2025 has been a difficult year for so many-- and we have felt that here, at GRACE. In addition to the loss of our friend, and beloved Executive Director Pete, this has also been a year of unexpected funding loss. Our resources are stretched, even as the demand for GRACE’s work continues to grow into new, and exciting territory. And that’s why we’re turning to you. GRACE’s work has always been fueled by people who believe that the Church can do better—and must do better. Your generosity is not just a gift. It is participation in our mission. It tangibly protects children. It strengthens churches. It offers survivors the dignity of being heard and supported. Your year-end support is a source of light in the darkness, ensuring that GRACE can continue responding to those who need us— those looking for a reason to keep hoping that compassionate, safe, accountable, healing faith communities are possible. Give today at netgrace.org/donate #GRACE #yearendgiving #abuseprevention #abuseresponse

There is still time to join GRACE's 2-hour live, virtual course on Responding to Intimate Partner Violence. In this class we will cover: - Recognizing key forms, dynamics, and indicators of intimate partner violence. - Understanding common missteps in church response. - Responding to disclosures and survivor needs with trauma-informed practices. - Practical Guidance for walking alongside survivors of intimate partner violence. 📅 Oct 22, 2026 ⏰️ 1-3pm ET 💻️ Zoom Learn more and register at Netgrace.org/responding-to-i…

Poor ideology and theology around submission, headship, forgiveness, gossip, and sex can keep Christian women trapped in abusive marriages for years. Sometimes these beliefs are stated explicitly but often they are implied through the lack of any meaningful action in response to a disclosure of abuse. As Geneece Goertzen writes, "When faith leaders do not specifically denounce all forms of abusive behavior, they unwittingly side with those who perpetuate DV against their families." You can hear Geneece speak as a part of our Survivor Panel for the GRACE Summit on Nov 6 at 5pm. Learn more and register at Netgrace.org/grace-summit

✨ GRACE Summit Session Spotlight: In an era where we so frequently see moral failings, coverups, and abuse of power from the pulpit, join GRACE for a panel discussion on what it looks like to cultivate pastoral courage and institutional integrity. This 1-hour live, virtual event will be moderated by GRACE's Executive Director, Laura Thien, and will include panelists Esau McCaulley, Rev. Carrie Nettles, and Rev. Dr. James Bradford. As a part of our larger GRACE Summit, it will be procedeed by a Keynote Address from Dr. Jennifer Freyd (the researcher behind the concepts of DARVO, Institutional Courage, and Institutional Betrayal) and precede a survivor panel. Learn More and Register at Netgrace.org/grace-summit 📅 GRACE Summit: Nov 5-6 ⏰ Pastoral Panel: Nov 6, 3:30pm ET 💻️ Live on Zoom + access to a recording for all registrants 💵 Pay What You Can

For years, the Church has proclaimed its deep commitment to preserving marriages without acknowledging one of its primary killers: abuse. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically assaulted, raped, or stalked by an intimate partner and nearly 50% of both sexes have experienced some form of emotional or psychological abuse in a relationship. In this two-hour course, we will review relevant research, explore common missteps in church response, and offer practical guidance for walking alongside survivors of IPV. 📅 Oct 22, 2026 ⏰ 1-3pm ET 💻️ Zoom Register today at Netgrace.org/training-center

How do we begin to heal when a faith leader breaks trust? In this episode of The Grace Awakening, Sr. Danielle Victoria of Sisters of the Little Way and Sara Larson of Awake join us for a conversation on moral injury, the importance of empathetic witness, and what it looks like to heal in community. 🎧 Ep 20. Empathetic Witness: Compassionate Care in the Catholic Church is out now! Listen now on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or at Netgrace.org/podcast

Ready to help build safer, more compassionate faith communities for survivors of abuse? Join GRACE on November 5–6 for our very first virtual Summit! We’re bringing together incredible speakers including Chuck DeGroat, Wade Mullen, survivor and pastoral panels, and a Keynote Address from Dr. Jennifer Freyd (the researcher behind DARVO, institutional betrayal, and institutional courage). 📍 Where: Live on Zoom (All sessions will be recorded and sent to registrants to watch or rewatch anytime!) 🎟️ Tickets: "Pay What You Can" 🔗 Register: Netgrace.org/grace-summit This event is part of our Fall Fundraiser and every dollar helps us keep resources, training, and services accessible to all.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Understanding the fundamental dynamics of respect, power, and control in relationships is essential for fostering safe and supportive faith communities. Equip yourself and your ministry with practical tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to domestic violence effectively. Join the GRACE Safe Church Training Center for a 2-hour course on responding to intimate partner violence next week. 📅 October 22 ⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET 💻 Online 🔗 Register today at Netgrace.org/responding-to-i…

Join GRACE for a 2-hour live, virtual course on Responding to Intimate Partner Violence. In this class we will cover: - Recognizing key forms, dynamics, and indicators of intimate partner violence. - Understanding common missteps in church response. - Responding to disclosures and survivor needs with trauma-informed practices. - Practical Guidance for walking alongside survivors of intimate partner violence. 📅 Oct 22, 2026 ⏰️ 1-3pm ET 💻️ Zoom Learn more and register at Netgrace.org/responding-to-i…

A sense of safety and trust is not automatically owed to a faith leader simply because of their position in the church. Rather, the leader must use their power, authority, and position in trustworthy ways that foster a sense of safety. Tune in to the most recent episode of The GRACE Awakening Podcast to hear the rest of our conversation with Sister Danielle Victoria and Sara Larson. Listen Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or at Netgrace.org/podcast

