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Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day
Theme: Support for the Victim and their Family
Fourth Sabbath in August*
God designed our homes to be centers of peace and happiness, models of our heavenly home. However, abuse in all forms is both universal and on the increase. Abuse exists in the Seventh-day Adventist Church as well as society in general. Worldwide statistics indicate that many lives are lost or endangered by abuse. Women and children are more often directly affected by this curse, although many men suffer from abuse also.
According to a survey of Adventist Church members in the North American Division that was published in the Adventist Review (Oct. 11, 2007), a large number of Adventists have suffered some kind of abuse. Those responding to the survey reported controlling and demeaning behavior (61%), intimidation and physical violence (42%), sexual victimization (26%), resource deprivation and leveraging the children (22%), and potentially lethal actions (9%).
In view of the prevalence of abuse in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the 2001 Annual Council of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists voted to designate the fourth Sabbath in August as Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day and to include it in the Church’s annual Calendar of Special Days and Events each year.
Resources are available each year from the NAD Women’s Ministries Department, as well as other NAD ministries departments, to assist churches in observing Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day.
*If the fourth Sabbath in August is not a convenient date for your church to observe Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day, please work with your pastor to find another date. This year's resources will be available on the web site beginning in June.
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