October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. View our Fall trainings.
Tapeinos is the Greek word for the humiliated, oppressed, vulnerable, and poor of society. In our world of power and prestige human beings have continued the practice of evil by oppressing others deemed weak and inferior in our society. Women, children, and men are victimized daily at incredible rates. Even worse, the church many times keeps silent.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
“For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.” (Amos 2:6-7)
The Bible is filled with stories where people oppress others. Those who are in a position of power tend to humiliate those who “they feel” are weaker. Traditionally men have oppressed women, children, and other men. Millions of women and men who are survivors of this oppression and abuse are walking around today seeking God. Many are angry with God for allowing this to happen. Others fear God as “Father” thinking that the creator is an ogre. Some try to cope with this pain through drugs, alcohol, sexual addictions, or oppressing others.
At Agape we believe that the church has failed to address these issues. We believe that God is a God who stands for the oppressed and confronts the oppressor (not the other way around). We work with local agencies to help people, protect victims, and call abusers to repentance and behavior modification. We are here, like God, to love people and help them heal from their past pain by loving and respecting all people as children of God. Our Tapeinos Ministry is working in the following areas:
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