by Catherine Anderson “We’re supposed to teach youth about Jesus. In reality, we’re just trying to get kids through the day.” A couple years ago I started hearing comments like this more and more frequently from youth ministry leaders in my synod. You’ve probably felt it too. Anxiety, depression, suicide and other complex mental health conditions are deeply impacting ministry with young people and their … Continue reading Mental Health Support for Youth
by Kate Swanson, MSW, LICSW Imagine you are camping with your family in the woods. It’s dark. You are sitting around the campfire, calm and relaxed. You hear a snap—is something coming towards you? You hear a low growl—your body tenses, you grip the chair. Two glowing eyes, a large figure appears—a grizzly bear enters your campsite. What happens next? Your brain’s alarm system turns … Continue reading Trauma 101
by Elle Dowd God will cover you with his feathers, and under God’s wings you will find refuge; God’s faithfulness is a shield and buckler. – Psalm 91: 4 Many of us who have experienced trauma lean on our faith for support. When I was in the midst of abuse in my childhood and adolescence, my belief in God helped me to hold … Continue reading Trauma-Informed Youth Ministry
by Dr. Beverly Wallace In this study, we are going to explore trauma in the story of baby Moses—the trauma of a mother protecting her son, the trauma of a child sister entrusted with watching over her baby brother, the trauma of being an orphaned son, the generational trauma of the descendants of Moses. But before we explore this scripture, let’s consider the effects of … Continue reading Bible Study: “She Had to Keep Him Hidden” – Experiences of Trauma in the Lineage of Moses
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