In September 2024, Nova Scotia passed legislation declaring an epidemic of domestic violence, joining 95 municipalities in Ontario that had already done so. Violence most often occurs in intimate relationships, like the family. In 2018, 44% of women and 36% of men in Canada reported experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) since the age of 15. Nearly 60% of Canadians have experienced some form of child maltreatment, including physical and sexual abuse, exposure to IPV, emotional abuse, and neglect.
Violence and abuse happen across all types of relationships and backgrounds—economic, ethnic, and social. It involves physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, and financial abuse to control and maintain power. This reality can be discouraging for Christians. Many wonder, “How can domestic violence happen in our church family, where we profess to live God’s love through Christ?”