Volume. 2 Issue.1
SPRING 2010
To the crippled
woman, Jesus said,
"Woman, you will no
longer be disabled.
I am about to set you
free." Then he put
his hands on her and
right away she stood
up straight and
praised God.
Luke 13:12&13
THE BENT-OVER WOMAN
The Gospel of Luke tells the story of a crippled,
bent-over woman, whom Jesus sees and calls out to.
When He reaches out to touch the woman, she
immediately rises up, is healed and begins to praise
God. When reading this story one evening, I suddenly
had a very clear, mental picture of what living with
abuse would look like and feel like. It was a picture
worth a thousand words.
An abused woman is a crippled woman. She stares at
her feet because she is bent-over, and unable to lift
herself up. She shuffles along taking one deliberate step at a time. Each step she takes
and each decision she makes is calculated carefully as to the cost or the pain it may
cause. Being crippled hinders every aspect of her life from doing her work, to
participating in the community, to caring for her family. She has been bent-over for so
long she forgets how it feels to walk upright, and has come to believe she is to blame
for her circumstances. She feels stuck, her situation seems impossible, no one
understands her and she believes there is no way out. Feeling trapped and without
hope of holding her head high, she becomes a bent-over crippled woman.
Many women feel like this when they enter the doors of the Riseup Ministries House.
The impact of abuse has left them crippled. Still, they are hoping for hope and bravely
make a desperate call to our office. We immediately affirm them for their courage.
Then through the caring counsel and support of Riseup Ministries their hope of finding
hope is realized, and the women begin their own journey of rising up . . . and for that
we praise God!
Joanne Van Beek, M.Div. CLC
Ministry Director
The Impact of Domestic Abuse:
a Normal Response to an Abnormal Situation
To book ser vices or to request
further information please contact
Riseup Ministries:
[email protected]
Physical abuse is often the only kind of abuse acknowledged by society. Even women in
our suppor t groups will often downplay what they experienced by saying “It wasn’t the
best relationship but it could have been wor se . At least the abuse was just verbal. He
wasn’t beating me .” However, the type of abuse says nothing about its severity, and we
can’t underestimate the impact all kinds of abuse have on women. When we ask women
to list the ways their par tner’s abuse has affected them, this is what they are saying:
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hate myself
have frequent headaches
wonder if I am going crazy
have stopped doing the things I used to enjoy
question myself constantly
have lost my faith, doubt my relationship with God
am lonely
have lost my per sonhood
feel anxious
feel like life is not wor th living
lie to people and say that I’m fine
feel like a prostitute
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I have recur r ing digestive problems
I don’t tr ust anyone not even myself
I suffer from depression
I feel like a failure
I have no money for basic needs
of me and my children
I feel angr y all the time
I have lost my home
I feel ter r ified, scared, par anoid
I’m living his lies, keep the tr uth from
family and fr iends
and the list goes on and on
Most women are taken aback when they see the many ways in which abuse has impacted
them. No wonder they are exhausted, depressed, confused and often ill. One of the
most impor tant things for women to know is that what they are feeling and exper iencing
is absolutely normal given the ver y abnormal, stressful and oppressive circumstances
they live with. In other words, they are NOT crazy but responding as any normal per son
would respond given the same situation.
“O that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”
stories
Over the year s I have seen and exper ienced
many difficult things in my home and family.
One day I was reading the local paper and
noticed the ar ticle on Riseup Ministries
Grand Opening, and their wor k in the area of
domestic abuse . Instantly I was drawn to
their strong vision and passion for addressing
the often misunder stood area of abuse and
domestic violence – in homes, in society and
within the faith community.
Abuse was
something I have experienced in my home
and in some church communities.
I
discovered that Riseup Ministries had
Women’s Suppor t Groups, teaching and
training seminar s, a resource librar y and two
counsellor s.
I reached out to Riseup
Ministries and became involved in the
suppor t group and in counselling. I have
greatly benefited from the ser vices they
provide as well as their educational
resources, insightful wisdom and compassion .
In learning the tr uth about what has been
happening to me , I have been empowered to
take back my life and am being set free (J).
I was in an abusive relationship and was
battered for a ver y long time , both mentally
and physically. Jesus had been my total
strength and he guided and helped me
through the many year s of abuse . I thought
the way I was feeling was “normal” or at least
that I would never be any better than I was. I
resigned myself to “this is as good as it gets”.
It was a divine encounter that brought me to
Riseup Ministries to learn and know the tr uth
about what I had been exper iencing. I have
learned new skills and I have never felt as
free as I do today. Something shifted inside
me and I am totally awake from being dead. I
am so gr ateful that Riseup Ministries tr uly
helped me to rise up (C).
OUR SERVICES
Riseup Seminars
Var ious seminar s and presentations providing information and education
about the dynamics and effects of domestic abuse are available to
community and church or ganizations. Presentations cover a broad range of
topics and can be adapted to meet the needs of any audience .