The lineup is here!!! Check out the schedule of amazing speakers and panelists we have lined-up for the upcoming GRACE Summit on Nov 5-6! All events will be hosted LIVE on Zoom with time for participant Q&A. See a session that you'd love to attend but can't make it to? Every session will be recorded and replay link will be sent out to all registrants. So what are you waiting for? Learn more and register today at Netgrace.org/grace-summit

According to the CDC, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically assaulted, raped, or stalked by an intimate partner and nearly 50% of both sexes have experienced some form of emotional or psychological abuse in a relationship. Join GRACE for a two-hour course where we will review relevant research, explore common missteps in church response, and offer practical guidance for walking alongside survivors of intimate partner violence. 📆 Oct 22, 2026 ⏰ 1-3pm ET 💻 Zoom Learn more and register at Netgrace.org/responding-to-i…

Today is #DAFDay — a national day of giving through donor-advised funds. Over $360 billion sits in DAFs waiting to be given, and two-thirds of DAF grants are under $1,000. If you give through a DAF, today is a great day to recommend a grant to GRACE and fuel abuse prevention and response in churches, ministries, and schools. netgrace.org/donor-advised-f…

📣 New Podcast Episode!! Join Laura and Hannah on The GRACE Awakening Podcast as we talk with Sara Larson of Awake and Sister Danielle Victoria of The Sisters of the Little Way about moral injury, the importance of an empathetic witness, and the powerful healing that can happen when someone has access to compassionate community. 🎧️ Listen Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or at Netgrace.org/podcast

According to the CDC, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically assaulted, raped, or stalked by an intimate partner. Those numbers should stop you in your tracks - because they mean that domestic violence is impacting over 25% of the population, including in your church. And intimate partner violence isn't just happening in marriages, its starting in young dating relationships. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that 1 in 10 high school students have experienced physical violence from a dating partner in THE LAST YEAR and 1 in 6 college women have already been sexually assaulted in a dating relationship. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and one simple way that you can raise your (and your faith community's) level of education on domestic violence is by attending GRACE's Safe Church Training Center 2-hour course on Responding to Intimate Partner Violence. You can learn more by visiting Netgrace.org/responding-to-i…

"God forgave me, why can't you?" In our latest episode of The GRACE Awakening Podcast, Wade Mullen addresses how forgiveness can sometimes be weaponized to regain power or avoid accountability. Forgiveness is not a singular event that one can demand a harmed-party or group give. And forgiveness, even if given, is not a tool to bypass accountability, push for restoration, or justify a return to positions of power and authority. Tune in to the full conversation with Wade to unpack "When I'm sorry isn't enough." 🎧 Listen to the full episode on apologies now on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or at Netgrace.org/podcast

Trauma and relational wounds tell us to isolate but healing often happens in community. Whether it’s a trusted friend, a peer-support group, a mental health professional, or a faith community, surrounding ourselves with a network of safe relationships is a part of restoring connection and belonging. This 👆️ is a huge part of why the 2026 GRACE Summit theme is "creating faith communities of safety, compassion, and courage." To register and learn more about the Summit speaker line up visit Netgrace.org/grace-summit

Join GRACE on November 5-6 for our first virtual Summit! The GRACE Summit will feature live conversations with Chuck DeGroat & Wade Mullen, a Keynote Address from Dr. Jennifer Freyd (the researcher who coined DARVO), as well as survivor and pastoral panels on creating faith communities of safety, compassion, and courage. The Summit will be hosted LIVE on Zoom, but if you can't make a session - worry not! We will be recording every session and making them available to all registrants to watch (or rewatch!) as they can. You can learn more and register at Netgrace.org/grace-summit for a "Pay What You Can" ticket price. This event is a part of GRACE's Fall Fundraiser, which allows us to keep events like this as accessible as possible.

For years, the Church has proclaimed its deep commitment to preserving marriages without acknowledging one of its primary killers: abuse. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically assaulted, raped, or stalked by an intimate partner and nearly 50% of both sexes have experienced some form of emotional or psychological abuse in a relationship. In this two-hour course, we will review relevant research, explore common missteps in church response, and offer practical guidance for walking alongside survivors of IPV. 📅 Oct 22, 2026 ⏰ 1-3pm ET 💻️ Zoom Register today at Netgrace.org/training-center

A church cannot undo abuse that has already happened within its walls. But every response that follows a disclosure, choice by choice, carries weight. The community either proves that power will protect power, or it shows that a survivor's voice, dignity, and safety are worth far more than institutional reputation. If your faith community is unsure how to handle an allegation of abuse (present or historical) please reach out to us at GRACE. We have a multidisciplinary team that can give you contextualized guidance through consultations, investigations, and policy reviews. Learn more at Netgrace.org Quote in the image is from GRACE's new article "How to Investigate Abuse Allegations in a Church" and can be read in its entirety at Netgrace.org/resources

"If we refuse to tell the truth, confess, and pursue biblical restitution just to protect an institution’s image, that reputation is nothing more than an illusion". God doesn’t need us to protect His reputation—He calls us to walk in truth, integrity, and accountability. True integrity isn't built on secrecy; it's forged in honesty. 🎧 Listen to Episode 19 of The GRACE Awakening Podcast with Wade Mullen now on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or at Netgrace.org/podcast