One in four Christian women will experience domestic abuse, and for these women their experience can be incredibly challenging to their faith. Survivors report that they do not feel their churches are adequately equipped to support them, but that secular domestic abuse services do not understand their faith.
In No Visible Scars, author Sally Hope draws on her ten years of work supporting survivors and her own experiences of abuse, to help women undertake their own journey of healing.
The book explores domestic abuse and the unique challenges that face Christian women. Through research, personal stories and opportunities to journal No Visible Scars seeks to help survivors find answers to commonly asked questions such as ‘where is God in all this?’ and face the thorny theological concepts of divorce, submission and gender roles. Survivors will be helped to recognise that God is firmly on the side of the abused, he heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.
No Visible Scars is based on the ‘Always Hopeful’ recovery programme for groups of Christian women who have experienced domestic abuse. Many survivors find attending a recovery group intimidating and would prefer to read a book in their own time, others don’t have access to the programme. Through this book, survivors can learn more about their experiences and unpick some of the faith lies they may have taken in as a result.
Table of Content
Chapter 1: A New Hope Part one- From hope to hopeless
Chapter 1: A New Hope Part two- from hopeless to hope
Chapter 2: WHAT happened to me? Part one – Pouring from Adam’s cup
Chapter 2 WHAT happened to me? Part two – Pouring from Jesus cup
Chapter 3: WHY did this happen? Part one- The worlds beliefs
Chapter 3: Why did this happen?- Part two: Church beliefs
Bible study 1: Love and the Law – Matthew 22:24-40. 1 Corinthians 13. 1 John 4:15-21
Chapter 4: WHERE is God in all this? Part one: God and Me
Chapter 4 WHERE is God in all this? Part two: Me and God
Chapter 5: HOW am I affected by abuse? Part one- Coping
Chapter 5 How am I affected by abuse? Part Two- how I see myself
Bible Study 2: What does it mean to submit? – Ephesians 5:21-30. Genesis 2:18
Chapter 6: WHO am I in Christ? Part one- God’s child
Chapter 6: WHO am I in Christ? Part two: Self esteem and setting boundaries
Chapter 7: WHEN will I stop feeling guilty? Part one: Religious guilt and abuse
Chapter 7: WHEN will I stop feeling guilty Part two: Looks at how to deal with guilt and the difference between conviction and condemnation
Bible Study 3: How did Jesus behave towards women? – Luke 8:43-48
Chapter 8: WHEN will I stop feeling angry? Part one- Is Anger a sin?
Chapter 8 WHEN will I stop feeling angry? Part two- Dealing with your anger
Chapter 9: WHAT about forgiveness? Part one- Do I have to forgive?
Chapter 9: WHAT about forgiveness? Part two- forgiveness and reconciliation?
Bible Study 4: What does God think of divorce? Malachi 2:14-16
Chapter 10: A New Future. Part one- Rights, responsibilities and singleness
Chapter 10: A New Future. Part two- Reflection.
About the author
Sally Hope is a domestic abuse professional with ten years experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse, having previously experienced domestic abuse herself. She is now a freelance writer. She wrote her first book 30 Steps to Finding Yourself while working in a women’s refuge.
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