By Natalie Collins

Bringing Hope Conference
Colchester, Essex, England
June 26, 2010

When there is an abusive man in her home, a woman becomes a widow and her children become orphans. She is abused and oppressed, denied justice by a system built on patriarchy and the inequality of women.

In Isaiah 1:17, God gave us this mandate, “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed.  Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” James states, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

Throughout history, who has fought for the rights of the widow—that is, a woman suffering domestic abuse? Who has defended the cause of the orphans—the children, living in homes where their father abuses their mother? Who has sought justice for abused women and looked after them in their distress?

The answer should be God’s people the church. This, however, has often not been the case. In fact, God’s people have often been responsible for the perpetuating of theology that not only does not help these widows and orphans but causes them to suffer abuse, to stay silent and not seek justice. The reality is that the church could be rightly accused of enabling oppression, facilitating injustice, and causing widows and orphans further distress.

How can the church become the answer? How can we, God’s people, live out the mandate of Isaiah 1:17? The answer lies in the first word of this verse, “Learn.” We have to learn to do good. 

That is why we at Faith and Freedom are organizing the Bringing Hope Conference for June 26, 2010, in Colchester, England—to facilitate education about domestic abuse, learning to understand and support those who are suffering and how to live out this mandate. It will be an inspirational day with outstanding speakers, including Dr. Elaine Storkey and Dr. Catherine Clark Kroeger, and the performance of an enlightening theatre production, “Lady in Red.” 

It will also be the public launch of “Restored,” a groundbreaking new international alliance of Christians ending violence against women.

Even though it may be true that very often the church has not been the answer for those who are suffering domestic abuse, there are some amazing individuals who have listened to God’s heart and have pioneered projects and initiatives—to defend the “orphans” and fight for the “widows” suffering from domestic abuse. These individuals have walked a lonely path, often standing against those in the church who should have helped them.

Through supporting the development of Restored and working with Faith and Freedom, God has brought me into contact with many of these organizations, who are beginning to unite and become something bigger, something louder, something that can enable the rest of the church to learn how to become the answer.

 For more information, visit www.faithandfreedom.webs.com/conference.htm. Natalie Collins is the coordinator for Faith and Freedom in the United Kingdom.