Husbands are sharing the disadvantages of being the decision maker in their homes and committing to treat their wives as equals during workshops exploring family relationships.

These husbands, from COCIN Panyam RCC, were attending our Sexual and Gender-based Violence workshop in late 2024. The 111 husbands and fathers spent a day talking about gender roles and traditional cultural norms.

“They were shocked to hear that being an alpha male is not scriptural and that instead God sees women and men as equal with both made in his image,” said international coordinator Tassie Ghata.

“They said they were happy to have their eyes opened and to be challenged to change the ways they treat their wives and daughters.”

The days involved lots of group work for the men to share their experiences and problems and begin exploring new ways of behaving.

A few weeks later Tassie was preaching in their church and asked the men’s wives to meet her at the end of the service and share the changes they’d seen in their husbands.

One woman said her husband now wakes earlier and helps with the chores. The first morning she thought she was dreaming as she heard him washing the dishes. She asked God for it not to be a dream; her husband continues to help around their home.

Another wife was not allowed to speak in the house and had no involvement in decision making. Now her husband asks for her opinion.

A third woman said her husband drank and regularly came home late. Now there is no drinking, he meets her after work and they walk home together.

Pastors Explore Gender Roles

Church leaders are often unfamiliar with the biblical perspective of women and men being made in God’s image and so show preference to men and boys both in their homes and in their congregations.

Sixy-seven church leaders and their spouses from COCIN Dawaki RCC were challenged on their gender views when they attended an SGBV workshop at the end of 2024.

Working in small groups they explored the root causes of sexual and gender-based violence in their communities and how to safeguard women and children from harm.

Attendees included pastors and their wives, church secretaries and womens’ leaders. The men committed in future to giving equal education opportunities to their daughters and sons.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for:

• Men in the Panyam and Dawaki congregations as they live out changed relationships with their wives and daughters
• Funding so we can restart the Tearfund Gender Champion’s Programme in local churches. Church leaders are asking for this programme for their congregations