Power That Empowers

Teaching and Modeling the Healthy Use of Power in Congregations

By Dayna Olson-Getty

Sunlight streamed through the sanctuary windows as a group of children reached their arms high above their heads, wiggling their fingertips in the beams of light. After a pause, the children’s hands swooped toward the floor, their fingers brushing the carpet. A moment later, they stood, stretching their arms in front of their bodies as far as possible, then extending them behind their backs, each inscribing a complete circle around their body.

“This,” the children’s time leader explained, is your “circle of grace.” God gives each of us a circle of grace. God helps us know what belongs in our circle of grace, and by giving us feelings of peace, love, and contentment when something or someone good comes into our circle of grace. And the Holy Spirit prompts us when something does not belong in our circle of grace by giving us uncomfortable feelings that something is not safe. When we have worries, concerns, or uncomfortable feelings, God wants us to talk with trusted grownups so they can help us be safe.

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38-Minute Training Video Available

This 2020 abuse prevention and healthy boundaries training video is designed specifically for adults volunteering in faith communities, such as churches, camps, or schools. It is available to you and the adult volunteers at your church for a one-time fee of $75. For $200, we offer the video and a one-hour Zoom discussion facilitated by a Dove's Nest expert. See a one-minute preview of the training here!
Steps to access the video:
1. Pay the one-time $75 fee online or by mailing a check.
2. Notify Anna Groff (anna [at] dovesnest.net) that you made this payment for the video.
3. A link to download or stream the training video will be sent to you in one business day. 
4. The video can be viewed an unlimited amount of times.