It’s always meaningful to sit with people who share a heart for thoughtful, steady care. In this conversation with the Biblical Counseling Coalition, we explore what it looks like for the church to respond to domestic abuse with clarity, humility, and compassion. These are themes that have shaped my work for years, and it was a gift to talk about them with people who care deeply for both truth and the vulnerable.

“When helpers slow down enough to listen well, the person in front of them becomes more than a situation — they become a soul worth protecting.”

Our conversation touched on the posture of discernment and the courage required to stand with the oppressed. Abuse care asks us to be both tender and resolute, and my hope is that this dialogue encourages churches and counselors to embrace that calling with wisdom.

Association of Biblical Counselors National Conference · 2019

Track C · Session 8 (MP3, available for purchase from ABC)

Church communities long to be places of refuge, yet many struggle to recognize or respond wisely to domestic abuse within their midst. In this session, Kirsten offers a grounded, pastoral framework for seeing the suffering in front of us—and for responding with clarity, steadiness, and care.

She explores the kinds of harm that often remain hidden, the ways churches unintentionally minimize danger, and how helpers can move toward victims with presence and integrity. It’s an invitation to grow in discernment and compassion, so our churches reflect the heart of Christ for the vulnerable.

Abuse is not simply a relationship conflict to mediate—it’s a misuse of power that demands wise, protective response from the church.

Faith communities often feel pulled between wanting reconciliation and fearing involvement. This teaching speaks into that tension, naming the reality many survivors live with and encouraging counselors, pastors, and lay-leaders to walk with them in a way that is both gentle and strong. It’s the kind of clarity that steadies both the sufferer and the one seeking to care for her.

You can find the full session on the Association of Biblical Counselors website:
2019 ABC National Conference — Domestic Abuse, Session 8
Link to the product page: https://store.christiancounseling.com/products/2019-abc-national-conference-mp3-domestic-abuse-session-8?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=e4c342505&pr_rec_pid=3523675095142&pr_ref_pid=3523634135142&pr_seq=uniform

Image credit: Association of Biblical Counselors
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