Today in the Mission Yearbook - Faith to overcome

Ten years to the day since the start of the water crisis, the Director of Community Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Flint, Michigan, speaks to the activation of faith

July 6, 2024

Lisa Horne and David Barnhart speak during a panel on 

“Flint: The Poisoning of an American City.” (Photo by Rich 

Copley)

Editor’s note: In 2014, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s Associate for Story Ministry, David Barnhart, met Lisa Horne, Director of Community Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Flint, working on what would become the award-winning documentary “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City.”

Barnhart recalls, “I will never forget the first time we met Lisa in her office. As we came in the front door there was a long line of people and families with children waiting down the hall to meet with her. We knew immediately that Lisa was someone who could give us insight and a perspective on this that no one else could. We have become good friends, and she has helped guide the film over those five years working together — and we are still in conversation today.” 

April 25 marked the 10-year anniversary of switching the water in Flint, Michigan.

Watch “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City” (which recently reached the “15 Million Streaming Milestone”) on Amazon Prime, Google Play, Apple TV, Tubi, Kanopy or Video on Demand across major cable providers. A study guide and screening kit are available on PDA’s website.

In 2010, I attended community meetings where there were conversations regarding a new Karegnondi Water Authority regional water system that would offer fresh water and save money for residents in Flint and Genesee County in Michigan. I had heard conversations about using the Flint River as a source of drinking water. During the restructuring, however, the history of this river would make it impossible to be considered for domestic use. At least this is what I thought until April 25, 2014, when “the switch” to using water from the Flint River started a public health crisis that I could not believe.

In my profession as a clinical social worker, I have studied trauma and its impact on the lives of those who experience it. The environmental trauma that hit the Flint community 10 years ago has left scars despite the healing efforts. In the role of director of Community Ministries and Outreach at First Presbyterian Church of Flint and a member of the community, I have heard statements such as: “There’s no trusting this water.”

Ten years after the start of the water crisis, clean water flows in the city’s water pipes that have been replaced. But according to some of the residents in Flint, “the water and the pipes in my home are the same.” It is evident that the wounds inflicted by the lead poisoning from the Flint River are still causing pain in our community and there is still the question of trust and healing.

In a study by Wang et al (2022) published in the Journal of Population Economics, the researchers found that the children born to mothers exposed to the contaminated water in Flint had a significantly lower birth weight on average compared to those in other cities. They found that Black babies have been disproportionately impacted by the exposure and on occasions, the epidemic has been called a crisis that resulted from systemic racism. The healing for Flint is in motion as the prayers for leadership, finances, education, public health reform, racial healing and solidarity erupt!

This is where my faith is activated. “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10). The community, through many collaborative efforts, has met some of the needs of residents and continues to build hope for a healthier future for our community. The psychological distress that I have personally experienced is evident from the work I am called to do and will require more time for healing the community as we all unite and develop the practical principle of working together for the good of our community because we love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

When I am asked where we are now, I reply, “Further along than where we were and will continue to overcome.” I am reminded of Philippians 1:3–6, where Paul and Timothy, passionate servants of Christ, write a letter to all Philippi Christians, including the pastors and preachers. They first welcome all with God’s grace and Jesus’ peace. Then they write:

“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”

As news accounts have reported, to some there has been no justice based upon the legal system. I choose to hold on to the confession of my faith that God is still working things out for our community. I believe that the additional prayers for change, restoration, revival, and leadership working together in Flint, Michigan will be answered. To God be the glory for the things we will do!

Lisa Horne, First Presbyterian Church of Flint, Michigan

Today’s Focus: 10 year anniversary – Flint, Michigan water crisis

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Ivy Lopedito, Mission Associate I, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Presbyterian Mission Agency 
Hansel Lopez, Dishwasher, Stony Point Center, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray

Gracious God, give us humble hearts so that we can recognize the gifts of others and encourage the use of those gifts for the building up of your church and for the fulfillment of your mission. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Is your church the right place to heal from religious trauma?

The unique aspects of religious trauma can make for a difficult healing process

July 5, 2024

In medieval times, red doors were signs of sanctuary. 

If you could reach the door of a church, you could 

expect physical and spiritual protection. (Photo by 

Brenna Klemm via Unsplash)

Religious trauma is becoming quite a buzzword. Therapists are writing books about it. Mainstream news networks are substantially covering it. Faith communities (like Harbor, the online community I help lead) have formed to help people heal from it. The downside of buzzwords is that we hear about them so often that we eventually become desensitized to them. After enough time, or enough buzzing of the words in a short time, we may even get a little annoyed and begin to roll our eyes.

