When Shamon Smith witnessed her mother being abused, she never dreamed it would spark within her a passion to address domestic violence all these years later.
A woman of deep faith, Smith realized many victims seek help from their pastors, who often didn’t know how to help abused congregants facing very real dangers within violent relationships.
As a result, her North Charleston church is hosting a free three-day domestic violence conference Oct. 17-19 titled “Uniting the Pastors, Equipping the Clergy and Gathering God’s People.”
“Pastors have sent victims back to their abusers,” Smith said. “They felt they were doing the right thing.”