Hope for New Beginnings: Trauma Healing Workshops
by Stephen Womack
Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo
"We can’t build anything on a foundation of pain, and we are all grief-stricken by the war. We need help.” This plea from Pastor Joel Papé in Côte d’Ivoire, Africa, is being echoed all over the continent—and around the world.
Wycliffe and its partners envision making Scripture accessible in the remaining 2,200-plus languages still without it. But the ultimate objective is not to simply tick languages off a list. We want to provide God’s answers for the throbbing needs of real people in physical and emotional, as well as spiritual, peril.
Wycliffe personnel involved in the area of “Scripture Use” are employing a set of programs that link the Word to real life experience. One effort is the creation of the book, "Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church Can Help" and its accompanying workshops. Trained “wounded healers” can educate others in their home area churches.
Harriet Hill, Wycliffe’s International Scripture Use Coordinator recounts, “In the year 2000, church leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo asked specifically for help in the area of trauma healing. Others in East Africa encountered similar needs among refugees from Sudan and elsewhere. Those drawn into this area of ministry held a consultation with Africans and others working on the continent to develop a draft of a book that was used in the first Trauma Healing Workshop in 2002. In brief, the book explains important mental health principles within a biblical framework.
“Since then, 'Healing the Wounds of Trauma' has been reprinted three times, with over 8,000 copies sold in English and 1,000 in French. Four Africa-wide workshops have been held for church leaders, and those trained have held well over a hundred local seminars. The book has been published in 22 languages, with translation underway in another 42 languages. Workshops have been held outside Africa in Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia. Requests for this training continue to increase; India and Asia want help in running similar workshops. Many more language communities want to see the book in their own language.”
Like Pastor Joel, many people in Côte d’Ivoire suffered greatly, losing families and homes during the civil war that began in 2002 and finally ended with a peace ceremony in July 2007. Mr. Martin Toualy, Trauma Healing Coordinator for Wycliffe partner SIL in Côte d’Ivoire, heads up efforts to reach those who are hurting. At a Trauma Healing Workshop in the port city of Abidjan one woman said, “For four years now I have been crushed under an unbearable weight of sadness. It prevented me from hearing God’s Word and living by it. Before my eyes, rebels killed my pregnant sister, my father and my brother. They kept me to cook for them. A few days later I fled with some others. God helped me get away. After this seminar, I feel ready to forgive because the Lord saved me.”
In another workshop held in Côte d’Ivoire, fighting between members of different political parties occurred even during the seminar - with roads blocked, houses burned, and people attacked. It was “trauma during trauma healing.” Many prayed fervently for God’s protection and none of the 154 workshop participants were harmed.
Following the workshop, Pastor Joel said, “I give thanks and praise to God for the healing He has brought to our church members. Up till now, they did not want to listen. Today, because of this course, God has begun to build new life out of their pain.”
Pastor Josué Kakoraki of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on returning from one workshop, offered to pass on the teachings to an expected 60 participants. He found 948 awaiting him. Among those, 203 people requested prayer for healing, 167 professed faith, 19 people were reconciled to others, three marriages were reported restored, and two denominations requested more seminars.
A testimony from one man in Congo hits home for many Africans. He said, “I come from the region of the country that is the most affected today by the war: one-third of the population has been killed, and now half are refugees. Many live under trees without any shelter. My wife comes from the ethnic group that massacred many of my people. Some of my family want to take revenge on her even though she has never been connected with the army. Initially, I too found it hard to stay with my wife—to eat together, to share our feelings of pain. But after studying the trauma healing book, I was able to understand what had happened, and to change. Today, I’m completely healed and am happy again with my wife. I’ve also helped some relatives to overcome their trauma and accept my wife.
“I plan to translate the manual into my own language, spoken where the war is still going on today. Eighty percent of my people are unable to read the country’s official language and need this manual in their own language so they will have the chance to be healed. I expect to continue to train church leaders in the use of this manual.”
Pastor Issaya Foulzil from Chad sums up the effect of this Scripture Use effort: “I now see myself as an instrument to bring healing into people’s lives and to bring hope through this teaching that can lead to new beginnings.”