Black and Blue Wives: Confronting Domestic Violence | Marriage & Family

[Also: Protecting Babies with Down Syndrome: Reflections from an Icelandic Pastor] Also: Protecting Babies with Down Syndrome: Reflections from an Icelandic Pastor | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [Donate]( [Beautiful Word Newsletter]( Thursday, September 21, 2017 Black and Blue Wives: Confronting Domestic Violence Recently there was a shooting in my community, not far from my kids' elementary school. The shooter was still at large. Like most of the parents in town, my immediate response upon hearing the news was fear. I frantically scanned news and community websites for updates. It didn't take long for more details to come out. It hadn't been a robbery or random act of violence. It was a husband who'd shot his wife multiple times, right in front of their two sons, and then fled the scene. A long pattern of [domestic violence]( hidden behind the walls of their home had finally erupted into attempted murder—and into a very public conversation. Many women in my community are now stepping forward to talk publically about their own experience with domestic violence. They're organizing fundraising drives to help cover the medical costs for the victim who survived but is still hospitalized. They're drawing attention to startling data, such as the fact that about [4,000 women die]( annually as a result of domestic violence as well as the reality that abused wives often attempt to leave [seven times]( over the years before they finally are able to fully separate from their abuser. (We're all relieved that, days later, the police finally tracked down and arrested the shooter.) Domestic violence is often a hidden problem; friends may have suspicions, but abused spouses can become experts at explaining away bruises and presenting a "just fine" front. This week's [featured article]( tells the honest, gut-wrenching story of a Christian woman who was abused by her husband—who was a pastor. She finally found the courage to leave, and is speaking out about domestic violence in the hopes of helping others. Let's help bring this issue out of the shadows that we, too, may see and help those who are living in abusive marriages. Grace, mailto:tcw@christianitytoday.com [Kelli Trujillo](mailto:tcw@christianitytoday.com) [Kelli B. Trujillo](mailto:tcw@christianitytoday.com) Editor, CT Women Featured Article [Black and Blue Wife]( My husband was a minister and I held graduate degrees—yet our "Christian" marriage was full of abuse. Dr. Ruth A. Tucker Additional Articles [Iceland Capital's Only Baptist Pastor Doesn't Want Down Syndrome Eliminated]( Pro-life minority faces major challenge in 'most godless country' in Europe. Gunnar Ingi Gunnarsson [In the 'DuckTales' Reboot, Family Remains Scrooge's Riskiest Adventure]( As the new Disney series reminds us, 'Family is nothing but trouble.' That's exactly what makes it valuable. Geoffrey Reiter More from CT Women [Online Tribalism Threatens Women's Ministry]( [Online Tribalism Threatens Women's Ministry]( From our special issue: reflections on discipleship in a fractured age. Hannah Anderson [Six Ways to Inspire Confident, Contagious Faith in Your Kids]( [Six Ways to Inspire Confident, Contagious Faith in Your Kids]( How do we help children and teens contend with the big questions? An apologist offers her take. Melissa Cain Travis Related CT Newsletters [CT Entertainment]( Reviews and perspectives on movies, TV, and music. [Sign Up Now]( [CT Weekly]( Weekly headlines, commentary, and site news. 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