a flood of trauma, a standard of peace

One of the harsh realities of profound poverty is frequent trauma. A study recently conducted in one of the vulnerable communities near Pretoria found that seventy percent of its children suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

​The challenge of a traumatized society becomes even more difficult when the role models in the lives of children and families do not know how to recognize and minister to those who suffer. Day care and safe house workers often correct or punish unwanted behavior without being equipped to identify and minister to its underlying causes. Sometimes in churches, women and children who cry out in grief are sent to deliverance ministry before being asked what is wrong!

​The dilemma of communities, churches, and crèches ill-equipped to minister to trauma is an opportunity for the church to bring life. Over the past two years, Chandra has worked with one of our partner organisations here in South Africa to train safe house personnel in caring for the traumatized children who come to them. More recently, she and a social worker were invited to train a group of pastors from a suffering community north of Pretoria. The pastors diligently took notes, asked questions, and requested that they please come back and bring more training.

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​What an exciting opportunity! Please pray with us that the God of all Comfort and the Prince of Peace will turn the tide of trauma away from this beautiful country. We so love being part of advancing His kingdom in this nation!

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