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Emotional Abuse: What Is the Church's Role?

Claudia Wolff/Unsplash

By Michelle Perez and Jennifer Jill Schwirzer

Emotional abuse, also known as the "hidden abuse" since it leaves no physical mark and is so difficult to identify, is more common than you think—even within Seventh-day Adventist homes and churches. As a pastor, leader or church member, it is important to distinguish what the church's role is and isn't when faced with this situation. 

The church's role isn’t

• A substitute for law enforcement involvement

• A substitute for mental health services

• A substitute for legal support or advice

• A judge

The church's role is

Support for Abuse Victims: How Can I Help?

The church community can be a great support in cases of abuse, but pastors and lay leaders are often not professionally trained in this area. Michelle Perez, a domestic abuse prevention educator, shares some tips on what not to say or do when approached by an abused survivor. For ideas on best practices, read the feature here.

What NOT to Say to Someone Experiencing Abuse

Cosas que Deberías Saber

Historias de V. Michelle Bernard

• ¡Marque su calendario ya! Visite columbiaunionvisitor.com para encontrar una lista de conciertos navideños en todo el territorio de la unión, incluidos los muy esperados conciertos anuales del departamento de música de la Universidad Adventista de Washington.

• En la reunión del Comité Ejecutivo de la unión de Columbia de septiembre, los miembros votaron enviar $20,000 para las iniciativas de ayuda en Hawái luego de los incendios forestales en Maui que dejaron al menos 97 muertos. Los líderes de la unión animaron a los líderes de las conferencias a donar también.

• ¿Busca un buen recurso sobre salud mental? La iglesia adventista del séptimo día Emanuel presentó recientemente una serie en español sobre concientización de la salud mental. Mire la serie en columbiaunionvisitor.com o en YouTube.

Líderes de Academias en SALT

Ashley Agustin y Judith Montes de Oca de la Escuela Adventista Waldwick de la conferencia de Nueva Jersey ir a SALT. Photo by Ruth Nino

Historia de V. Michelle Bernard

Más de 150 estudiantes líderes de muchas de las academias de la unión de Columbia, Ashley Agustin y Judith Montes de Oca de la Escuela Adventista Waldwick de la conferencia de Nueva Jersey, se reunieron este otoño en el campamento Blue Ridge de la conferencia de Potomac en Montebello, Virginia, para la capacitación espiritual para líderes de academias (SALT, por sus siglas en inglés) de la unión de Columbia.

The Painful Reality of Abuse

Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay

Editorial by David Sedlacek

I was raised on a farm as the oldest boy of 15 children. My parents faithfully attended church, prayed together and instilled positive values of hard work, diligence and respect in us children. I love them for that and will be eternally grateful.

However, there was another painful reality that we lived with: emotional abuse and neglect. We were taught that we had

Share the Love This Christmas

Image by svklimkin from Pixabay

The holidays are a great time to share love with our family  and friends. This Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has made it easy to share that love even further by helping struggling families all around

the world through its Kids Gift Catalog. (Adults are welcome to give too!) For gifts starting at $5, kids can purchase chickens, bees, goats, meals or a well that will help support families through one of ADRA’s programs around

the world. Visit adra.org/giftcatalog for details on how you can be a blessing this holiday.

Lucy Byard Scholarship

lucy_byard_image_from_adventist_healthcare

Story by Adventist HealthCare Staff

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Adventist HealthCare Lucy Byard Scholarship! Created last year, the scholarship honors the legacy of Lucy Byard and reaffirms Adventist HealthCare’s commitment to treat all people with respect and compassion. The scholarship is a need-based, merit opportunity for nursing students that helps address racial disparities and economic inequities.

New Recipients