REDEEMING SANCTUARIES
Access survivor-informed RESOURCES that will equip your church to prevent sexual abuse and promote survivor care
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN how TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
1 in 3 women, 1 in 6 men, and nearly half of queer people worldwide are survivors of sexual abuse. That means that many people you know and love may have experienced abused. Sexual abuse is a devastating crime that can have a lasting impact on survivors. It can cause physical and emotional pain, and it can make it difficult for survivors to trust others and feel safe—especially in the church. But there is hope. Christian churches and organizations play a vital role in supporting survivors and preventing sexual abuse.
By working together, we can create a world where everyone is safe from sexual violence.
$29 (Valued at $250)
Resources include...
Event recording featuring survivors Rowena Chiu, Irene Cho, and Jean Nangwala in conversation with Bigad Shaban
Video curriculum to educate your church or organization on survivor care and advocacy
Bible Studies, sermon series, conversation guides, and resources for your leadership team to prevent sexual abuse
about
Over the summer, Christian leaders gathered in San Francisco to listen to the stories and solutions from survivors of sexual abuse. Redeeming Sanctuaries equips Christian leaders with the tools and resources they need to promote safety in their churches and organizations. We are making the learnings from this event accessible by providing the event recording together with additional resources to equip your church or organization to prevent sexual abuse. Hearing from a panelist of renowned survivor-leaders, you will learn about effective and honoring ways to support survivors and prevent abuse. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of survivors and redeem our sanctuaries as places of safety for all. Our resources include the event recording, Bible Studies, sermon series, guides, and resources that will help you care for survivors and prevent sexual abuse in your community.
THE PANELISTS
Rowena is a Harvey Weinstein Survivor and #MeToo activist, who speaks to churches, corporations, schools, and universities around the world. After publishing a New York Times Op-Ed about her sexual assault in Oct 2019, she has featured in hundreds of media interviews, including for: BBC, CBS, NBC, Variety, and more. She is currently working on a memoir and screenplay.
Jean Nangwala is a singer, speaker, creator and survivor-advocate. She was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. Her passion for social justice stems from her personal experience of injustice and witnessing the same inequality across the globe. She loves using music and dance to inspire others to find liberation through their art. Follow her at Tales of a Black Girl.
Irene has over 30 years of experience working with and leading youth, young adults, leaders, and families. She is a speaker, writer, and consultant for churches and organizations on engaging youth, youth culture, community development, and racial justice issues. She’s the Regional Director at Able Works and founder of InBetween.
the hosts
Bigad Shaban is an award-winning investigative reporter for NBC Bay Area. Bigad has been recognized for his work by several news organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Louisiana Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Associated Press, and the Iowa Broadcast News Association.
TESTIMONIES
“I appreciate how this event brought out into the open what happens after the violation occurs. I’m struck by the comment that the trauma never goes away. I hear this and ponder this with a heavy heart. Yet, I see the resilience of the courageous, articulate speakers. I am so grateful that I was able to attend with other elders in my church to debrief and see how we might move forward as a congregation. Thank you for this important event!”
Church Elder
Grace Fellowship Community Church
“Redeeming Sanctuaries was an incredibly moving time of witnessing powerful, courageous, and wise women calling all of us, and churches especially, to stand with survivors of sexual abuse and to prevent further abuses in the very institutions and communities that are supposed to be the safest. Because of these survivor-leaders, I have great hope that change is possible.”
DORCAS CHENG-TOZUN
AUTHOR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR THE SENSITIVE SOUL
“This was a beautifully planned event! I think where I was most impacted was realizing how much of a privilege it was to be present among survivors who not only are willing to share, but have gone through their own processes of healing so that they could graciously articulate their thoughts and provide calls to action without being retriggered in the moment. It was really masterful. I realized in reflection that this was rare and felt grateful that I went.”
Junia Kim
Seen 52
SPONSORS
Sponsorship of our event is an opportunity to take a public stance against sexual abuse and be recognized for this commitment through valuable brand and content placements. Your support of this event brings increased awareness to survivor-led interventions and solutions for establishing safety in faith- based communities, demonstrating leadership on these imperative issues. Learn more about sponsoring by contacting: nikole@freelyinhope.org
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press
NBC Bay Area reports: Sexual abuse survivors urge church leaders to better protect congregations. Advocates and survivors will take part in a panel discussion in hopes of pushing church leaders across the Bay Area to do more in combating sexual abuse.
Religious News Service reports: After a decade of sex abuse education in Africa, Freely in Hope pivots to American churches. The organization’s shift to North America was prompted by numerous recent sexual abuse scandals in American churches.
HERE ARE A FEW RESOURCES INCLUDED!
bible study guide
Facilitate a series of healing conversations between survivors of sexual violence and advocates for survivors. Use this guide to curate conversations to provide a shared under-standing of the survivor’s experience within your church.
liberation is here
Liberation Is Here is the story of Nikole Lim’s journey as an idealistic freelance filmmaker. Her career allowed her to step in and out of the lives of people who had experienced oppression around the world. Learn more.
holistic health poster series
Download our “Holistic Health for Survivors of Sexual Assault” poster series and put them on your office walls as a reminder of ways to support survivors in your community. Learn 4 Ways to Promote Holistic Health.