The church can’t afford to become irritated, blasé or condescending about church trauma. As the phrase indicates, this phenomenon is the result of harms perpetrated in and by the church. We need to take religious trauma very, very seriously.

There are some unique (and thorny) aspects of religious trauma that make addressing it a little different from other types of healing we want to foster in our communities. At Harbor, much of our life together is shaped by our shared church trauma and our desire to heal from it.

This affects everything we are and do, from our leadership structure (a non-hierarchical team of three pastors) to our language around prayer (phrases like “if you’re a praying person” or “a contemplation exercise”). In addition to these concrete policies and practices, several important and less tangible lessons have emerged in our work. To share these ideas, I want to tell you the story of “Adam.”

Perhaps the overarching principle that surfaced in the story that follows, which should be obvious but runs against all our pastoral impulses, is this: Church is often not the right place for someone to heal from church trauma.

At Harbor, most people who arrive in our Zoom boxes with religious trauma have left, or are in the process of leaving, conservative evangelical or other fundamentalist contexts. But when Adam joined us, almost the first words out of his mouth were an announcement that he was a former PC(USA) pastor. And that he carries significant religious trauma.

The Rev. Jon Mathieu

I will pause now to mention another principle: Harms that result in trauma aren’t just things that happen over there, far away in Southern Baptist or Roman Catholic churches. They happen here. In our churches and our traditions.

Adam was part of Harbor only briefly, but in that short time, he seemed like a perfect fit. He read the same nerdy books I ramble on about. He watched the same TV comedies we laugh about in the “after-party” conversations that follow our main weekly gathering. More to the point, he entered into our vulnerable dialogues about faith, healing and community.

It came as a bitter surprise when Adam told one of our pastors that Harbor just wasn’t the right fit. We were too churchy.

Now, this was the first and probably will be the last time anyone tells us we are too churchy. We have no sanctuary, no hymns or worship songs, no sermon, no offering basket. When I heard Adam’s feedback, my knee-jerk reaction was to get defensive. “Too churchy?! We’re like the anti-church church!”

But trauma is trauma. And Harbor is a church, try as we might to feel otherwise. Something about our Scripture readings and dialogues triggered Adam’s church trauma. It’s OK; it doesn’t mean we did anything wrong. It just means that while we are trauma-informed, we are not trauma-proof. Accepting that we’re not the right place for him to heal was an invitation into a vulnerable space for us as a leadership team. When it comes to Harbor people’s journeys, my defensiveness is the enemy of their healing. Church leaders cannot become defensive about people’s wounds, nor can churches afford to become desensitized to religious trauma. We can honor each other’s journeys and embrace the vulnerability it takes to find healing together, at whatever time and in whatever context. Rather than striving to keep people in our doors (or Zoom boxes), we can practice grace in our comings and our goings.

The Rev. Jon Mathieu is the founding pastor of Harbor Online Community and the community engagement editor for The Christian Century, where he writes the free weekly Editors’ Picks newsletter.

Today’s Focus: Healing from religious trauma

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Christine Long, Church Consultant, Tacoma, WA, Board of Pensions 
Patricia Longfellow, Senior Administrative Assistant, Presbyterian Women  

Let us pray

Holy and loving God, we thank you for journeying with your church through times of learning, joy, change and sorrow. Please bless all your people with the ability to be bold in sharing the good news and in loving you, themselves and their neighbors. Amen.

The Voice of the Martyrs - You can help Christians driven from their homes.

Islamists Ordered Their Father to Stop Sharing the Gospel

Today, we invite you to read the story of Fanueli, a devoted teacher who fearlessly shared the gospel, and learn how you can help serve our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters fleeing radical Islamists. Fanueli Kambale loved teaching about Jesus. He worked as a schoolteacher and also gave Bible lessons to children who lived near his farmland. Militants with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) noticed Fanueli’s gospel teaching. They ordered him to stop — twice — and warned him they would kill him if he continued. But Fanueli would not stop sharing God’s Word. When ADF soldiers caught him teaching the children Bible lessons for a third time, they murdered him in front of his wife, Georgine, and their 3-year-old son, Andre. Militants then took Georgine hostage but released her a short time later. The family’s garden was their main source of food, but Georgine was afraid to return there, fearing another attack. Soon, though, she decided she had to return so she could feed her children. When she arrived at the garden plot, militants confronted her. “We told you not to come,” eyewitnesses heard them tell Georgine. “We already killed your husband; now we are killing you also.” And they did. An aunt took in Fanueli and Georgine’s three orphaned children but has struggled to care for them on her own. With VOM’s help, she’s expanded her sewing business into a training school, and the extra income provides for their needs. The Voice of the Martyrs is serving tens of thousands of Christians, like Fanueli and Georgine’s three orphaned children, driven from their homes and villages because of their faith in Christ. You can join in this effort today. We invite you to help Christians like those forced to flee from radical Islamists in the DRC. Your gift will provide basic necessities like soap, blankets, food, shelter, medical supplies and Bibles. I WANT TO HELP

Please forward this email to Christian friends who will be inspired to pray for and support our persecuted Christian family.

