Bonnie Nicholas

Such a valuable gift, to walk alongside, to listen with love, in acceptance rather than in judgment. Lord, help your people to be those who can walk alongside. Thanks for the article!

I think that classes could help congregations more if they were more connected to the many resources that the denomination has to offer. Denominational offices, like Safe Church Ministry, can't connect meaningfully with every CRC congregation. We depend on classes, and other regional bodies to act in an intermediary role. It's also true that the denomination could offer more support to those who serve the classes. How are people trained for this important work? How and where are the connections made, and experience and knowledge shared? What is the process for these connections to grow into mutually beneficial relationships?

I once had a wise spiritual director say words to me that I will never forget and that have helped guide my life ever since: She said, "Consider the things that bring you life; consider the things that bring you death; and don't do violence to yourself." Work for me includes both those things that bring life, and those that bring death; and I can tell when the balance gets shifted and I need to make some changes. The Lord has created us with a need for Sabbath, for rest, for the renewing and refreshing of our souls. This blog is thought-provoking for me. What brings life to my soul? A vacation-day or a holy-day?

From my experience in various teaching situations, not just with children but in leading Bible studies, youth groups, support groups, etc. I would say absolutely that the Lord uses it to teach me! I learn so much in the experience of teaching others. My prayer is that it's good for the other student learners as well. And because we have a great God who can use even me; I have hope that they also learn and experience his goodness.

Greetings,

Thank you for your comment and for expressing your concerns.

I hesitate to enter into this discussion because it IS ALL about VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - NOT about abortion, which is an entirely different issue. Until the church is more vocal in its opposition to violence against women, I will choose to stand with those who are taking a stand - we can agree on that, and stand in solidarity - even though we do not agree with the position that those organizations take on every other issue. When I was a student at Wheaton, I heard the phrase "all truth is God's truth" - it's like rain that falls on the good and bad alike. In standing against violence against women, we are finding common ground - it's a point of connection that can allow our lights to shine in a dark place.

Regarding sexuality - Safe Church has a free downloadable resource called "Driver's Training for Dating" which will help youth learn the sacredness of the sexual relationship and navigate through the highly sexualized culture that we live in.  We also offer "Circle of Grace" a program for all ages that teaches respect for one another in healthy relationships - We have offered this excellent resource free of charge to the first 50 churches that agree to use it - it's sad to me that only about half that number have signed on. Do our churches really care about this?

Regarding abortion - I am a member of "Feminists for Life" http://www.feministsforlife.org/ which is an organization that follows in the footsteps of  great feminists of the past, those who fought so bravely for women to have the right to vote. These women were strongly opposed to abortion. Did you know that the number one reason that a woman seeks an abortion is because of lack of resources and support? So, if we want to see fewer abortions, we need to support women. I base my opinion on abortion on my belief that life begins far before someone is born - that the Lord is creatively working in the womb. I understand that not everyone shares that belief. I also feel that I must say one more thing in response to the post. It makes no sense to me to compare abortion to violence against women. Please understand; in an abortion a woman agrees to a sanitary, surgical procedure - however unpleasant and difficult that may be. That is nothing at all like the experience of terror and powerlessness that occurs in violence or in rape - nothing like it at all - there simply is no comparison.