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Contacts:
Allison (Alli) O’Malley Annie Lane Executive Director Co-Founder Safe Journey Stand Up Guys Cell: 585.727.7598 Cell: 585.329.9199 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Safe Journey, Love Ministries Fellowship Church and Stand Up Guys announce the Faith & Family Workshop, Saturday, September 17, 2011 A free community event to explore the role of faith in overcoming and preventing domestic violence
Fairport, NY, August 18, 2011 — Safe Journey, a nonprofit domestic violence resource and support center, Love Ministries Fellowship Church, and Stand Up Guys, a nonprofit organization promoting men’s engagement in prevention of violence against women are collaborating to present the Faith & Family Workshop on Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at the Roberts Wesleyan College Cultural Life Center, 2301 Buffalo Road, Rochester, 14624. The event will explore the role of faith and the Church in overcoming and preventing domestic violence. The keynote address, at 6:30 PM, will feature Lauretta Pierce, chief executive officer of Covenant Cookies and a domestic violence survivor, who credits her remarkable climb from violence and poverty to safety and prosperity to her faith in God and His profound grace. Ms. Pierce, is a nationally-recognized advocate for domestic violence and has been featured on ABC News and TBN.
Families in every segment of society experience domestic violence. The issue of faith as it relates to domestic violence can be particularly difficult. Victims struggle with how to live up to expectations of their faith in the context of abuse. Clergy struggle with how to respond to families or couples when abuse is disclosed. And congregations struggle with how to support families – and individuals within those families – who are embroiled in the conflict. "For too long, many victims have misunderstood what is asked of them as Christians who are hurting at the hands of a loved one,” said Alli O’Malley, Safe Journey’s executive director. “As victims struggle to make necessary and difficult choices needed to escape violence and live safely, they often feel ostracized from the Church or overwhelmed by the sin of breaking their marriage vow.” The Faith and Family Workshop will explore these issues in depth.
The Church, serving as the moral center in society, also has a role to play in holding perpetrators of family violence accountable and in encouraging men – who statistically represent the majority of perpetrators – to live Christ-centered lives founded on love. “Society and the Church offer different and conflicting perspectives on what it means to be a man,” said Jack Brennick, co-founder of Stand Up Guys. “Where scripture and the Church call upon husbands to ‘…honor your wives and do not be harsh to them’, society purports that ‘real men are strong and in control’ and that ‘men don’t get in other men’s business’. Together with the help of the Church, we can interrupt the behaviors, beliefs and 1 of 4 attitudes that trespass on the sanctity of intimate relationships.”
The one-day Faith & Family Workshop is divided into two segments and is open to anyone wishing to better understand what Christian theology, ritual and practice dictate in violent or abusive relationships. Participants can choose to attend all or part of the day. From 2:30pm to 5:45pm, a 90- minute pastoral panel with Protestant, Catholic and non-denominational Christian clergy will hear domestic violence survivor stories and respond to the survivor’s questions, dispel myths regarding sin and expectations of the Church, and then discuss ways the Church can support prevention initiatives. Three (3) concurrent 60-minute breakout sessions will follow the panel and discuss topics ranging from ministering to those hurt by or engaged in family violence; fostering radiant relationships and engaging men in the prevention of violence against women; and conducting safety planning, generating community referrals and identifying when laws are being broken. A hors d’oeuvres reception will follow the breakout sessions and feature exhibits from local domestic violence service providers.
Engaging the Church and faith leaders in the effort to help victims break the cycle of violence in their lives and to reduce the prevalence of domestic violence is critically important. “Domestic violence creates deep spiritual wounds for victims, their children and the abuser,” said Pastor James Cooper, Love Ministries Fellowship Church. “The Church has an important role to play as a place of hope and healing, and it must also strive to support healthy marriages and build strong families.”
The second half of the workshop is open to everyone and runs from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. It will include worship and an inspiring, motivating conversation with keynote speaker, Lauretta Pierce, a domestic violence survivor turned advocate and millionaire entrepreneur. Ms. Pierce will share her extraordinary story of survival following years of abuse that culminated in a near fatal attack from her ex-husband; and how her faith in a loving God gave her the strength to overcome great adversity and create the abundant life she now enjoys. Following the keynote, Ms. Pierce will greet participants at a dessert reception, featuring Covenant Cookies and coffee.
Event sponsors include Roberts Wesleyan College Divisions of Social Work and Social Sciences, Northeastern Seminary and University of Rochester Laboratory of Interpersonal Violence and Victimization. Exhibitors include Rochester/Monroe County Domestic Violence Consortium, Agape Counseling Associates, Millstone Justice and others.
The event is free and open to the community. Advance online registration is required and can be found at www.safejourney.org or www.loveministriesonline.com. To make a donation to the event, become an exhibitor, or register by phone, call 585.425.1580.
# # # About Safe Journey
Safe Journey is a non-residential resource and support center, located in Fairport, NY, that serves suburban, rural and urban survivors of domestic violence as they strive to rebuild their lives. From a secure, handicapped accessible location, Safe Journey provides individual counseling, support groups, lifeskills training, legal and financial coaching, and resettlement services at no cost to clients. Community and teen education programs are also available. For more information, go to www.safejourney.org.
About Love Ministries Fellowship Church
Love Ministries Fellowship Church, located on Scottsville Road, held its inaugural service in June 2011 and is welcoming new members. Our ultimate goal is to bring every person into a relationship with Jesus Christ and our mission is to restore the family back to God’s original plan as stated in Genesis before the fall. We encourage strong family values based on solid biblical principles and stand against anything that negatively impact families. For more information, go to www.loveministriesonline.com.
About Stand Up Guys
Stand Up Guys is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of well-intentioned and well-meaning men working in partnership with women to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. The mission of Stand Up Guys is to end violence against women and children and to promote gender equality, safety and justice in our community. We accomplish this mission through prevention education, community projects and by holding events and activities that raise awareness. For more information, go to www.standupguys.org.
About Lauretta Pierce
Lauretta Pierce, chief executive officer of Covenant Cookies, is a domestic violence advocate, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and mother. Behind her gentle smile and caring spirit is a story of tragedy, abuse, poverty and great pain. She has overcome some of life's most difficult circumstances. Lauretta's inspiring story has been shared with thousands of people from all walks of life. After spending a few minutes with her you can't help but believe - regardless of your situation - that with God at the center of your life you can overcome. As she has said many times, “there is truly a God that will turn your mess into a miracle.”