“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” – Luke 4:18
Unfortunately, many women in South Africa never experience this type of freedom. 45.6% of women have admitted that they’ve experienced abuse at least once in their lives. Every 6 hours, one woman is murdered at the hands of her intimate partner. The statistics are scary. It makes campaigns like 16 Days of Activism even more important.
Katie is one of these woman that falls into the above statistics. Despite adversity, she is now free from a lifetime of self-doubt, shame and abuse… Katie has a renewed sense of purpose and hope in life. She’s a survivor of horrific domestic abuse, a role model to many, a free daughter of Christ and a loving mother.
We need to encourage and empower women – to help give a voice to people who have lost theirs, help those who need a kind hand and listening ear, and let people know that there is a freedom that exists despite and even within the struggles – and it awaits them just around the corner.
How to get involved
There are many different organisations and movements in South Africa that are all working towards eradicating gender-based violence. It seems like a massive issue to tackle and solve, but with small steps from each person, we can slowly start making positive change in our communities.
6 ways to get involved:
- Educate yourself on the reality of what’s happening to the women, and children, in our country.
- Use your voice. Inform people of the statistics and what’s happening. Share information on social media. Start conversations. The power of spoken word is powerful.
- Pray. As Christians, we understand the power of prayer. Pray for release in our country, chains to be broken, people to be set free, and for wisdom on how you can aid the situation personally.
- Join movements and organisations that are working at helping victims of GBV, who are creating awareness and who are trying to find solutions to the problem.
- Offer any skills you may have that could help people out there. If you’re a qualified counselor or psychologist, see if you can offer services to abused women. If you’re a teacher, think about joining an organisation that offers education to women who may not have had the opportunity to complete school. The opportunities are endless.
- Partner with organisations financially. Many of the organisations and individuals actively fighting for this cause often do so at their own expense. Think about empowering them financially so that they can reach further.
Do you need prayer?
We have a team of prayer warriors that are willing and ready to pray with you through any situation you may be facing! Whether it’s you that needs prayer, a loved one or you simply want to pray for our country with us, please get in contact with us so that we may journey together and join in prayer to break chains in our nation!
