Rock Church Ministries Offers HEALING for the Hopeless

SAN DIEGO - April 12, 2013 - PRLog -- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and is dedicated in making a concerted effort to bring awareness about and prevent sexual violence. The Rock Church will be leading a support group every Tuesday of every month at the Rock Church through its H.E.A.L.I.N.G. Ministry along with participating Sexual Assault organizations to spread the word and break generational patterns of violence that continues to affect San Diego.

With a woman raped every 45 seconds and battered every nine seconds in the United States, according to the San Diego Domestic Violence Council (SDVCC),  the Rock Church's H.E.A.L.I.N.G Ministry, provides support, guidance, counseling and resources, while sharing the love and life-transforming power of God. H.E.A.L.I.N.G., which stands for Honoring, Empowering, and Loving Individuals Needing Guidance, brings hope and restores the self-esteem and confidence to those trapped within the confines of domestic violence or sexual assault.

"At H.E.A.L.I.N.G. we talk about hope, we talk about healing, and we talk about affirmation," said Jessica Yaffa, the ministry founder and domestic abuse survivor.

In four-and-a-half years, the H.E.A.L.I.N.G. ministry has helped more than 5000 men, women and children, and has branched off into two new groups in two different states. They educate women, schools, as well as police on how to investigate domestic violence with more sensitivity, and help crisis call operators be more compassionate when gathering information.

“We are working in the schools, we are working with other churches to develop support services for women who have suffered at the hands of domestic violence and sexual assault,” Yaffa said.

For many, escaping the chains of violence and starting over means having to face physical and logistical needs greater than emotional ones. H.E.A.L.I.N.G. exists to come along side these women and help them pick up the pieces. The participants’ experiences and circumstances are different, but their basic needs are similar. They need acceptance, guidance, and love. That's what H.E.A.L.I.N.G. provides them.

Some of the support services offered include: child therapy from therapists who specialize in trauma; adult trauma therapy; shelter placement; sign-off for court-mandated domestic abuses classes. (H.E.A.L.I.N.G. is a Child Protective Services (CPS) approved support group); Family Justice Center services; legal aid, and support services to men as well as women.

H.E.A.L.I.N.G. is free and open to everyone. This April, the Rock Church supports anyone taking their first step in finding support or getting involved by attending an open support group every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7 - 8:30 PM and on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesday of each month, women meet for prayer and fellowship from 7 - 8:30 PM.

To find out more about H.E.A.L.I.N.G., please visit: http://www.sdrock.com