No Visible Scars

One in four Christian women will experience domestic abuse, and for these women their experience can be incredibly challenging to their faith. Survivors report that they do not feel their churches are adequately equipped to support them, but that secular domestic abuse services do not understand their faith. In No Visible Scars, author Sally Hope draws on her ten years of work supporting survivors and her own experiences of abuse, to help women undertake their own journey of healing. The book explores domestic abuse and the unique challenges that Christian women face. Through research, personal stories and opportunities to journal, No Visible Scars seeks to help survivors find answers to commonly asked questions such as 'Where is God in all this?' and face the thorny theological concepts of divorce, submission and gender roles. Survivors will be helped to recognise that God is firmly on the side of the abused, He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. No Visible Scars is based on the 'Always Hopeful' recovery programme for groups of Christian women who have experienced domestic abuse. Many survivors find attending a recovery group intimidating and would prefer to read a book in their own time; others don't have access to the programme. Through this book, survivors can learn more about their experiences and unpick some of the faith lies they may have acquired as a result.