What Makes a Mother

Dedicated to all those who have suffered the loss of a baby.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. - Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

Merry Christmas from Bold & Free Ministries!

Wishing you a warm and heartfelt Christmas Greeting. My heart is filled with gratitude for your prayers and support this past year. Many of you have asked how you can help Bold & Free Ministries. Right now we have two pressing needs: 

Prayer – we need prayer warriors willing to do battle for our ministry. Please let me know if you’d like to become a Bold & Free Prayer Partner and receive our regular updates.

Scholarships – we currently have two women in need of scholarships. Each $300 scholarship includes 6 intense therapy sessions. (Most women need a minimum of six sessions.) Partial scholarships and/or monthly support are greatly appreciated. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 2653, Parker, CO 80134. If you'd like to contribute via Paypal please use this email address: jan_parrish(at)comcast(dot)net. For tax credit, please make your check out to Living Water Christian Church and place Bold & Free Ministries on the notation line.

Thank you so much for your prayers, support and encouragement. I’m excited to see how God moves in 2010.

May God bless you abundantly during this joyous season!

Jan Parrish

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Steve Harvey Introduces Christ

The Other Face of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse has more than one face and it’s not exclusively restricted to physical abuse. An abusive partner may engage in other types of less obvious abuse. These types of abuse a particularly harmful, causing deep and lasting emotional scars.

Emotional and Verbal Abuse: he will berate her in front of her children and others, often disguised as a joke, “I didn’t marry her for her brains.”

She’s so used to being put down that she comes to accept and believe his insults. He treats her like a child, controlling everything from how she wears her hair to the food he allows her to eat. All the while, she must remain compliant and cater to his needs.

Isolation:  her abuser ensures she is cut off from close friendships. An acquaintance is less likely to get involved than a sister or best friend. He may even get a job transfer, away from her family so her support system is out of reach.

Often, she is not allowed to work outside the home. This keeps her financially dependant on him and less of a flight risk. “That’s why you’re so lucky to have me, “He tells her. “You couldn’t get a decent job to save your life!”

Threats and Intimidation: he uses threats and intimidation to make her believe she would be risking her life to leave. When she becomes skittish and easily frightened, he feels powerful.  

He stops at nothing to keep her compliant. “If you leave me, you’ll never see your kids again. Any judge can see that you’re too emotionally unstable to raise these kids.”

Sexual Abuse: It is never appropriate for a husband to force sexual intercourse. Sexual abuse is degrading or violent sexual behavior. A spouse does not have right to force or coerce acts that are uncomfortable or immoral. This type of abuse is rarely reported because the victims feel so ashamed.

Sadly, domestic abuse does not magically disappear and it has a scary way of escalating. If you are a victim of domestic violence, don’t delay. Get help now before it’s too late. Call the Domestic Abuse Hotline or contact a trusted counselor for help. The first step is the hardest.

*Please note that for the purposes of this article, I used a male as the abuser. It is important to note that 25% of domestic violence is perpetrated by women.