Ed Welch did a session asking us to consider ways we can be growing as a church in light of what we have been learning this weekend. He asked us to consider how our church can be a place of healing? (How has our church already been a place of healing in the past?) Ed… Read More »
“The wrong hope will inform how you think about your circumstances and it will leave you in pieces. Or Christ your real hope will find you in pieces and move you toward an unmovable peace.” – Julie Lowe
Mike Emlet’s General Session was about trauma’s effect on the body. “Trauma is one of those places where suffering deeply impacts the body.” Dr. Emlet recounted how in his earlier days he butchered a ministry opportunity with a vet, by not being attentive to his bodily suffering. “In helping traumatized individuals, we don’t want to… Read More »
Darby Strickland’s main session included an invitation to vulnerability. Scripture calls us to lean into God and fellow believers in seasons of deep anguish. It is not good for us to be alone. But vulnerability requires opening up oneself to another and that can be scary. For those who have been traumatized, there may be… Read More »
For the second session, Julie Lowe and Darby Strickland powerfully drew us into the experience and deep impact of trauma through a role play interwoven with scripture from Jeremiah and Lamentations. The story they used was 15-year-old Kayla, who was groomed and victimized by her soccer coach, Mr. Smith, who was a member of her… Read More »
“There is no dark corner in human experience where Christ has not gone—both on his way to the cross and on his way to finding you.” – Ed Welch
For those of you who missed #CCEF2023, or this year’s Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation Conference, below are summaries of the main sessions. This year’s theme was “Trauma: How God’s Light Breaks into Our Deepest Darkness.” I hope these summaries will be a blessing to you. The conference audio is now available for purchase here.
Last year, I completed a course by Pastor Tom Pryde of Psalm 82 Initiative on abuse. He helps educate us to spot abusive relational systems so that we can help victims be fearless, free, and uncontrollable (a.k.a controlled by the Holy Spirit alone.) The class was immensely helpful to me in teaching me how to… Read More »
Chris Moles, a pastor and abuse counselor has a new book out to encourage church leaders and counselors to properly address and confront domestic abuse in their churches. His book, Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse: A Guide toward Protection, Refuge, and Hope, features wisdom from a team of counselors and abuse experts who work with both victims and perpetrators of abuse. Contributors to the book include Beth Broom, Kirsten Christianson, Joy Forrest, Chris Moles, Darby Strickland, and Greg Wilson.
Jesus warns his disciples to beware of the leaven of Pharisees. He knows man-centered religion is a real and present danger to his followers. Jesus kindly calls us to be vigilant, to recognize and guard against Pharisaism, so that we can experience eternal life found in Him. (Luke 12:1-12, John 5:39-40.)