At the Pennsylvania Conference, we believe every person is created in the image of God and deserves dignity, safety, and love. Sadly, many individuals, families, and even churches face the painful reality of abuse and violence. These wounds—whether physical, emotional, sexual, or spiritual—leave lasting scars, and ignoring them only deepens the harm.
We are committed to being part of the solution. As followers of Jesus, we cannot stay silent in the face of injustice or suffering. We listen with compassion, speak out for those who have been hurt, and connect them with the professional care and support they need.
On this page, you’ll find resources, training opportunities, and practical tools for churches, families, and individuals. Whether you are seeking help yourself, looking to support someone you love, or hoping to equip your congregation to respond well, we want you to know—you are not alone. We stand with you, and we will walk with you toward healing and hope.
The Hard Truth
1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18.
More than 12 million women and men are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner each year.
Victims and their families are acquainted with the abuser in more than 90 percent of cases.
Nearly 70% of abuse victims turn to their faith community first when asking for help.
Abuse Awareness Training
Every child deserves to feel safe. Yet the reality is heartbreaking: 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. Even more alarming, 90% of children never tell. Silence allows the pain to continue, leaving scars that last a lifetime.
That’s why our Conference has a dedicated team trained to equip churches, families, and communities with vital knowledge and tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse. Through a three-hour interactive seminar, participants learn how to spot warning signs, create safe environments, and protect children from harm.
This training is not just for church members—it’s for the entire community. Host an event and invite your church, invite your neighbors, invite your friends, and your community.
Together, we can raise awareness, break the silence, and give children the protection and hope they deserve. Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.
enditnow Emphasis Sabbath
enditnow® is a worldwide church initiative on the fourth Sabbath of August each year. Women’s Ministries, Children’s Ministries, Family Ministries, Youth Ministries, Education, and Ministerial departments unite together to create resources and raise awareness of this important day.
Launching an enditnow campaign will help your church draw awareness to the issue of abuse, promote collaboration with the community to develop solutions, and help your church become a safe place for everyone. The official enditnow emphasis day is the fourth Sabbath in August, but can be held on any date convenient for your church. Join us to help end abuse, create safe churches, and help victims.
The enditnow® is a global initiative is the official Seventh-day Adventist effort to raise awareness, equip churches, and advocate for the end of all abuse and violence in our communities.
This initiative, which extends to more than 200 countries and territories, was launched in October 2009 in partnership between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)-a prominent humanitarian organization-and the Department of Women’s Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, two entities that are representative of the Adventist Church.
enditnow® is the most important stand the Seventh-day Adventist Church has ever taken regarding violence against men, women and children. Through this campaign, more than 15 million Adventist church members-men, women, and children-are expected to create a global movement that will be mobilized within their own communities, where each person will actively work to create awareness and share solutions on ways to end this global problem.
Through enditnow North America, you’ll find training programs (such as Safeguarding Peace) for church leaders and laypersons, practical resources for prevention and response, printable materials, church policy guides, and directories of help services. While they do not provide crisis intervention directly, their site links to national hotlines and connects you with local support resources.
Our Team
Shawn Shives
Executive Secretary
Yves Monnier
Ministerial Director
Tamyra Horst
Communication Director
Resources
When the life you built shatters under the weight of abuse, how do you find your way back to wholeness?
In Living Untangled, author and speaker Michelle Perez invites you into her powerful story of surviving years of emotional and spiritual abuse and learning to reclaim her identity through the healing heart of God.
This is more than a memoir; it’s a guide for every woman who longs to rise again. Through raw honesty, biblical wisdom, and gentle encouragement, Michelle shows that freedom is possible, restoration is real, and God’s love is greater than every chain.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- How to recognize hidden forms of abuse
- The steps to rebuilding confidence and boundaries
- Faith-based tools for emotional and spiritual healing
- Encouragement for mothers, survivors, and women of faith
- The truth about your identity in Christ – beloved, chosen, and free