C.A.W.A. Christian Care
A Women's Group
4 Steps to Heal from Church Hurt
Dr. Alison Cook
Step 1. Define Church Hurt as Abuse
Church leaders hold power. But, great power includes great responsibility. If someone misuses their power, the result is defined as “abuse,” which means to act in a manner to cause “bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse” (Oxford Languages Dictionary). Church hurt stems from experiencing someone else abusing their power.
Step 2. Separate the Church Hurt from God’s Character
Some aspects of God’s character are crystal clear throughout the Bible. If you feel busted up or beaten on by a church community, it is important to step back for a moment and remind yourself who God is apart from the hurtful actions.
Step 3. Recover Your Power
If you’ve experienced church hurt, it can cause you to feel helpless and alone. In order to reclaim your power, you need to set boundaries with those responsible for the pain. Then, you also need to heal the agony inside your own soul. But, in order to heal, you’ll need the help of safe people.
Step 4. Reclaim Your Spiritual Practices
As you begin to reclaim your personal power, you can also reclaim some spiritual practices. But, just like any physical wound, certain situations may rekindle more pain. With emotional pain, there may be specific words and practices that seem normal to everyone else, such as prayer or listening to a sermon, but they bring up uncomfortable, painful feelings within you. That’s because those practices got twisted due to the leader’s abusive actions.
Turn the negative into a positive by redefining old harmful words into new terms. For example, think of “prayer” as just a loving way to talk with God. You could even keep your eyes open and look at something beautiful or comforting that reminds you of God’s love. Talk to God out loud, listen to soothing music, walk with a friend, or write in a journal. When several people are gathered in meaningful, honest connection, God is there with them.
In Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him. Piper offers six biblical answers to the question, What is God doing through the coronavirus?—reminding us that God is at work in this moment in history.
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GOD SPOKE
Now, let’s be clear. I don’t hear voices. At least I never have.
My confidence that God speaks is rooted in the fact that
the Bible is his word. (More on that in the next chapter.)
He has spoken, once for all, and he still speaks in his word.
The Bible, rightly understood, is the voice of God.
Here is what he said to me in that urologist’s office as I
waited for the biopsy that would confirm that I had cancer.
“John Piper, this is not wrath. Live or die, you will be with
me.” That’s my paraphrase. Here’s what he actually said:
God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that
whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
(1 Thess. 5:9–10)
Healthy ways to cope with stress
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Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19. Contact a health professional before you start any self-treatment for COVID-19.
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Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
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Take care of your emotional health. Taking care of your emotional health will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family.
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Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
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Take care of your body.
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Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon.
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Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
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Exercise regularly.
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Get plenty of sleep.
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Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use.
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Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
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Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
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Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
Know the facts to help reduce stress
Knowing the facts about COVID-19 and stopping the spread of rumors can help reduce stress and stigma. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can help you connect with others and make an outbreak less stressful.
Take care of your mental health
Mental health is an important part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an emergency.
People with pre-existing mental health conditions or substance use disorders may be particularly vulnerable in an emergency. Mental health conditions (such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia) affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior in a way that influences their ability to relate to others and function each day. These conditions may be situational (short-term) or long-lasting (chronic). People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. If you think you have new or worse symptoms, call your healthcare provider. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020
Human Trafficking is Real and it's here in NWIndiana!
Did you know:
Hundreds of human trafficking victims have been identified in Indiana
The National Human Trafficking Hotline has helped identify more than 500 victims in Indiana since 2007
a third of those victims were children
97 Human trafficking cases reported in Indiana in 2019
Dr. Annalisa Enrile, PhD, targets Romeo to enslavement:
Romeo Pimping
'Loverboys' are human traffickers who usually operate by trying to make young girls or boys fall in love with them. Sometimes they manipulate young people in other ways. Once they have victims under their influence they exploit them, for instance in the sex industry.
Red flags
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living with an employer
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living in a cramped space with multiple other people
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being unable to speak to another person privately
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displaying signs of physical abuse
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behaving submissively or fearfully
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receiving extremely low or no pay for work
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speaking in a manner that appears scripted and rehearsed
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prostituting while underage
10 Ways To Protect Yourself From Human Trafficking
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Be Vigilant Of Your Surroundings. Always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. ...
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Avoid Walking Alone. Women have been forcibly kidnapped while walking on the street. ...
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Act Swiftly If Suspicious. ...
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Don't Trust Easily. ...
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Use Social Media Wisely. ...
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Be Ready For Anything. ...
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Use Your Phone. ...
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Trust Your Instincts.