Share this special opportunity with your friends and family.

Christian Counseling Associates - Trauma Informed Care in Faith Based Counseling

Trauma-Informed Care in Faith-Based Counseling: Healing Through Understanding In the realm of mental health and counseling, understanding the profound impact of childhood trauma on brain development is crucial. Recent research underscores that childhood trauma can rewire critical brain networks involved in self-focus and problem-solving, emphasizing the urgent need for trauma-informed care. What is Trauma-Informed Care? Trauma-informed care is a framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and emphasizes creating environments that promote healing and recovery. It involves understanding the neurological, biological, psychological, and social effects of trauma and integrating this knowledge into all aspects of service delivery. This approach aims not only to avoid re-traumatization but also to actively promote a sense of safety, empowerment, and recovery for individuals who have experienced trauma. Schedule an Appointment Understanding Childhood Trauma's Impact A comprehensive meta-analysis recently published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging sheds light on how childhood trauma can lead to lasting changes in brain structure and function. This study, consolidating data from 14 previous studies, highlights disruptions in two crucial brain networks: the default mode network (DMN) and the central executive network (CEN). The DMN, associated with self-referential thoughts and emotion processing, shows increased activation in children with trauma histories during emotionally charged tasks. Conversely, the CEN, vital for cognitive control and problem-solving, exhibit altered activation patterns in trauma-affected children, potentially impacting their ability to regulate emotions and process social cues effectively. The Role of Christian Counseling Associates At Christian Counseling Associates, we recognize the profound implications of childhood trauma and are committed to providing trauma-informed care within a faith-based framework. Our counselors are equipped not only with clinical expertise but also with a deep understanding of how faith can intersect with psychological healing. Childhood Trauma: Assessing and Treating the Wounds Childhood trauma, whether from abuse, neglect, or other adverse experiences, can profoundly shape a person's life trajectory. Research indicates that trauma can alter brain development, affecting areas responsible for emotional regulation, memory, and interpersonal relationships. This underscores the importance of early assessment and intervention. Trauma-Informed Care at Christian Counseling Associates Christian Counseling Associates integrates trauma-informed care into our counseling services, ensuring that every client receives compassionate and effective support tailored to their unique needs. By understanding the neurobiological effects of trauma, we can offer therapies that help individuals heal and reclaim their lives. Our approach involves: Safety and Trust: Creating a safe environment where clients feel secure and understood. Empowerment: Empowering clients to actively participate in their healing process. Holistic Support: Addressing spiritual, emotional, and psychological aspects of trauma recovery. Faith Connection: Cultivating understanding of God’s design for facing crisis and tragedy in life. What Sets Us Apart? Conclusion In conclusion, childhood trauma has a profound impact on brain development, highlighting the critical need for trauma-informed care in counseling services. At Christian Counseling Associates, we stand ready to provide compassionate care that integrates faith with evidence-based practices to promote healing and restoration. For more information on how we can support you or your loved one through trauma recovery, please visit our website or contact us directly. References Dolan, E. W. (2024, June 21). Study: Childhood trauma leads to lasting brain network changes. PsyPost. Retrieved from https://www.psypost.org/2024/06/childhood-trauma-brain-network-changes-71626 CCA can provide a full range of clinical counseling services: Christian Counseling Associates are experts in the fields of mental health and addictions. With their comprehensive knowledge and experience, CCA provides effective treatment and support for individuals struggling with various mental health disorders and addictions. Our expertise allows us to offer holistic care that addresses both the emotional and spiritual aspects of recovery. Struggling with mental health or addiction issues? Need to re-evaluate your psychiatric medication? Just want to find a new start? CCA provides excellent, accessible, and comprehensive counseling services. Please visit our website at www.ccawpa.com or call us at 724-396-1510 to learn more about a location near you. You can also access our safe, secure online services from anywhere. God Bless, Richard Hoffman, Ph.D.   Clinical Director Christian Counseling Associates SERVICES....WHY CCA....NEW CLIENTS....LOCATIONS....ABOUT Christian Counseling Associates Available in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New York, Ohio, West Virginia  and in Liberia, West Africa Stay Social With Us:

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