the Oregon Conference we are trying to raise awareness of these (abuse) issues and work with programs for the abused and the abusers. So I am looking for resources....Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Marilyn
Renk, Director Do you have any information on domestic violence counselors and support groups? Rhonda I would appreciate information and material on working with teenagers, looking specifically at their struggles as young women....I could also share my work working with teens who have been abused sexually and physically and have been involved in violent acts for survival, sharing how we have helped them deal with such traumatic experiences and were able to embrace reconciliation and healing. Zandile
Nhlengetwa |
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