When Home Hurts: A Guide for Responding Wisely to Domestic Abuse in Your Church

This book is intended to equip pastors, church leaders and church members to respond with the heart of God to situations of domestic abuse that occur in their local church. Prioritising the safety of the victim at all times, Jeremy Pierre and Greg Wilson seek to help you be the kind of church leader, church member, friend, parent, sibling, or neighbour who responds wisely. We want the church to be a new normal for those grown accustomed to abuse. A home that doesn’t hurt those inside, but instead welcomes them into the tender care of the Lord.

Split into three sections, When Home Hurts begins with an overview to provide a framework for understanding abuse and the people caught up in it, before moving on to advice on how to help in the short and long terms.

This very practical, pastoral book acknowledges the reality and the horror of domestic abuse, but also the reality and power of God to heal. It will be a helpful guide to anyone who suspects abuse within their church family but is unsure how to help without making things worse.

The five appendices at the end of the book offer helpful answers to difficult questions as well as additional resources.

Section 1 – How to Understand Abuse

• Understanding Your Role as Agent of God’s Love
• Understanding Abuse Dynamics
• Discerning Abuse Dynamics

Section 2 – How to Help in the Short Term

• Caring for the Victim
• Confronting the Abuser
• Considering Collateral Damage

Section 3 – How to Help in the Long Term

• Helping the Move from Victim to Overcomer
• Helping the Move from Abuser to Servant
• Leading Your Church to Respond with Wisdom and Compassion

Additional Resources:

• Appendix A – FAQs in the Initial Stages
• Appendix B – FAQs on Separation, Divorce, and Reunification After Abuse
• Appendix C – The Authority of Scripture and Abuse Research
• Appendix D – Resources
• Appendix E – Care Advocate Role Description