The Facts on Domestic Violence
• Women are five times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner.
• Between 1993 and 1998, women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of  intimate violence: 19.6 per 1,000.
• About 30% of all women murdered, are murdered by their spouse, or intimate partner.
       - US Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics (2000) Intimate Partner Violence
• Having a verbally abusive partner was the variable most likely to predict that a woman would be victimized by an intimate partner.
       - National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2000). Extent, Nature, and Consequences of 
         Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey
• In the U.S 4 women a day are murdered by their intimate partner.
• One-fourth of American women will be battered at some time during their lives.
• It is estimated that anywhere from 1 million to 2 million women are severely assaulted by their male partners each year in America. Some
   researchers and advocates believe that the true annual figure is closer to 4 million women
       - Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse
• For every woman hurting as the victim there is a man suffering as the batterer.

What is Domestic Violence?
Is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks- as well as other forms of coercion that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partner. - Family Violence Prevention Fund

Domestic violence is not impulsive, but purposeful behavior. The batterer chooses a range of abusive tactics that are reinforced by violence or the constant threat of violence. Power and control are the central addictive purposes of the batterer.

Who are most likely to be in relationships of violence?
Anyone. Domestic violence occurs in all social groups, races, ethnic groups, and economic levels. It has no barriers or boundaries.

What are the types of domestic violence?

   Physical

      Is indicated when the batterer uses actions such as hitting, shoving, restraining, kicking, throwing objects, withholds food as punishment, abuses
      at night to disrupt sleep, locks one out of the house, slaps, burns victims, or attacks with a weapon.

   Sexual

      When one forces sexual acts which are unwanted or declined by the partner. Other actions include jealously anger, withholds sex as an affection,
      calls one sexual names, pressures one to have sex, coerces sex by manipulation or threats, violent during sexual act, inflicts injuries that are 
      sex-specific, denies the victims contraceptives, or coerces one into sexual acts that are uncomfortable.

   Psychological

      Is indicated when the batterer use actions such as breaking promises as a form of control, verbally attacks or humiliates his partner in private
      or public, attacks ones vulnerabilities, plays mind games such as denying requests made earlier, forces one to do degrading things, always claims
      to be right, is unfaithful, or ignores ones feelings.

   Economic

      Is indicated when the batterer controls all the money involuntarily by the partner, refuses to let the partner work outside the home, sabotages
      attempts to work or go to work, refuses to work and makes her support the family, ruins her credit.

What does God say?
The Bible tells us that God has “wonderfully and fearfully” (Psalm 139:14) made each and every one of us. You are special in the eyes of God. It is not pleasing to God when violence exist in our relationships (Matthew 22:39), especially in the marriage relationship (Malachi 2:16, Ephesians 5:21-30). God so loved each and every one of us that He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so that if we believe in Him we would not perish, but have eternal life.

What can a Church congregation do?
• Love the victim and the one who batters.
• Develop a team of caring individuals and educate on domestic abuse.
• Make this team known throughout your congregation.
• Develop a team that can care for the woman as the victim and the man that batters.
• Educate the congregation through workshops and from the pulpit.
• Provide educational materials to your congregation.
• Build relationships and partnerships with community organizations.
• Set aside a regular worship day to observe and increase awareness on domestic abuse.
• Finance faith based organizations that provide services.
• Offer pre-marriage counseling and insure violence in the relationship is covered.
• Educate the youth on healthy relationships.

What can a community do?
• Love the victim and the one who batters.
• Educate yourself by attending workshops and reading resource materials
• Community leaders should provide educational materials throughout the community
• Build relationships and establish partnerships with domestic violence organizations, community groups, and city leadership
• Observe and participate in the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month held in October of every year
• Finance faith based and community organizations that provide services.
• Educate the youth on healthy relationships.

You are special to God and He does not desire that anyone abuse another.