Seventh-day Adventist churches across the Inter-American Division and the West Jamaica Conference observed the annual enditnow® campaign against abuse and violence on August 22, uniting under the theme “Moved with Compassion.” Grounded in the principle that not all wounds are visible, this year's initiative urged members to notice, listen, support, and bring hope to their communities as active agents of healing.
Moving beyond traditional sanctuary services, local congregations—including the Savanna-la-Mar and Carlton Seventh-day Adventist Churches—extended the initiative directly into their surrounding neighborhoods through targeted outreach programs, public marches, and virtual educational series.
Savanna-la-Mar SDA Church: A Multi-Faceted Virtual and Physical Awareness Series
At the Savanna-la-Mar SDA Church, a joint effort between the Women’s Ministries and Education Departments expanded the annual observance into an extensive week-long online and in-person series held from August 22 to 28.
Initiated under the leadership of Jacqueline Taylor-Brown, Education Sponsor and Public Campus Ministries Director, the program began with a focus on Special Needs Awareness before broadening its scope to address critical societal issues, including elder abuse, child abuse, workplace violence, spousal abuse, sibling rivalry, and gender-based violence.
"We wanted to craft more than just a Sabbath program; we wanted to tackle the real issues we are contending with as a church, a community, and a society," stated Taylor-Brown.
The week-long series featured dynamic presentations from community partners and agency representatives, including a law enforcement officer who provided essential resources and hotlines for victims of domestic abuse. The hybrid format engaged both local attendees and international audiences online, breaking the silence on sensitive, often private struggles.
Carlton SDA Church: Taking the Message to the Streets
In the Welcome Hall District, members of the Carlton SDA Church took their message directly to the public through an enditnow® community street march.
Equipped with informational flyers, song, and prayer, church members marched through local streets, making direct appeals to onlookers, residents on their verandahs, and groups gathered at local shops. Strategically stopping along the route to pray, the group secured permission from local shopkeepers and business owners to mount enditnow® posters on windows and doors, while others posted messaging on light posts throughout surrounding districts.
Annette Thompson, Women’s Ministries Director for the West Jamaica Conference, joined local church leadership on the ground and highlighted the necessity of taking public action despite the sensitive nature of abuse.
"Passersby, people in their homes standing at their gates, and young men hanging out at local community shops were quite enticed to hear what we were saying," Thompson noted. "It is our hope that the appeal to end all forms of violence and the helpline information provided will enable victims to reach out for assistance, while prompting abusers to desist from this very grave behavior."
A Conference-Wide Commitment
Addressing the broader impact of the movement, Thompson emphasized that any form of abuse—whether physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, or spiritual—violates God’s vision for healthy relationships. To combat this, she stressed the core responsibility of believers:
“As believers, we are called to create safe spaces where every person is valued, respected, and loved, mirroring the love Christ shows us.”
She explained that the mission of the enditnow® movement is urgent because remaining silent only enables mistreatment to persist. Because of this, she urged churches and communities to actively speak out, educate, support victims, and hold each other to Christ’s standard of love and justice. She concluded with a clear call to action:
“Together, we can bring healing by breaking the silence, safeguarding the vulnerable, and building homes and faith communities grounded in peace and safety.”