enditnow is a global initiative to raise awareness and advocate for the end of violence around the world. It aims to mobilize Seventh-day Adventists around the world and invites other community groups to join in to resolve this worldwide issue.
This initiative, which extends to more than 200 countries and territories, was launched in October 2009 in partnership between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)-a prominent humanitarian organization-and the Department of Women's Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, two entities that are representative of the Adventist Church.
enditnow is the most important stand the Seventh-day Adventist Church has ever taken regarding violence against men, women and children. Through this campaign, more than 22 million Adventist church members-men, women, and children-are expected to create a global movement that will be mobilized within their own communities, where each person will actively work to create awareness and share solutions on ways to end this global problem.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence—also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, dating abuse, and intimate partner violence—is a pattern of behavior that involves abuse by one partner against another in an intimate relationship such as marriage, cohabitation, dating, or within a family. It is experienced by women, men, and children. Its purpose is for one individual to maintain power and control over the other(s).
Domestic violence has been documented as a major issue within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Incidences of abuse follow trends documented in non-Adventist populations. This is why enditnow seeks to increase personal awareness, responsibility, and involvement to effectively help end violence in every family and community.
THE FACTS
On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States—more than 12 million women and men over the course of a year (http://www.cdc.gov/ ViolencePrevention/index.html).
Forty to 60 percent of children living in homes where adult abuse occurs also experience direct abuse themselves. All experience indirect abuse (Wright R.J.: Wright R.O.; Isaac N.E.;1997, Response to battered mothers in the pediatric emergency department: A call for an approach to family violence, Pediatrics 1997, vol. 99, no.2. pp.186-192).
Religion is not a deterrent. There is just as much abuse (spousal, child, and sexual abuse) in Christian homes as in non-Christian homes (Lee Bowker, “Religious Victims and Their Religious Leaders: Services Delivered to One Thousand Battered Women by the Clergy,” Abuse and Religion 230-31).
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS AFFIRM THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EACH HUMAN BEING AND DECRY ALL FORMS OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE.
enditnow builds on the Seventh-day Adventist Church's long tradition of responding to the needs of all human beings, namely to stand up in favor of human rights, tolerance, the well-being of children, freedom of expression and conscience, and the protection and integrity of families. It is a call to action for all Adventists and supporters to stand up and put into practice those principles we hold true.
All of Jesus’ teaching at Nazareth revolves around ministering to others—particularly, the impoverished, the hostages, the physically disabled, and the victims of oppression. And because the Spirit was upon Jesus, he wasn’t just speaking platitudes or offering vain hope, he was empowered to act and to rescue people from dire circumstances.
enditnow seeks to extend God's vision of love and compassion for all His children.
ALL COMMUNITIES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE
Although enditnow seeks to primarily mobilize Adventist church members, all individuals, church congregations of every faith, social groups, schools, and businesses are invited to join.
Donations to this campaign will be used by this campaign to directly enhance the goal that lies at the center of this effort-to end violence.
For more information, please visit the following web page: enditnow.org
