Memorial to the Missing; Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Aug 31, 2008 - comment
How many pennies do we have in the Memorial to the Missing? The most accurate “guess” is 49,200,000. Approximately 800,000 more pennies are needed. Our goal is to have this project completed by the end of August. So, PLEASE, if you have pennies already collected, get them to us or to your associational missions office and someone from the Baptist Building will pick them up. You are to be commended for such a splendid response of a very worthy project. The impact of seeing fifty million pennies and knowing what they represent is life changing.
Often I am asked, “What can we do as a church or group that will impact our community and our church?” As I read the August 6 edition of The Clarion Ledger, it became clear to me that Mississippi Baptists must get more involved in an often ignored issue that is present in many of our families, families that sit in the pews of our churches Sunday after Sunday.
The article in The Clarion Ledger that arrested my attention was “Slain Girl Had Life Full of Turmoil.” It appears 15-year-old Arkenyella Hoskins’ life ended with a bullet to her head and her body dumped under a bridge here in Jackson. This young girl had a very unstable home life, and many others are like her. Sometimes it is because of domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month began in October 1987 and has continued each year. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) defines domestic violence as “the willful intimidation, assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another.” It often results in physical injury, psychological trauma, and sometimes death.
One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. 1.3 million are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. 73% of the victims are female. Females who are 20-24 years of age are at the greatest risk.
Mississippi ranks 2nd highest in the nation for domestic violence (NCAV). Also, our state ranks 9th in the nation for the rate of females murdered by males in single victim/single offender homicides.
An abuser is one who exerts power and control over their partner through various avenues. Sometimes they use coercion and threats along with smashing things, abusing pets, displaying weapons, etc. Often it is emotional abuse when a concerted effort is made to make her feel bad about herself—putting her down, calling her names, humiliating her, etc. Often she is prevented from getting and keeping a job. She is made to ask for money, and he keeps her in the dark on financial issues. The abused is often isolated because her partner controls what she does, who she sees and to whom she talks. These are just a few of the symptoms.
Church attending families are not exempt from domestic violence. Each Sunday they show up for worship and they need help, even though most will never admit it. The church and/or groups can help by supporting the abuse shelters that might be in your area. If none are available, you might consider looking into providing one. Also, this October do something to observe National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Perhaps one of the easiest and most beneficial projects is to make those around you aware of the problem, causes, and types of abuse. There is help available.
In Mississippi you can go to www.mcadv.org or call 1-800-893-3234 (Mon.-Fri. 8-5 pm), 1-800-799-7233 (after hours) or 601-981-9196.
Your help is needed.
This article is reprinted with permission from the August 2008 issue of “Practical Principles for Christian Living,” the monthly publication of the Christian Action Commission of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Spousal Abuse