Abuse of women and children on the island of Fiji has been a concern of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for some time and for the last three years, the church has advocated preventative measures. On Dec. 5 members of the South Pacific region of the church’s taskforce on abuse joined with the Women’s Crisis Centre in Fiji for a one-day workshop that drew some 40 people from a variety of backgrounds.

“For a long time churches have pretended that abuse was someone else’s problem; that it didn’t happen in church ... but [inflicting] emotional and physical pain is a sin,” says Ardis Stenbakken, Women’s Ministries director for the world church. The church’s newest strategy is to “speak of the problem so others become aware of it,” she says.

The church in Fiji has joined other advocacy groups to train church members to spot and stop abuse. These groups include the Women’s Crisis Centre and the National Council of Women.

The Women’s Ministries department of the world church has also instituted “Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day” to bring attention to the often-ignored problem. The special day, recognized by the church since 2002, takes place every year, the fourth Saturday in August during worship services.

Women’s Ministries has pushed the cause by sending out materials with information on abuse to Adventist churches worldwide, Stenbakken says. 

Three years ago the first seminars in Fiji drew 200 to 300 Women’s and Children’s Ministries leaders from various churches on the islands, says local Children’s Ministries director Marica Tokalau. The women who participated have organized workshops at their local churches. Many who of those who attended are unemployed women and mothers who were once victims of abuse, Tokalau says.

A 36-year old woman, who prefers to keep her identity confidential, received training at one of the workshops. She ended up using what she learned to help a teenager who had been physically abused by her father. The girl was able to open up to the woman, who eventually helped to place her in a relative’s home.  The woman is now counseling the father.

“In our Pacific culture, physical abuse and emotional abuse is commonly done in [many] households,” says Tokalau. “Beating or swearing at a child is not counted as a big deal and little is known as to the impact it has on a child. We are grateful that these trainings came at a time we needed it.” Tokalau says the awareness programs have helped some recognize and stop abuse in their homes.

Stories likes this show that “being willing to speak up makes a big impact,” Stenbakken adds. 

Led by the Children’s Ministries department, the church has also joined the Women’s World Summit Foundation in recognizing “World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse” each November. The church has also joined a coalition of non-profit and religious groups to bring attention to the growing crime of human trafficking.