Sacred Safe Space recently held its pilot team training workshop at the ABCNJ regional office. Led by Rev. Ruth Giraldo–Mangual, Associate Regional Pastor and Min. Ron Dukes, of Alpha Baptist Church, the workshop focused on increasing awareness of our churches and developing strategies to transform them into sacred, safe spaces for survivors, victims, and their families.

The Sacred Safe Space team comprises professionals from various fields, including law enforcement, healthcare, social services, finance, and pastors. Our ABCNJ churches are united in the fight against domestic violence. The team is diverse in profession, age, gender, ethnicity, and race. As a result, it fosters inclusivity for all churches and languages.

Through informative sessions and humbling interactive discussions, such as “It Doesn’t Happen Here,” “The Danger of NOT Collaborating,” and “What Every Pastor Needs to Know and Do,” participants were encouraged to challenge their assumptions and confront uncomfortable realities that often go unnoticed. These sessions provided a platform for open dialogue, allowing attendees to share personal experiences and explore effective strategies for intervention and support. The workshop also provided an opportunity to work on a case study.

The workshop emphasized the importance of collaboration across different sectors and highlighted the role that faith communities can play in offering refuge and understanding.

As the day concluded, participants left with a renewed commitment to their mission, equipped with practical tools and a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding domestic violence. The team gained vital insights into recognizing how to respond, teach, collaborate, create safe spaces, and prevent domestic violence in their respective church communities. For more information on how you can get involved with Sacred Safe Space, contact Rev. Ruth Giraldo-Mangual at rmangual@abcnj.net