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Rachel's Story - The Father's songView
I probably never would have used the word abusive about my marriage - I didn’t really understand what it meant. What I did know is that I was deeply unhappy, afraid and not sure that I could survive, isolated and alone in a country thousands of miles away from my …
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Gift of hope: a survivor's storyView
'On the day I left, when I sought refuge, there was not one available space nearby. Refuges are underfunded, under resourced and under-staffed. Abused and often very disturbed women are wandering around without purpose. It is so tragic that when they have been through so much and been so brave, …
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Abusive Church Response - Rachel's StoryView
Religion has the right to express its opinion in the service of the people, but God in creation has set us free: it is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person. — Pope Francis — As I write this, I have not seen one of my …
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Christine's story - chapter 1View
The RealisationI had run out of ideas, I had tried everything I could think of to fix my marriage. Counselling, marriage courses, trying to be the perfect wife, talking, listening, serving, praying, crying, trying to accept, brainwashing myself to like this life, losing myself in the kids, I was miserable, …
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Christine's story - chapter 2View
The escapeI started to read “Why Does He Do That?” by Lundy Bancroft, the book was amazing, I felt this guy must have been living in our walls it was so accurate. I had a friend order it for me and read it secretly. (One thing people don’t understand is …
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When churches don’t acknowledge abuse – and we have to leave. Paula's StoryView
Many Christian women who are victims of domestic abuse end up having to leave their church. This happened to me and I still grieve for the fellowship that I was part of for 35 years. After my first marriage of 20 years ended, I was single for 14 years and …
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Margaret's Story - 7 Years OnView
Part one of Margaret's story can be read here I would love to say that the last 7 years have been easy and God wonderfully and miraculously restored my marriage. Unfortunately, it has not been that easy. Yes, my husband has changed hugely and he is able to control his …
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Institutional Abuse - Hilary's StoryView
My own abuse occurred within the context of a bible college. It has taken over a decade for me to even begin to make sense of and articulate why I still feel such profound pain when I am reminded of what I experienced in its aftermath. Having put my studies …
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Ann's Story - The Valley of Dry BonesView
The Valley of Dry Bones I am a survivor, and my story has been shared many times, in many places, to raise awareness of domestic abuse and how it can happen to anyone. It was a gradual increase from working on my self-esteem, to cutting me off from my family …
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Diane's Story - Chapter 2: The EscalationView
The Escalation Then, one day in America, Mike hit me in a public place, when we were in the car with the children. Within minutes several police cars arrived, with blue flashing lights, and my husband was arrested. Subsequently we both had to appear in court. I was worried about …