Introduction

Manual Overview

BOOK I: Faith Community Curriculum for Clergy and Lay Leaders
- Curriculum Outline
- Instructions
- Supplies Checklist
- Room Checklist
- Educator Qualities
- Key Issues and Points
- Course Objectives
- Part 1-A: Introductions
  and Opening Comments
- Part 1-B: Elements and Dynamics
  of Domestic Abuse
- Part 1-C: Barriers
- Part 1-D: “Broken Vows” Video
- Part 2-A: Awareness Raising
- Part 2-B: What to Say and Do
- Part 2-C: What Congregations
  Can Do
Part 3: Closure
- Handouts list

BOOK II: Family Violence: Helping Survivors and Abusers
A Manual for Faith Communities

BOOK III: Pastor’s Packet: Family Violence Awareness Materials for Pastors

BOOK IV: Curriculum for Laity

Appendix

Part 3: Closure

Desired Time:

• 5 minutes

Purpose:

• To provide closure to participants and energize them to continue the work
• To help them recognize their responsibility as people of faith to reach out to individuals suffering in abusive relationships

Components:

• Good Samaritan story - two individuals read alternately: one reading the bold parts, the other reading the italicized parts

Tips:

• State: “We all need to recognize that it is our calling and our personal responsibility to know what to do and then do it when we recognize someone who is hurting and being hurt. As people of faith, we are called to respond.”

Content

Reading

• “The Good Samaritan” (following)

Adjournment:

• Optional: Close with a prayer, a litany, a simple reflection or a moment of silence.

When you have completed the session:

• Distribute a post-course questionnaire (pdf 532KB) to each participant.
• Suggestion: For optimal feedback, have participants complete the questionnaire prior to leaving.

The Good Samaritan
Jesus gave this illustration. A Jew going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road.

Josie had been secretly abused by her husband for years. George stripped her of her self-esteem, dignity, her ability to be self-sufficient and her faith in God.

By chance, a Jewish priest came along and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed by.

By chance, Ellen, a woman from her church noticed the ugly bruise on Josie’s forearm. But Ellen ignored the suspicious bruise and said nothing.

A Jewish temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but went on.

Brad, one of the people on church council noticed the bruise and wondered if it was related to why she had not been attending church regularly. But he decided it was none of his business.

But a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity.

But Rose, Josie’s neighbor, not a fellow church member, in fact had no church of her own, saw the bruise and felt deep pity for Josie.

Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him until they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night.

Rose noticed that George was not allowing Josie to go out much. But one day when Josie was taking the garbage to the curb, Rose stopped Josie and said, “I hope that bruise wasn’t caused by someone who wanted to hurt you, because no one deserves that.”

The next day he handed the innkeeper two 20 dollar bills and told him to take care of the man. “If his bill runs higher than that,” he said, “I’ll pay the difference next time I’m here.”

The next day when George left for work, Rose called Josie and said to her, “I’ll baby-sit for you if you want to go out for a while.” Later, Rose offered to drive Josie to a support group for battered women. Rose also secretly slipped Josie two 20 dollar bills.

Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the bandits’ victim?

Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to Josie, the victim of abuse?

The man replied, “The one who showed him some pity.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

The man replied, “The one who showed her some pity.”Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

The story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:30-37.

The story of the Good Samaritan found in a church, workplace or community near you.

Created by Jayne Kane of Encourage to Hope Ministries. Found in the paraphrased edition of the Living Bible. Reprinted with permission.