Although it is an uncomfortable subject for many people, it has become more and more obvious that abuse is a serious problem for Christians, for Seventh-day Adventists. Abuse in any form deforms the body of Christ—for the victim, for the perpetrator, and for the church that is left with the hurting members.
enditnow® Initiative
The Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the enditnow® 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.
In 2016, after ADRA ceased involvement with enditnow®, six additional departments of the Seventh-day Adventist Church joined Women's Ministries as co-sponsors of the initiative: Children's Ministries, Department of Education, Family Ministries, Health Ministries, Ministerial Association, and Youth Ministries. Each of the sponsoring entities are committed to developing and sharing resources that address many expressions of abuse against women, children, and men.
What is enditnow® Emphasis Day?
enditnow® Emphasis Day, the fourth Sabbath of August, provides an annual opportunity for local churches to address this issue, to educate church members and leadership, to facilitate awareness in their communities, and to let victims know that their church cares about them.
Go to enditnow Emphasis Day
Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day began in 2001
The Annual Council voted on September 16, 2001, to add an Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day to the annual worldwide church calendar of special days as the fourth Sabbath in August. Women's Ministries will coordinate resource packet material to be used for the special day in local church congregations.
Comments at the launch of the Church initiative in 2001 and recorded in the news brief are listed here.
- Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day represents a "step in the right direction," said Karen Flowers, associate director of Family Ministries at the General Conference when the special day became established. Family Ministries has already developed a range of resources on this subject that will be of great value as they become more well used at the local level.
- In her remarks to the delegates at the Annual Council about this day, Stenbakken said that "We want this to be done in an educating, healthy way, not condemning anyone because both men and women abuse; and men, women, children, and the elderly are victims.
- "We must face this evil and name this challenge for what it is—sin. Something that comes from the devil himself. We need to meet this evil with spiritual weapons as well as with support, anger management, shelters, counseling, and the other usual tools," she concluded.
- In August 2001 Women's Ministries helped to sponsor Helen Pearson of Great Britain, TED, to attend an inter-faith meeting on domestic violence in Dundee, Scotland. The leadership was so impressed when they saw what resources Pearson had from the Adventist church that they invited Karen Flowers to attend, also.
Delegates at the Annual Council 2001 meeting came from all parts of the world to share resources; they developed nine principles of action intended to raise awareness of the abuse issue and to encourage churches to develop effective programs.
Renamed enditnow® Emphasis Day in 2014; Revised logo byline
Renamed in 2014, it is now known as enditnow® Emphasis Day. The original logo byline read "Adventists Say No to Violence Against Women," however, the representatives of the seven sponsoring departments voted in 2016 to revise the logo. By dropping the final phrase, the new logo reads simply, "Adventists Say No to Violence."
The sponsoring departments produced the save-the-date postcard (without a specific date) to use in local church districts for enditnow® Emphasis Day.
Download Save-the-date postcard | Printer's PDF
Download enditnow® logo formats:
high-resolution JPEG | Vector PDF
Annual sermon packets of resource material
Women's Ministries directors in the local churches should plan very early so that this day can be part of the local church planning. Work closely with the pastor, keeping him or her informed.
The annual resource packet prepared by Women's Ministries includes a sermon, seminar, PowerPoint slide presentations for both scripts, and other resource materials as appropriate. A suggested order of divine service is included and often a children's story.
Go to archive of packets
We want to encourage all women to be involved in this special day. Women's Ministries leaders in local churches should plan very early so that this day can be a part of the local church planning by working closely with the pastor, keeping him or her informed.
2020 Annual Council enditnow® Presentation Informs Church Leaders
Dr. David Williams, Honorary Associate of Health Ministries for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, presented a challenging message to church leaders during the Annual Council session of October 12th. His presentation centered on the EndItNow – Effectively Confronting Domestic Violence initiative (see video below).
Read news story here, Adventist News Network, Posted October 15, 2020
Harvard University professor shares his presentation lecture
Dr. David Williams video
Download PowerPoint presentation by Dr. David Williams, "Effectively Confronting the Challenge of Domestic Violence"
Worldwide church president speaks about enditnow®
Ted NC Wilson video
enditnow® co-sponsoring departments have resources at their websites:
Additional special days for Women's Ministries on the world church calendar are International Women's Day of Prayer, first Sabbath of March, and the Women's Ministries Emphasis Day, second Sabbath of June.
