Becoming a Refuge: On-Demand Domestic Abuse Church Teaching Series
- Darby Strickland
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
There are occasions when someone sits across from you, and you can feel it.
Something is not right.
But it’s hard to name.
She may speak carefully.
Minimize what’s happening.
Or even defend the person who is harming her.
And if we’re honest, this is where many of us feel unsure.
Is this just a hard marriage?
A season to endure?
Or is something more serious happening?
Scripture is not silent about these realities.
God consistently moves toward the oppressed, sees what is hidden, and takes harm seriously.
But many churches feel unprepared to recognize abuse,
and even more unsure how to respond when it becomes visible.
That’s why I created this teaching series with Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation.
This on-demand series is designed to help churches grow in their competence in recognizing and responding to domestic abuse with clarity, wisdom, and safety.
Because abuse is often missed—not because people don’t care, but because it can be confusing, subtle, and hidden behind spiritual language or outward appearances.
In this series, I help churches:
Identify patterns of coercion, control, and harm that often go unnoticed
Understand how abuse impacts a person’s sense of self, safety, and their relationship with the Lord
Discern the difference between typical marital conflict and abusive dynamics
Avoid common missteps that unintentionally place more burden on victims
Respond in ways that prioritize safety, truth, and wise care
This is not just for counselors.
It is for the whole church.
Because abuse does not stay contained—it shapes how someone experiences God, community, and themselves. And when the church misunderstands it, we can unintentionally deepen harm rather than bring help.
This resource is intended to be used in your local church:
as a seminar or training event
in Sunday school settings
in small groups
or as leadership development for pastors, elders, and ministry teams
My hope is that it helps churches develop a shared vision and language—so that when someone reaches out for help, they are met with clarity rather than confusion, and with care rather than dismissal.
Because becoming a refuge means we learn to see what is often hidden…
and we respond in ways that reflect Christ's heart.
He does not minimize suffering or turn away from the vulnerable.
He moves toward, protects, and speaks truth.
And as his people, we are called to do the same.
If you are a pastor, leader, or member who wants your church to care well in these situations, I hope this series serves you:
Because becoming a refuge doesn’t begin with possessing all the answers.
It begins with learning to see…
and having the wisdom and courage to respond.
