Fifteen years ⁤ago, ⁤the Evangelical Lutheran Church in‌ Southern Africa (ELCSA) recognized‍ the​ urgent need to address the pervasive issue of sexual and gender-based violence within its communities. Responding to this crisis, the church ​established a dedicated ⁣task force, which afterward birthed ⁣”Lutheran Action‍ against Gender-Based Violence.” This project is specifically‌ designed to ‌provide thorough support ‌pathways for individuals experiencing ⁤abusive relationships.

“Many ⁢do not know⁢ how to name it, don’t ‌know that‍ it is a crime and have no one to turn to,” explains a key figure in ​the‍ initiative, highlighting the critical gap in awareness and access to resources.

The driving force behind Lutheran Action is deeply rooted in personal experience. Kasper,⁢ a ⁤former chaplain with the south African Police service, courageously shares her own story⁤ of surviving abuse over two decades ago. “At that time, there was nobody I could speak to, ⁤I wasn’t sure who I could trust and ‌I didn’t have the ‌language to frame what was happening to me,”⁢ she recalls with painful honesty.

For four years,⁣ kasper endured physical and emotional abuse, a period‌ she describes as a fight for survival. She notes​ the notable difference in reporting and awareness​ surrounding domestic violence today compared to ‍the past.

Kasper’s journey‌ to‌ healing⁣ was initially hampered by a‍ sense⁣ of shame experienced during her time at seminary,‍ preventing her from ‌seeking help. However, a turning ‍point came during her studies at the ⁢University of Pietermaritzburg, where she found unexpected support from a group of Catholic seminarians.⁢

“Thay offered ⁢me ​a safe space, encouraging ‌me to find my voice‌ and tell my story,” kasper recounts,‍ emphasizing the transformative power‌ of a supportive community in enabling‌ her⁤ to access the resources ⁢needed to recover from ​her⁤ ordeal.