Not Under Bondage

Promoting Peace in Families is a national award winning program for preventing family violence. It began with a pastors' network in the municipality of Casey, an outer suburb of Melbourne.Together with their local council and community health centre, they obtained a federal grant for a multi-congregation family violence education and prevention project. The pilot project has now expanded to 16 congregations. It is an amazing project, and shows what churches can achieve when they join forces with secular agencies.

During the project, women victims and past survivors came forward in significant numbers seeking support. Perpetrators also disclosed their stories. The level of disclosures appeared to be a result of the leaders taking measures to ensure they provided a safe place for help to be provided.

Here is a small excerpt from their Model Package:
Case Study

During the implementation of the four week campaign on family violence a woman reached out to a neighbour who was experiencing family violence and invited her to church. The neighbour attended the Sunday morning service, and while it was in progress her husband stormed into church yelling abuse, demanding his wife return home.
A few of the men of the church quietly rose, surrounded the man and ushered him outside while some of the congregational women gathered around the woman who was being abused. The men spoke to the husband about his inappropriate behaviour and inquired whether they could help by escorting him home and talking further.
A few of the men spoke with the husband for several hours offering referral information and follow up if required. Another woman from the community had a house, that was not rented, and offered this to the neighbour as a refuge in the interim if she wanted to leave the abusive situation. The neighbour took her up on the offer and was able to escape the abusive relationship.

Back

about maschil press

Maschil is a Hebrew word which is thought to mean "prudent" or "insightful". It occurs in Proverbs and Daniel, and is a subtitle in some of the Psalms.

Maschil Press aims to promote insight into the biblical world view, and to expose and advocate against sub-biblical views which have caused pain and grief to the Christian community and the wider population.

Maschil Press does not accept manuscript submissions or query letters from authors or agents. At this stage no change is envisaged for this submission policy.

Expressions of interest regarding cross-promotional arrangements (such as flyer exchanges) between other publishers and Maschil Press will be considered on their merits.