Plenary #1 - God Sees the Helper: An Overwhelming Record of God’s Care for Those Who Come Alongside (Chris Moles)
Chris will explore the value of and offer encouragement to fellow helpers dedicated to the challenging yet rewarding work God has called us to.
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Plenary #2 - Desecration: Abuse as a Violent Assault on the Image of God (Greg Wilson)
We are all image-bearers of God, created to look and act like God; abuse is a desecration of that image in both the perpetrator and the victim.
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Plenary #3 - Rachael Denhollander.
Session description unavailable.
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Plenary #4 - The Very Bad Days without Women (Elyse Fitzpatrick)
Even though the Lord judged his pre-Eve creation as not good, the church’s false assumptions still claim that women are not only unnecessary but also dangerous detriments, hobbling the church’s mission in the world.
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Track Session #1 - Validation: I want my story to matter. (Elyse Fitzpatrick)
Because we have been created in the image of God, we all long to know that we have significance. In this session we will discuss what significance is, whether it is right for believers to desire it, and the freeing truth about where it comes from.
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Track Session #2 - Redemption: I want my story to be useful. (Elyse Fitzpatrick)
Many of us go into helping work in order to be useful…and that’s not wrong. Indeed, feeling that we are unseen or unnecessary can be overwhelming and drive us into overwork or discouragement. In this session we will learn where the sense of usefulness originates and how to cultivate it in ourselves and in others.
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Track Session #3 - Justice: I want my story to be vindicated. (Rachael Denhollander)
Session description unavailable.
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Session #4 - Protection: I want my story to not be repeated. (Rachael Denhollander)
Session description unavailable.
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Track Session #5 - Resolution: I want my story to make sense. (Melissa Affolter)
In this session, participants will consider how we can wisely support survivors as they wrestle with the tension of the unknown, unclear, and unresolved. The journey toward recovery and growth is not linear, but it can be an opportunity to reimagine and re-form our perspective by drawing near to God, who welcomes our lingering questions and invites us to name our painful losses. Together, we will consider how lament provides a comforting framework for grappling with the unresolved while gently widening the spacious path toward healing and hope.
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Session #6 - Presence: I want my story to be handled with care. (Melissa Affolter)
Too often, survivors have known the experience of sharing their story with someone who seems to sincerely care, only to be met with further hurt, disappointment, and shame. We know the importance of a gentle, reassuring, and welcoming presence in providing care for the one who has been harmed by abuse. As we steward stories, how can we enter into another’s pain and brokenness with a generous and vulnerable presence that reflects and embodies Christ? What does it look like to walk in the Spirit, in both our caring and the sharing of stories, so that we wisely discern the various contexts? What are some aspects of self-care we need to keep in mind as we interact with those who may not be skilled in practicing presence?
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Session #7 - Restoration: I want my story to have a happy ending. (Melissa Affolter)
Restoration may have personal and relational impacts we long hoped for, even though those are not guaranteed. In this session, we will consider that restoration is not about returning to what once was, but is instead a hope for renewal and goodness that is yet to come. As survivors experience healing and increased capacity for discovering joy, light, and creativity, how might we shift our care toward helping them move nearer to God (and others) in ways they may have previously thought impossible? In concluding our time, we will reflect on the surprising and sacred movement of God in our stories.
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