Philadelphia SDA

On January 26th, the Personal Ministries Department and Dr. Jasneth James hosted a Domestic Violence seminar.  Church members attended the one-hour interactive presentation in the afternoon where they learned about various types of abuse and how to help victims.  Dr. James shared her testimony of being in abusive relationships and explained “many churches don’t discuss this topic, but 1 in 9 men and 1 in 4 women of all ages experience abusive relationships and may not realize it, if there is no physical violence”.  She implored churches to discuss this topic and referenced 2 biblical examples:  Bathsheba and David and the woman caught in adultery.                                            

Dr. James taught church members about the characteristics of various types of abuse—domestic, financial, physical, sexual, digital, reproductive coercion, etc., and the cyclical pattern of domestic violence.  She detailed ways that abuse can be identified including forced isolation, name calling, intimidation, and justification of abuse by quoting scripture—i.e. Ephesians 5:22-24.  Attendees were then quizzed on various scenarios.  It was stressed that non-violent abuse was often more difficult to pinpoint.  Victims were provided with strategies to get out of violent relationships, which include teaching children to not interfere, using 911, taking pictures after violent interactions.  To close, there was a brief question and answer session where attendees asked about strategies to help loved ones in these situations.  Dr. James emphasized that “victims should place their thrust in God, versus their circumstances and the people in their lives.  They should be empowered to utilize their freedom of choice to leave a relationship even if their options seem hopeless”.

Dr. James plans to publish a book on abuse, “Yet Still I Rise”; the anticipated release date is in the Spring 2019.

©2019  Communications Department - Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church