Carinity helps church go to prison to reduce domestic violence

Carinity has partnered with a Logan church to help to break the cycle of domestic violence and restore relationships in the families of incarcerated men.

Hosanna Logan City Church at Slacks Creek received a $3000 Carinity Innovation Grant to run the Circuit Breaker program at Borallon Training and Correctional Centre at Ipswich.

The Circuit Breaker course, run over 10 weeks starting February 14, helps men to repair relationships, resolve conflict and help prevent family violence.

Hosanna Logan City Church Pastor Ruta Aloalii says the course helps participants to identify and manage their anger and delve deeper into issues such as power and control, jealousy, and the cycle of violence.

“Domestic violence is a pressing and very concerning issue in society, not just in the Logan area but worldwide, and our church and congregation are committed to making lives for all families better and safer,” Pastor Aloalii says.

“The Carinity Innovation Grant enabled us to purchase the manuals to run the Circuit Breaker course.”

Hosanna Logan City Church will also run the 10-week Woman to Woman course, assisting women in prison build self-awareness and self-esteem, potentially reduce offending behaviour and recidivism.

“Our church is humbled to run programs such as this which support people serving prison sentences and help them prepare for their reintegration into their communities,” Pastor Aloalii says.

Hosanna Logan City Church is one of nine Baptist Church community initiatives across Queensland to be funded by the latest round of Carinity Innovation Grants, with a total of $43,500 in grants allocated.

Carinity CEO Jon Campbell says the Carinity Innovation Grants, available to Queensland Baptist Churches, were highly competitive with applications exceeding previous years.

“The decision to award the grants is extremely difficult as there are so many fantastic initiatives. What it shows is that Christian communities are continuing to step up to support local community needs,” he says.

“Carinity has helped kick-start more than 120 church initiatives in local communities across the state through grants totalling $373,500 over the past 12 years.”

To find out more about the Carinity Innovation Grants call 3550 3737 or visit www.carinity.org.au/innovation-grants.

ENDS