EDITOR’S NOTE: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.A woman I’ll call “Marleen” went to her pastor for help. “My husband is abusing me,” she told him. “Last week he knocked me down and kicked me. He broke one of my ribs.”Marleen’s pastor was sympathetic.
He prayed with Marleen—and then he sent her home. “Try to be more submissive,” he advised. “After all, your husband is your spiritual head.”Two weeks later, Marleen was dead—killed by an abusive husband. Her church could not believe it. Marleen’s husband was a Sunday school teacher and a deacon.
How could he have done such a thing?Tragically, studies reveal that spousal abuse is just as common within the evangelical churches as anywhere else.
This means that about 25 percent of Christian homes witness abuse of some kind.These numbers may shock you—and they certainly shocked me—so you may be wondering if the studies were done by secular researchers hostile to the church. I can assure you, sadly, they were not.
To find out about Christ-centered male and female Lay-counselor Domestic Violence Training, Education, Speakers, and/or Counseling, support groups, resources and referrals- Nation-wide: please contact Cross Strength Ministries and Holly T. Ashley at: 480.229.2815. or Email us.
Source: Domestic Violence within the Church: The Ugly Truth – Christian News Headlines
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