‘Breaking the Silence’: enditnow Rallies 2025

Pr Tarnya Garner/Naomi Janmaat

Published 19th October 2025

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:17

On the Sabbath of August 23, Burwood Church and Bairnsdale Church hosted enditnow® rallies advocating for the end of violence and abuse—a momentous event, as this was the first time two rallies had been held simultaneously across the state.

enditnow® is a global movement from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, launched with Women’s, Children’s, and Family Ministries, dedicated to ending abuse in all its forms—physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual. Since 2009, enditnow® has been the boldest stance the Adventist Church has taken against abuse. Now active in over 200 countries and territories, this initiative invites everyone—Adventists or not—to stand for dignity, safety, and healing. (Source: enditnow® Australia)

The Victorian Conference’s Women’s Ministry department, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), and the Children and Family Ministries department, worked together to organise the Burwood rally, and then further collaborated with dedicated pastor and counsellor Faye Stothers-Khan to hold a rally in Bairnsdale.

Pr Tarnya Garner, director of Women’s Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Victoria, said, “At the heart of both gatherings are women of conviction and courage—women who believe deeply in fairness, equality and the well-being of people in every stage of life: men and women, children and the elderly alike.”

“Our message is clear and unwavering: No-one should ever be subjected to disrespect, harm or violence. The enditnow® initiative stands for love, encouragement and transformation—and stands firmly against all forms of abuse. For those who have endured such pain, their greatest wish is that no-one else should have to experience it. That is why these rallies are not only about raising awareness, but also about prevention, education and inspiring change.”

Across both rallies, sixty ‘Go Bags’ were collected to support people experiencing domestic violence.
These ‘Go Bags’ contained donations of essential items, including but not limited to sanitary products, facial/body wipes, and oral care.

During the Burwood Rally keynote presentation, AUC Women’s Ministries and Resource Development Director, Sylvia Mendez, championed the Union’s new resources to aid and advocate for victims in need of help, as well as resources for local churches and communities.

Post rally, Rebecca Auriant, ADRA Director for the Victorian Conference, shared the AUC’s teen resource ‘Breaking the Silence: Teen Edition’ to Year 11 and 12 students at Heritage College. The session emphasised the guide’s process of ‘Listen. Believe. Refer’ during discussions around support strategies for victims of family and domestic violence.

We encourage you to check out the website
enditnowaustralia.org.au. Explore the tools. Share the message. Start the conversation. Let’s create safer churches, families, and communities—together.