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Our Favorite Trauma Resources for the Church

By February 27, 2020May 20th, 2020Blog

We’ve talked about trauma resources before on the blog, but never specifically for the church.

Church should be one of the safest places for children from hard places and those caring for them. Unfortunately, their experience can be the opposite if the church is uneducated on trauma and the effects of trauma on a child’s brain.

This extends anywhere from receiving tangible wrap-around support as a foster and/or adoptive family to having child care staff and volunteers trained to help kids from hard places feel safe at church.

God’s command to His people is to “love one another” (John 13:34) and to “give justice to the weak…maintain the right of the afflicted…rescue the weak and the needy.” (Psalm 82:3-4) If we want to be obedient to His command, we must create an educated and safe space for children to heal and families to be equipped and supported on their foster/adoption journey.

Here are some great resources we recommend to start making your church a safe and supportive space for these children and their families.

One Big Happy Home

Training: Helping Kids Feel Safe at Church

“Ryan and Kayla North have spent ten years as foster parents and have learned many of the things they share with families, churches, and schools in the trenches.

They are considered experts on childhood trauma. Together they have developed training materials and programs for churches, schools, and parents, educating them on trauma and its impacts.”

CHECK OUT THE COURSE →
One Big Happy Home 

Training: Trauma Masterclass for Churches

“Children’s ministry is perhaps the most vital ministry of the church. It is why families come, why families stay, and, unfortunately, why families sometimes leave a church.

Churches often focus on the programs, curriculum, lights, and music that make a Children’s Ministry great but often forget the impact of making children feel safe, secure, and loved.

This eye-opening training will equip pastors, youth leaders, and ministry volunteers to see the connection between the hard things we all face and our ability to facilitate healthy, loving relationships.”

CHECK OUT THE COURSE →
Jenn Ranter Hook, Joshua N. Hook, Mike Berry

Replanted: Faith-Based Support for Adoptive and Foster Families

“Many people embark on the journey of adoption and foster care but are unprepared for the challenges that await them along the way. Replanted takes an honest look at the joys and hardships that come with choosing this journey and provides a model of faith-based support made up of three parts to help families thrive: Soil, Sunlight, and Water.”

CHECK OUT THE BOOK →

If you’re now in this, and I mean really IN this for kids and families, and you’re excited to keep filling your bucket with more awesome trauma resources—check-out this blog post – Trauma Resources You Need as a Caregiver, you won’t regret checking out any of these!

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