In this second conversation with Chris Moles, we focus on how the local church can care well for victims within its own community. We discuss the barriers that often keep victims unseen, the ways churches may unintentionally silence suffering, and how a grounded, compassionate approach can create a path toward safety and healing.

“Victim care begins with a willingness to hear the truth, even when it unsettles us.”

The church has a profound opportunity to be a place of refuge, but that requires humility, discernment, and a willingness to learn. My prayer is that this episode invites leaders to consider how they might cultivate a church culture where victims are protected, believed, and supported.

Listen here:

https://www.chrismoles.org/podcast/2023/10/24/episode-300-victim-care-in-the-local-church

It was a gift to teach at PeaceWorks Live 2024, a gathering committed to equipping churches and helpers to respond wisely to domestic abuse. My session focused on understanding harm, supporting victims with steadiness, and grounding our care in both Scripture and lived experience.

Part of the 7 lesson course that explores the dynamics of abuse and illustrates the deep impact of abuse on victims. Course participants will learn how to receive and respond to initial abuse disclosures and provide compassionate, theologically grounded, long-term care and accountability to victims and perpetrators in a church-based context. PDFs of Session Outline, Slides, and Transcript included.

Link to purchase from PeaceWorks:

https://chrismoles.podia.com/peaceworks-live-2024-biblical-counseling-and-domestic-abuse

Track Session #1 – The Dynamics of Abuse (Jeremy Pierre)
Situations involving abuse are rarely straightforward. So it is vital to have clear guiding principles from Scripture for recognizing the presence of abuse and determining the proper response that would display the heart of God.

Track Session #2 – The Impact of Abuse (Sydney Millage)
A husband’s choice to abuse directly impacts his wife and limits her ability to conform and submit to God’s good design. To comprehend the particular impact of abuse on a victim, biblical counselors must learn to humbly listen to, understand, and honor her lived experience.

Track Session #3 – Living as People Under Authority (Jeremy Pierre)
If authority is used for God’s purposes, living under it is a delight. But in a broken world full of fallen leaders, authority is often used outside those purposes. Discerning when submission and when resistance is appropriate requires clear guiding principles from Scripture.

Track Session #4 – Receiving & Responding to an Abuse Disclosure (Joy Forrest)
Biblical counselors must be prepared to receive a disclosure with a heart-posture of curiosity, compassion, care, and concern and to respond with reliable resources and biblical wisdom.

Track Session #5 – The Art, Joys, & Challenges of Counseling Abused Women Who Are Also Church Members (Kirsten Christianson)

This session will outline key counseling goals when a church is involved in abuse care. We will also discuss how to establish fruitful relationships between everyone on the care team (counselors, pastor, and advocate)—considering the woman and remembering Acts 20.28-32.

Track Session #6 – The Big 3: Repentance, Divorce, & Forgiveness (Darby Strickland)

In the aftermath of abuse, understanding how to biblically and lovingly navigate a counselee through these three areas is fundamental. If we misunderstand what God requires of victims, we will likely cause them more harm. And if victims fail to understand God’s heart for them, we leave them vulnerable to spiritual confusion. 

Bonus Track Session – Q&A (Darby Strickland, Kirsten Christianson, Sydney Millage, and Joy Forrest)
This session includes a time of Q&A.

This conversation with Chris Moles looks closely at the challenges families face when domestic abuse is present. We talk about the hidden layers of harm, the courage victims must carry, and the kind of steady, informed care that can help them move toward safety. These are not abstract issues—they are lived experiences that require gentle understanding and faithful action.

“Families caught in abuse need helpers who are unhurried, attentive, and willing to see the complexity beneath the surface.”

I’m grateful for spaces where these conversations can unfold thoughtfully. Abuse impacts every corner of a family’s life, and those walking alongside them need clarity and compassion. My hope is that this episode encourages churches to look deeply and respond wisely.

Listen here:

https://www.chrismoles.org/podcast/2023/10/17/episode-299-caring-for-families-caught-in-domestic-abuse-part-five-with-greg-wilson-and-kirstin-christianson

Association of Biblical Counselors National Conference · 2022

Conference Session Co-taught with Darby Strickland

Description
Kirsten was invited to join Darby Strickland for this session at the Called to Counsel 2022 conference, part of the Domestic Abuse Track. Together, they addressed the tender, complex work of supporting victims and their children when a home has become unsafe. Their combined experience in counseling, advocacy, and church care shaped a conversation rooted in clarity, compassion, and steady presence.

What This Session Represents
Though the full session is available only through the conference, its focus reflects the heart of Kirsten’s ministry:
• listening well,
• prioritizing safety,
• and offering care that honors both trauma and dignity.
In this context, she contributed alongside others committed to equipping churches to respond faithfully and wisely to those who suffer.

Reflection
Opportunities like this highlight the importance of collaborative work in abuse response. Standing alongside trusted colleagues allows for a richer, more comprehensive picture of what it means to protect, support, and shepherd families caught in harm. This session is one example of the wider effort to help the church move toward victims with understanding and hope.

Access
This session is part of the Called to Counsel 2022 — Domestic Abuse conference package, available for purchase through the Association of Biblical Counselors. https://store.christiancounseling.com/products/called-to-counsel-2022-domestic-abuse-mp4?_pos=1&_sid=ac386871f&_ss=r

Image credit: Association of Biblical Counselors
Used for reference only.