12 Prayers, 12 Weeks

Stop the Violence: Nicaragua

Many families live with domestic violence, often in areas of crippling poverty.

According to the Police Department, one in three women in Nicaragua suffers domestic abuse on a regular basis. Sadly, this is even true for women within Churches in Nicaragua.

Many women suffer alone, living with a feeling of shame and embarrassment, turning blame inward. They live under a constant intimidation and fear of retaliation from their families stopping them speaking out or seeking any form of help. While this violence is not often talked about, it is not unknown. Rather it is often quietly accepted and quietly ignored. This cycle of violence must be broken.

The Bible Society in Nicaragua cannot stand back and ignore this huge social and family issue which has continued to be modelled and repeated generation after generation. They have created and implemented a programme, training leaders in 120 churches each year. They are educating church leaders to assist in the prevention of violence within the family. They are also providing Study Bibles to leaders and thousands of "Stop the Violence" and "God Talks to The Family" booklets for women and men. Women and men are being drawn into separate discussion and Study groups where they can share their experiences. Women are being helped to find safety for themselves and their children, while men are being challenged and helped to act in the ways fitting to the head of the household.

The principles and values in Scripture are shining light on abuse and violence, often radically changing the atmosphere within the family.

Pray that God's Word will bring freedom

Thank the Lord for the vision of freedom behind this project. May he continue to raise up churches who stand against violence and declare freedom in Jesus' name.

Pray for all families who are currently working through the programme. May they step into freedom and practice repentance where needed.

Pray for those who are yet to find help. Pray that courage will rise, that lies will be broken and freedom will come to those living under violence.

Ask God to help the Bible Society team to faithfully serve families and churches.

Week 8: 22 November 2016

Hearing & Believing

Esperanza is 33 years old. She is a member of a church in the San Cristobal community. She participates in the talks on domestic violence prevention, promoted by the Bible Society.

Like other women, Esperanza has suffered from domestic violence throughout her life:

"When I was young, I suffered from a lot of violence from my stepfather. He wouldn't allow me to attend school, and he would always make me do hard labour. He would reprimand me for everything and hit me. My poor mother would only watch without saying anything. This happened until I got tired of it and left with a man from my community, thinking this was for my well-being. However, the same thing occurred: my partner started to treat me poorly - both physically and emotionally. Since I didn't have anywhere else to go, I had to endure many years of domestic violence. I felt alone, I wasn't happy, and in my heart, I felt a lot of grudge. Thank God we are receiving talks on how to prevent domestic violence in the church because it has helped me a lot. God's Word encourages us to live peacefully and only the truth will set us free, and that truth is in the Bible. The Lord has listened to my pleas, and now I know the different forms of violence. Everyday, I feel that I can fend for myself. The talks I receive have greatly helped me. I lost fear, and I have learned to prevent domestic violence in my home."

Just like Esperanza, there are thousands of women in Nicaragua who suffer from domestic violence. God can change this.

Bible Society NI, 27 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6NB

TEL: 028 9032 6577 - www.bsni.co.uk

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