No more Sins By Silence. Stopping Domestic Violence in Indiana

Brenda Clubine; founder of Convicted Women Against Abus

The Indianapolis metro area has suffered through a horrible year for domestic violence.  Angela Warnock in Brownsburg.  Beth Stayer in Zionsville/Anson a week earlier. Just before Christmas, Yvonne Kretzer was murdered by her husband in Plainfield.  There were 65 deaths in Indiana last year attributed to domestic violence.  Every day 1000 people seek help from domestic violence in Indiana alone.

Last night at Lockerbie Central United Methodist and Earth House, we screened the documentary Sin By Silence and heard from filmmaker Olivia Klaus.  Most amazingly, Brenda Clubine was there.  She is featured in the documentary and it was her work and vision that created Convicted Women Against Abuse; an innmate support and advocacy group that transformed California’s Domestic Violence laws.

Brenda was serving seventeen years to life for defending herself against her abusive husband.  Last night was the 1 year anniversary of her release from prison.

There is so much to be said about the movie and last night’s gathering.  There were tears, standing ovations, and a commitment to make Indiana free of all violence.

Thank you so much for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence for  organizing this screening and bringing Ms. Clubine and Ms. Klaus to Indianapolis.

Filed under: Earth House, Thursday Night Film Festival, community, documentary, family life, film, film review, movie review, prison, prison justice, prison ministry, rememberances, united methodist , abuse, angela warnock, anson, beth stayer, brenda clubine, Brownsburg, california, Convicted Women Against Abuse, death, deaths, documentary, domestic violence, Earth House, Indiana, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Indianapolis, lockerbie central, olivia klaus, plainfield, sin by silence, united methodist, violence, Yvonne Kretzer, zionsville

A Safe Place

Last night at Lockerbie Central United Methodist/ Earth House, we screened At The River I Stand.  This powerful (but old-fashioned) documentary tells the story of the 1967-1968 Memphis sanitation strike.  It was during his work to support this strike that Martin Luther King was assassinated.

But that’s not the point of this post.  After the movie last night a woman came into the church and needed help.

We get a lot of requests for help (but have few financial resources.) Admittedly, I have become a bit skeptical.  It took me a while to get there.

She had graduated from college recently, grown up in the suburbs.

She was also pregnant.

And homeless.  Had spent a long time spleeping in her car.

She had a job too but her husband was beating her.

She needed gas money to get out of town and get to her parent’s house.

She had  driven  by our church and saw our Earth House banner.  And felt a bit of hope she said. It made her feel safe.

She hung out with Jenxie–our vegetarian chef– that afternoon.  She said Jenxie made her feel safe.

We gave her gas money.

Hopefully, she made it home.

Filed under: Christians, Earth House, Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church, church, family life, film review, jesus , asking for help, at the river i stand, college, domestic violence, Earth House, family life, gas money, homeless, Indianapolis, lockerbie central, martin lutker king, pregnancy, united mehtodist

Happy Birthday to Lorelei!

Lorelei and Aunt Lizzie, Age 1 day

Lorelei Oles, age 11 monhs old

Lorelei and her friend Max, 11 months

My daughter, Lorelei Catherine Oles, was born one year ago today.  She arrived in this world at 10:37 PM, Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

Katy, her mom and my wife, had been in the hospital for 36 hours before the decision was made to have a c-section.  There is so much I remember that night:  the love I felt for Katy,  the feeling of total exhaustion and hunger (and all I had to do was stand there and be supportive!), how surreal the operating room was  in the middle of the night, the fact that I didn’t faint, and, finally, how beautiful it was to have the love and support of our families.

I will never forget hearing Lorelei cry for the first time and then holding her for the first time, only a few minutes later.   I went out to the waiting room about five minutes after her birth  and exclaimed  “she is awesome!” to her grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Lorelei has been a healthy baby –only a couple of ear infections–and is super adventurous and curious about the world.  She loves being outdoors and waves hello to about everyone.  She sleeps through the night most days and has an  addiction to blueberries.  Her sense of humor is well developed and thinks it is hilarious to pull  little tricks on her parents and grandparents.

So, now, I am just being one of those annoying parents who brag about their kids.  It’s hard not too as proud parent.    Happy Birthday Lorelei!

Filed under: family life, parenting , family life, fatherhood, happy birthday, Lorelei Oles, parenting