Course Curriculum
Approximately one out of three women and one out of THREE men experience severe intimate relationship physical violence. This statistic does not include verbal or emotional abuse, which are harder to quantify. A popular myth is that abuse occurs less frequently in Christian homes; the reality is far different. Christians do not enjoy a special exemption from this sin, yet it is rarely addressed in faith circles.
The topic is a difficult one, but so important for the church to address. Research shows that survivors who have support from their church have more feelings of well-being and are less likely to return to an abusive relationship.
In these lessons, we will discuss abuse in all its forms. You will examine the effects of abuse on a survivor and how trauma affects a survivor’s thoughts and actions, even long after the abuse if over. You’ll learn about some of the many reasons a person will stay in an abusive relationship.
Then we shift focus to what YOU can do to stop abuse, both as an individual and as part of a community of believers.
Galatians 6:10 tells us to “Do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” During this training you will find out how you can help someone who is suffering from abuse. You will learn how to extend God’s grace to a
survivor while assisting him/her on the journey to safety and healing.
Hi, I’m Michelle Markgraf
I am a graduate of Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. After college, I spent several years as a teacher in WELS classrooms.
The Lord’s words in Matthew 25, “Whatever you have done for the least of these… you have done for me” led me to begin volunteering at the Sioux Falls, SD rape and domestic abuse crisis center as an advocate in 2011. During my time as an advocate, I worked with over 200 sexual assault survivors. I became executive director for the same agency in 2015. The agency provides counseling and advocacy services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence. It also offered a batterer intervention program for abusers. In 2018 I became an adjunct professor for the University of South Dakota, teaching a Family Violence class. I now work for Kingdom Workers and live in New Ulm, MN with my husband, Pete.
Use this block for your bio. Explain to your audience who you are, and why you’re teaching this course.
Christian Welfare
Everywhere we go, we work to meet the human needs of the people we serve. Here, we meet the needs of domestic abuse survivors.
Gospel Proclamation
Sharing Jesus' healing love and redemption is at the center of every interaction with a survivor to let them know they ARE a loved child of God.
Meaningful Local Relationships
Kingdom Workers partners with church and local domestic violence agencies to create sustainable change.