Riseup Support Groups
Evening and afternoon suppor t groups are specifically for women impacted
by domestic abuse . These groups are based on an under standing that
profound healing is often experienced in the context of a safe and
suppor tive community. By providing information about the dynamics and
impacts of abuse , Riseup Ministries seeks to help women achieve significant
healing and hope for themselves and their families.
Riseup Counselling
Per sonal counselling is available for any woman who has experienced the
trauma of domestic abuse within an intimate par tner relationship. This
ser vice is provided by qualified and caring Clinical Pastoral Counsellor s
who are equipped to help women unr avel the complexities of an abusive
relationship and if necessar y, to speak to issues of spiritual abuse .
Riseup Spiritual Care
Spiritual care and prayer is available to women requesting this type of
per sonal suppor t. Spiritual questions and concerns are addressed and
women may leave anonymous prayer s requests with a prayer ministr y team.
Riseup Resources
The Riseup librar y has a growing selection of excellent resources to help
someone under stand the dynamics of an abusive relationship. There are
general books about abuse , books on healing and recover y, books about
sur vivor s of abuse and books that focus on specific types of abuse . Clients
of Riseup Ministr ies are free to visit the librar y to access books, or to
browse the internet for other resources that may be of assistance to them.
UPCOMING SUPPORT GROUPS
Both the evening and afternoon Women’s Suppor t Groups wrapped up the
second week of May. They were a weekly highlight for many of the women
that attended.
Information was shared about the dynamics of abusive
relationships and each time women took a few more steps in their healing
and recover y journeys. In a safe and secure environment, women shared
their pain and were met with under standing, suppor t and friendship.
Summer Drop-In Suppor t Groups
Dates: June 7, July 5, August 9
Times: 1-3 PM and 7-9 PM
Where: Riseup Ministr ies House , 5006-49 Ave , Leduc
Groups are open to past, present or potential clients
of Riseup Ministries.
Regular weekly groups star ting Monday, September 13th, 2010
1) 1-3 PM for 15 weeks
2) 7-9 PM for 30 weeks
To register for either of these groups, call Riseup Ministries.
How Can You Help?
As a Registered Charitable Society, Riseup Ministries relies on the generous
contributions of faithful supporters to meet ongoing needs. Even the
smallest gift makes a difference. Regardless of the way in which you choose
to help, the end result is the same: you become a partner in improving the
lives of women suffering the trauma of domestic abuse. Each contribution
is greatly appreciated.
Your donation will go to support
• Women’s Support Group and Counselling Services
• Resource Development for the library, support
group curriculum and abuse seminars
• Professional Development and training which enables
staff to provide the best care and support possible
• General operating needs: rent, office supplies,
communication, promotion, insurance, remuneration etc.
Riseup Ministries qualifies for the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit
Program Grant, which is a matching grant for personal donors. We
encourage you to consider this when making your donation.
Thank you!
CUR RE N T A R E A S O F N E E D
1. VOL UNTEERS to help with
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Housekeeping
Special Event Planning Committee
Staffing at Outdoor Farmers Market
Distribution of Promotional Material
Prayer Support
Professional Development
The National Christian Counselling Conference is being held in
September 2010, and we are committed to sending our
counselors there to receive valuable training to enhance their
skills. If you are able to help us with finances or travel points to
cover the cost of airfare please contact the office.
Summer Student
We have hired a fund developer to assist us in cultivating funding
strategies, research grant opportunities and host fund-raising
events during the summer months. A donation to help cover her
summer wages would help tremendously.
Riseup Newsletter
Each newsletter has associated costs in printing and production.
Are you able to donate towards the cost of our next newsletter
scheduled for November 2010?
Leduc’s Outdoor Farmer’s Market
Riseup Ministries will be at the Farmers Market on the 3rd
Thursday of June, July and August from 10:00am-1:30pm. Please
come out to support us by donating baked goods to sell. Contact
the office for more information.
Mary-Kay Hand Lotion
We have Mary Kay Satinhands hand cream for sale at the
discounted price of $10.00 a piece. Please stop by the office to
pick up a supply for yourself or family and friends.
to the many individuals, and to
the following organizations who have
given support in 2010
2. IN-KIND DONATIONS such as
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3. FUNDS in support of
Paper Products (towels, Kleenex, bathroom tissue)
Stationary (copier paper, envelopes, postage stamps)
Decaffeinated Coffee
Lap Top Computer
CD Player
Free Standing Fan
Make a Difference in a Woman’s Life!
• The City of Leduc
• Leduc & District Emergency Shelter Association
• 2009 June Langford Helping Hands Campaign
• Cottage Computer, Leduc, AB
• Shaw Insurance, Leduc, AB
• Curves, Leduc, AB
• Leduc’s Christmas Craft Sale group
• Rollyview Women’s Association
• Women’s group of Ebenezer Christian Reformed
Church, Leduc, AB
For a complete list of all our sponsors please check
online at www.riseupministries.ca
Board of Directors
@
www.riseupministries.ca
Riseup Ministries is governed by a Board of
Directors committed to addressing family violence
through volunteering at the board level. They are an
integral part of everything Riseup Ministries does.
Anyone interested in a position on the Board may
contact the office for more information.