GRACE

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

Researchers often describe moral injury as a "violation of the soul"—the profound psychological and spiritual distress that occurs when deeply held moral beliefs and core values are betrayed. In a church or ministry setting, you are often promised that leadership and the community reflect the character of Jesus: love, safety, integrity, truth, etc. So, when an institution preaches those values but then violates them in practice, it can cause enormous damage. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation on moral injury and spiritual safety with Abram Kielsmeier-Jones and Lianna Chong from the Spiritual Safety Center on episode 21 of The Grace Awakening, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or at Netgrace.org/podcast.

When a church learns about abuse, its first response can deepen a wound — or begin to heal it. GRACE exists so that response is one of safety, compassion, and courage. Why support GRACE? 1) Independence. We answer to survivors and to the truth — never to the institutions we investigate or train. That independence is what makes our work credible. 2) Accessibility. A small church with no budget deserves the same protection as a large one. Your gift keeps training and help within reach for ministries of every size. 3) Growth & Innovation. Abuse hides in new places. Your support builds new tools and training so more faith communities can prevent abuse before it happens. From November 2–15, every gift toward our $100,000 goal is matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000. Your generosity goes twice as far. Give at netgrace.org/grace-summit or text GraceSummit to 50155. Creating Faith Communities of Safety, Compassion, & Courage. #ChurchSafety #AbusePrevention #FaithCommunities

✨ GRACE Summit Session Spotlight: Closing out our incredible GRACE Summit lineup is a survivor panel discussion on what it looks like to cultivate a culture of compassionate care in your faith community. This 1-hour live, virtual event will be moderated by GRACE's Executive Director, Laura Thien, and will include panelists Rev. Dr. Geneece Goertzen (author of "Taking It Seriously"), Nicole Bromley (founder of OneVOICE4freedom), and Mark & June Richetto (Trauma Healing Institute group facilitators). As a part of our larger GRACE Summit, it will be proceeded by sessions with Chuck DeGroat, Wade Mullen, Dr. Jennifer Freyd, and a panel on pastoral courage. 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

Good intentions can still cause harm. Churches and faith-based organizations often lack the policies, training, and independent processes rooted in wise theological and trauma-informed understanding necessary to respond well when abuse happens. GRACE brings a multidisciplinary team of attorneys, previous law enforcement professionals, counselors, advocates, and social workers. Its investigations are independent, thorough, and theologically grounded — the gold standard for Christian abuse prevention and response. To learn more about GRACE's Independent Investigations, trainings, policy development services, and consultations visit Netgrace.org

✨ GRACE Summit Session Highlight: Join GRACE for our first ever virtual summit from Nov 5-6, 2026! Our Keynote Speaker for the event is the researcher known for her theories of DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender), institutional betrayal, and institutional courage- Dr. Jennifer Freyd. Dr. Freyd will be speaking live on Nov 6 at 2pm ET, but if you can’t make it, worry not! Every session will be recorded and made available to registrants for replay. 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.

Being in a spiritually harmful environment can cause lasting trauma. In episode 21 of The GRACE Awakening Podcast we sat down with Lianna Chong and Abram Kielsmeier-Jones from the Spiritual Safety Center to talk about their new assessment tool: Spiritual Safety Survey. During their research, they provided individuals with both the Spiritual Safety Survey AND a PTSD score. For those who scored in the "harmful zone" on the Spiritual Safety Survey, 90% experience trauma symptoms and nearly half (46%) suffer from the full symptomatology of PTSD. To listen to the full interview tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or at Netgrace.org/podcast To take the Spiritual Safety Survey for FREE, visit spiritualsafetycenter.org

📣 New Podcast Episode!! Join Laura and Robert on The GRACE Awakening Podcast as we talk with Lianna Chong and Abram Kielsmeier-Jones of the Spiritual Safety Center to discuss the impact of moral injury, what consititutes spiritual safety and spiritual abuse, and the research behind their all new Spiritual Safety Survey. 🎧️ Listen Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or at Netgrace.org/podcast

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