Multifaith event designed for victim advocates

There are few faith-based organizations that focus on crime victims, but some Lowcountry volunteers are trying to change that.

Cords of Justice, a year-old nonprofit organization composed of eight volunteers, is hosting an event in Charleston on Wednesday in observance of National Crime Victims Rights Week, observed today through Saturday.

One of the event's goals is to bring local church leaders and victims' advocate groups together, said Patricia Brunson, a member of Cords of Justice.

The event will take place at the First Assembly of God on Savannah Highway. It will include the Rev. James Yarsiah of St. Andrews Episcopal Mission; presidential award-winning victims advocate and author Janice Harris Lord; North Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt; and the Rev. Rob Dewey, senior chaplain and founder of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.

"We are a basic resource center," said Rebecca Sherwood, Cords of Justice's director. "Our intent is to increase awareness and help educate people about the resources available should they happen to be a victim or know someone who is."

Brunson said the nonprofit formed in January 2007 and began helping victims early this year.

Sherwood said that after six months of prayer, the group received an application for a grant from Scott Beard, a local attorney and head of the Tri-County Victims Council. Beard said the council is a loosely connected collaboration of victims advocates in law enforcement, nonprofits and churches.

Cords of Justice was one of 45 nonprofits across the nation to receive a $5,000 grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, a division of the Department of Justice. The grant money will fund the event observing National Crime Victims Rights Week. Sherwood said one of the goals is to get churches and church leaders more involved.

As a follow-up to the event, the organization is planning on working with local nonprofits and government offices to provide training for pastors, church leaders and anyone who is interested in learning more about working with crime victims. Invitations were sent to 990 churches in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, according to Sherwood.

"We did a survey and found that while many church leaders are able to help victims spiritually, they were not trained in seminaries to deal with crime victims," Brunson said. "We want to be that step for them."

Charles Taylor, pastor of First Assembly of God, said members of his church, as well as others in the tri-county area, have benefited from the nonprofit.

"This organization is about bringing people hope," Taylor said. "We all need it."

Cords of Justice has received written endorsements from Gov. Mark Sanford, U.S. Rep. Henry E. Brown Jr., North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Roberta Combs, national president of the Christian Coalition of America.

Contact Sherwood at 367-2012 or Brunson at 810-2135. Or reach them at info@cordsofjustice.org.