Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • SBC 2023
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • SBC 2023
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Practical ways parents, church leaders can help when trauma strikes

  • July 26, 2021
  • Denise George
  • Featured, Instagram, Latest News
(Pixabay.com)

Practical ways parents, church leaders can help when trauma strikes

Fears about violent crime have ripple effects through families, schools and churches.

While Christian parents and grandparents themselves struggle to adjust to rapidly increasing crime rates, they and others, including church leaders, are intensely concerned about the negative physical, mental, emotional and spiritual impact heightened crime is having on young children.

Little ones are feeling unsafe in their homes, schools, cars, churches and neighborhoods.

Children lack mature understanding, and witnessing or hearing about escalating violence makes them feel vulnerable, afraid and often unprotected.

Christian parents and pastors are needed now more than ever to help vulnerable, frightened children feel safe and to instill God’s secure promises into their young hearts.

What can Christian families do to help young children feel safe, secure and protected?

Here are some practical suggestions:

  • Teach children the promises of God. Violence, death, pain and suffering are real, but God is near to us, He will not leave us, and He promises to restore us.

The violence we see is ultimately temporary, and the peace of God will reign forever.

  • Keep young children away from media violence, including television news reports, violent movies, video games, etc.

Be aware of friends and family members who may allow exposure to media violence. Discuss news of violence only when children cannot overhear the conversations.

  • Invite children to talk about their fears, and listen closely to their comments.
  • Be alert to your children’s body language, often indicating excessive anxiety or fear, including abnormal behavior, aggression toward others, insomnia, self-destructive behavior, eating problems, etc.

If necessary, seek professional help.

  • Spend devotional time together as a family, praying and reading Scripture.
  • Reassure children that home and school are safe places.

Tips for church leaders

In the wake of traumatic events in society and personal trauma experienced by congregation and community members, church leaders can help with healing too.

Here are some suggestions for church leaders:

  • Intentionally increase your understanding of trauma. Research local and national organizations that provide counseling and education, and make these resources available to the congregation.
  • Talk more about trauma and relate your own experiences with it from the pulpit.
  • Recognize that some groups, including women, young adults, minorities, the unemployed and those with less education, have higher rates of trauma.
  • Become a community of healing.

Increase your level of empathy and recognize that the pain of trauma decreases over months and years, not days. Patience and support are key.

  • Reach out to those in your community who have experienced trauma but don’t attend church.
  • Encourage Bible reading and study.
  • Preach about how forgiveness impacts healing. Remember that reconciliation isn’t necessary for healing.
  • Provide safe spaces and train people how to listen with patience and empathy, not necessarily give practical advice.

Click here to read about the top sources of trauma among Christians.

Click here to read about the lasting effects of trauma.

Click here to read how student leaders can help with anxiety disorders in children.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • NextGen teams ‘on front lines of lostness,’ reaching nations with gospel
    NextGen teams ‘on front lines of lostness,’ reaching nations with gospel
    June 8, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Sixteen members of Nigerian church released after being kidnapped
    Sixteen members of Nigerian church released after being kidnapped
    June 8, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93
    Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93
    June 8, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

NextGen teams ‘on front lines of lostness,’ reaching nations with gospel

Sticky notes plastered to the wall represented all the ways summer volunteers will embark on the missionary task in the next few weeks and months.

Sixteen members of Nigerian church released after being kidnapped

Sixteen members of Bege Baptist Church of Masala in central Nigeria were released June 4 after being kidnapped nearly a month earlier. Gunmen abducted 43

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson dies at 93

Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, died June 8 at his Virginia Beach home. Robertson was 93. “Pat Robertson has gone home to

First Person: Gaining altitude — WMU celebrates 135 years of SBC missions

According to an insect identification database, 647 types of bugs and insects are found in Alabama. Some downright scare me. I looked at images of

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel