Encourager Ministry
Thank you for being part of Awake’s Encourager Ministry! We are so grateful for your commitment to offering messages of compassion and support to those who have experienced sexual abuse by a Catholic leader. It may seem like a small gesture, but a few kind words can make a real difference.
Notes for Responding to Survivor Stories
New Survivor Stories are posted on Tuesday afternoon once each month (except July) and on social media on Wednesday morning. We will send you a reminder email on Wednesday, but we also strongly encourage you to sign up to receive a notification directly from the Awake blog when a new post is published. This will allow you to see the post and leave a comment as soon as possible. Simply click on the “update subscription” link at the bottom of any of our email newsletters and look for the check box at the end of the list.
Please post directly on the story on the Awake blog if possible, as those comments will be the most visible for the longest time. Note that we have the comment-approval setting turned on to reduce spam comments, so it may take a bit of time for your comment to be approved and show up on the post.
You are also encouraged to “like” the story on Awake’s social media and offer a supportive comment there as well: Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn.
Not sure what to say? Simple is fine: Thank you for sharing your story. I believe you. I’m so sorry. I admire your courage.
Remember that these men and women are much more than their history of abuse, and these stories are designed to highlight their courage, wisdom, resilience, and strength as well, so please feel free to comment on other parts of their journey, besides the abuse itself.
If you are a person of faith, please pray for the person as you read their story. However, in your public comments, be thoughtful in the way you use religious language. You should be able to tell from each person’s story whether or not religious language, promises of prayer, or mentions of God would feel supportive to them or not.
Many survivors tell their stories to increase understanding, help protect others, and make fellow survivors feel less alone. If reading this story was helpful to you in some way, that’s a great thing to share.
Your participation in this ministry does not obligate you to participate every month. This is a No Guilt Zone! Just comment as often as you are able. If you find you would like to be removed from the email list, just email Sara Larson (saralarson@awakecommunity.org).
If you have some extra time between monthly posts, please consider going back to drop a comment on a few of Awake’s previous Survivor Stories, which are all listed here.
Notes for Sending Cards
To protect each survivor’s privacy, Awake will collect the cards and send them in one package to the recipient. Sara Larson will remove all cards from the envelope (so that your return address is not shared) and screen messages (as an extra layer of safety for the survivor) before mailing them.
Please drop your card in the mail by the deadline suggested, so that all cards can be sent in one package. If you miss the deadline, no worries – You can participate next time.
The advice above about what to say in Survivor Story comments applies to these cards as well. We are grateful for your compassion and sensitivity!