Our Work News From The Field Strong Allies In The Fight Against Injustice: IJM Bolivia Hosts Pastors' Training | Strong Allies In The Fight Against Injustice: IJM Bolivia Hosts Pastors' Training | |
| PRINT | |
| Tuesday, 30 June 2009 | |
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LA PAZ, BOLIVIA - IJM Bolivia fights sexual violence by tenaciously representing victims in court - but the team also seeks to transform the landscape entirely by building a movement that will bring new allies to the fight on behalf of vulnerable children. The IJM Bolivia team seeks to nurture partners within Bolivia’s Christian community who will bring their faith and passion to combat sexual violence against children. We believe that working with the church will enable us to build communities that demand that the public justice system works effectively on behalf of victims of sexual violence. We want to help build model institutions that victims can turn for healing and that create structures to put an end to violence.This spring, IJM Bolivia hosted a three-day Pastor’s Retreat, attended by 64 Bolivian pastors and 86 other leaders, representing 61 churches spanning seven denominations, focused on mobilizing a response within the church to this issue. The goal of the retreat was to sensitize pastors and church leaders to child sexual abuse – a pervasive issue in Bolivia – and motivate them to act on behalf of victims, as well as to promote unity among the different churches represented to in order to combat this critical issue together. The participants benefited from the knowledge and experience of a multi-disciplinary team assembled by IJM Canada, with a range of expertise from theology to combating child sexual abuse. “IJM is in a unique and ideal position to effectively mobilize the Church to channel its wide range of gifts, resources and passions for the purpose of caring and advocating for sexually abused children in Bolivia,” explains IJM Bolivia Field Office Director Jaime Farrant. “We believe that working with the church will enable us to build communities that demand that the public justice system works effectively on behalf of victims of sexual violence. We want to help build model institutions that victims can turn for healing and that create structures to put an end to violence.” At the conclusion of the event, 31 churches indicated they would like to be trained by IJM to become “Safe Sanctuaries” for women and children. Safe Sanctuaries is a six-month training program that equips churches to respond to sexual violence by serving as places of healing and security for victims of these crimes. Twenty-one churches requested that IJM provide a Biblical Justice seminar, and 19 churches have requested specific training in coping and responding to child sexual abuse. The pastors’ retreat – held for the second time this year – is now an annual event hosted by IJM Bolivia. Its focus is to challenge participants with the Bible’s teaching on oppression and the call to the church to seek justice, to nurture them with fellowship and to encourage them in their own journeys to become greater advocates for justice — especially on behalf of the women and children who are victims of Bolivia’s extremely high rate of sexual abuse. The retreat galvanized the participating pastors. One participating pastor expressed a common sentiment when he concluded, “I want to begin talking about child sexual abuse in my church. This retreat has really blessed me and awoke me to something that we have forgotten in our churches.” These passionate and empowered advocates will make changes that bring healing and hope to their congregations - and their communities. |
