Healing a Broken Spirit

Abuse of any kind as well as significant losses such as death of a loved one can result in a broken spirit (Proverbs 15:13, 17:22). However, we have a wonderful God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Isaiah 51:3). He often leads us into communities where we can experience being seen, soothed, safe, and secure. This chapter describes the experience of brokenness and the process of healing integrating both biblical and interpersonal neurobiological perspectives

Ending Domestic Violence--No Time to Waste

The church plays an important role in creating a safe community and an environment in which intimate partner violence (IPV) is addressed, not covered up. An appropriate understanding of Scripture is also protective. Local churches must become aware of resources in their communities designed to help both victims and perpetrators. The message that violence of any kind will not be tolerated must be clearly sent. Perpetrators must experience appropriate consequences along with the help they need. enditnow, the Adventist Church’s program to create awareness and help prevent IPV, must continue to be supported

First the Blade

First the Blade is a ministry to seminary families that was initiated by seminary faculty who saw the struggles of many seminary student families to support their children’s education in the Adventist school system. Its initial vision was to provide limited funding for Adventist education for these children. As the ministry has evolved, its mission and vision have expanded to include other forms of support for seminary student families that includes resourcing, counseling, parents’ night out, and other new ventures such as a children’s author program

A New Opportunity: Transforming Trauma

Researchers and church administrators have a long-term interest in the stresses experienced by clergy and how these stressors relate to the ability of the clergy to minister effectively. Many of these stressors occur in pastors’ families of origin prior to ministry. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are forms of trauma that have long-term negative effects on one’s physical, mental/emotional, spiritual/relational, and behavioral health. This article describes research on the effects of ACEs and reports the preliminary results of the first three years of a longitudinal study of ACEs on Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) seminary students. It makes recommendations designed to positively affect the state of pastoral ministry in the SDA Church. Trauma-informed pastors discover how to overcome the negative effects of trauma on themselves, which enables them to create trauma-informed congregations