27 Aug 2026, 09:14Charlene Martin
A Compassionate Response: enditnow® Emphasis Day
A week of awareness, testimony and compassion, hosted by NEC Women's Ministries
Winson Green hosted the NEC Women's Ministries enditnow emphasis day, exploring abuse awareness, compassion and healing under the theme A Compassionate Response.
The enditnow initiative, organised by the North England Conference Women’s Ministries Department, culminated in an emphasis day held at Winson Green Seventh-day Adventist Church on 22 August 2026. enditnow® has built, and continues to build, awareness of abuse, and encourages all to safeguard those affected by it.
The weeklong initiative included evening meetings of shared testimonials based on the theme, ‘A Compassionate Response’. This year’s enditnow abuse awareness package, authored by Karen Holford, Trans-European Division Director for Family, Children’s and Health Ministries, gives practical tips, time for reflection, and guidance on applying the information within the resources.
Sabbath School began with rich fellowship time as Pastor Gina Miller, Director of Sabbath School and Women’s Ministries, encouraged the congregation to pray together, share their requests, discuss how God has shown compassion, and consider the blessings we all experience from God. Blessings we can, and most certainly must, share with others. Bible study examined compassion and the way Jesus was moved to care for others. Pastor Miller concluded Sabbath School by saying that ‘Jesus did not avoid people because their circumstances made him uncomfortable. His love became visible as he was moved with compassion in his actions.’
Although a challenging subject to broach, the day continued with uplifting worship, reminding those attending that God is also with those who may experience pain. The speakers of the day, Pastor John Francis, Director of Family Ministries, and Pastor Gina Miller, focused on two women of the Bible: first the story of the woman caught in adultery, and second the story of Tamar, two women publicly condemned and abused. Both speakers came to equip the congregation with practical ways to recognise, realise and respond to abuse.
The day was filled with rich fellowship, enabling all to further discuss and envision the practical steps to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves’. One attendee shared, ‘Initially I tried to avoid the day, as I experienced abuse myself, but I was invited by a member. The day was great, and I was affected by it as it reminded me of where I am coming from, that I am a strong woman, and that I can support those in similar situations. The day was a true blessing for me.’
The afternoon programme continued with Joanna Daniel, a trauma-informed counsellor and founder of the Wounds to Scars counselling agency. Joanna previously co-authored the enditnow package and brought her abundance of knowledge to empower and equip the congregation. She made sure to include the men in the presentation, highlighting that men as well as women are affected in this area, which encouraged one attendee to recognise the need to be more compassionate. The programme focused on self-compassion, trauma and healing, emphasising the importance of recognising trauma and the need to confront it with God’s help in order to heal.
enditnow produced a space to learn, but also to recognise that healing can take place. As the Women’s Ministries goal expresses, we are to nurture, equip, empower and reach out, something the enditnow weeklong programme executed very well in reminding all to be compassionate, as Jesus our example was to all he encountered.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, support is available through your local church safeguarding officer, or from the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Winson Green hosted the NEC Women's Ministries enditnow emphasis day, exploring abuse awareness, compassion and healing under the theme A Compassionate Response.
The enditnow initiative, organised by the North England Conference Women’s Ministries Department, culminated in an emphasis day held at Winson Green Seventh-day Adventist Church on 22 August 2026. enditnow® has built, and continues to build, awareness of abuse, and encourages all to safeguard those affected by it.
The weeklong initiative included evening meetings of shared testimonials based on the theme, ‘A Compassionate Response’. This year’s enditnow abuse awareness package, authored by Karen Holford, Trans-European Division Director for Family, Children’s and Health Ministries, gives practical tips, time for reflection, and guidance on applying the information within the resources.
Sabbath School began with rich fellowship time as Pastor Gina Miller, Director of Sabbath School and Women’s Ministries, encouraged the congregation to pray together, share their requests, discuss how God has shown compassion, and consider the blessings we all experience from God. Blessings we can, and most certainly must, share with others. Bible study examined compassion and the way Jesus was moved to care for others. Pastor Miller concluded Sabbath School by saying that ‘Jesus did not avoid people because their circumstances made him uncomfortable. His love became visible as he was moved with compassion in his actions.’
Although a challenging subject to broach, the day continued with uplifting worship, reminding those attending that God is also with those who may experience pain. The speakers of the day, Pastor John Francis, Director of Family Ministries, and Pastor Gina Miller, focused on two women of the Bible: first the story of the woman caught in adultery, and second the story of Tamar, two women publicly condemned and abused. Both speakers came to equip the congregation with practical ways to recognise, realise and respond to abuse.
The day was filled with rich fellowship, enabling all to further discuss and envision the practical steps to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves’. One attendee shared, ‘Initially I tried to avoid the day, as I experienced abuse myself, but I was invited by a member. The day was great, and I was affected by it as it reminded me of where I am coming from, that I am a strong woman, and that I can support those in similar situations. The day was a true blessing for me.’
The afternoon programme continued with Joanna Daniel, a trauma-informed counsellor and founder of the Wounds to Scars counselling agency. Joanna previously co-authored the enditnow package and brought her abundance of knowledge to empower and equip the congregation. She made sure to include the men in the presentation, highlighting that men as well as women are affected in this area, which encouraged one attendee to recognise the need to be more compassionate. The programme focused on self-compassion, trauma and healing, emphasising the importance of recognising trauma and the need to confront it with God’s help in order to heal.
enditnow produced a space to learn, but also to recognise that healing can take place. As the Women’s Ministries goal expresses, we are to nurture, equip, empower and reach out, something the enditnow weeklong programme executed very well in reminding all to be compassionate, as Jesus our example was to all he encountered.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, support is available through your local church safeguarding officer, or from the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
