By Sherrye Willis, Founder and President, Alliance for Greater Works
When our physical bodies are in crisis, many Christians believe that God works through our doctors, medicines, and even our very healthcare system to create miracles of healing and well-being. However, when we struggle with trauma and mental health crises, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize that God also works through our therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists in the same way.
From pandemics and social media influences to intergenerational trauma, community violence and gun violence, today’s world presents an ever-expanded set of unique challenges for faith-based organizations and leaders serving the Black community. To be successful shepherds of today’s Christian communities, faith leaders must acknowledge the interconnection between the minds and bodies Christ has given us – and the need for healing physical, mental and emotional pain on all levels.
Trauma-Informed Care and Its Importance in the Church
Although the word trauma is used more often today, its existence is nothing new. In fact, there are more than 90 verses about trauma in the Bible. David experienced trauma when he faced the betrayal of close friends, the constant threat to his life from King Saul, and the emotional weight of losing loved ones in battle. Elijah also went through a major depression and contemplated suicide after fleeing from Queen Jezebel’s threats, feeling overwhelmed and isolated, and believing he was the only prophet left standing for God (1 Kings 19:4).
And, of course, what greater trauma is there than Jesus’ crucifixion?
However, the beauty that lies within the Word of God is that it gives us divine solutions for this trauma. We need to pray, seek the Lord and engage professional support to navigate the new landscape of traumas that impacts our modern lives
Trauma-informed care is an approach to mental health that acknowledges the effects of trauma on individuals and seeks to offer a supportive environment that fosters comprehensive healing. Whether caused by personal loss, injustice―or the chaos of the digital world, trauma deeply affects how people engage with their communities—and with their faith.
For many Black Americans who experience trauma or mental health issues, prayer is often the first action they take to alleviate pain. Furthermore, only about 25% of Black Americans are likely to seek professional mental health support. This means churches and faith leaders serving Black communities must be uniquely prepared to understand trauma, its expressions, and how they can provide the right support.
Developing a Trauma-Informed Church and Employing Healing-Centered Engagement
Nearly everyone who enters the church has experienced trauma, so church leadership must be able to engage with people in a healing way that acknowledges their pain and their progress. To truly be a place of refuge, places of worship must actively work to recognize the hidden pain that many congregants bring with them.
A trauma-informed church works to:
- create safe physical and digital spaces for all
- provides compassionate leadership, and
- offers dedicated healing ministries
Without a trauma-informed lens, it may seem like these attributes are native to every church experience. However, consider this: for some worshippers, church service itself can be a trigger. For instance, a veteran suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder might be triggered by the loud music and exclamations of praise that are the hallmark of certain congregations, while another individual might find themselves triggered by sermons or songs about death, grief, or resurrection that bring up overwhelming emotions and memories of personal loss.
Next, from a trauma-informed foundation, churches can begin to place healing-centered engagement into practice. Healing-centered engagement is a practice that emphasizes collective healing from trauma that can be especially helpful for spaces like church. It’s a form of healing that leans on potentially cultural practices and spiritual beliefs and acknowledges the fact that healing happens best in a community where people feel supported, understood, and connected.
The Role of Social Media and the Importance of Engaging Our Youth
Our youth are facing unprecedented challenges and assaults to their physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. In addition to adverse experiences they may encounter throughout their upbringing, research shows that teens who use social media for just three hours a day are twice as likely to experience negative mental health outcomes.
However, despite them carrying a heavy load, they are also one of the most receptive populations when it comes to mental health awareness. In addition, social media can be a powerful tool for churches and faith leaders to reach young populations and counteract some of the negativity.
Digital trauma, or trauma that is inflicted in virtual spaces, includes things like cyberbullying, emotional abuse, and exposure to traumatic content (like footage of school shootings). To provide trauma-informed care in the digital space, the Church must be intentional about how it engages online – especially with its youngest members.
Churches can be stewards of safe digital spaces by:
- moderating their digital spaces carefully
- providing resources for trauma and mental health
- responding to digital trauma
- inviting youth and other digital users to engage in person
One of the most successful programs we have offered at Alliance for Greater Works has been the #Stay Woke Mental Health Youth Summit. During this free event, we hosted over 150 youth ages 12-18 from partnering churches to come and share their thoughts and struggles in a safe, open, trauma-informed environment. Rather than shirk away from the in-person interaction, the young people who participated found the interaction refreshing and remarked that the opportunity for healing in community with others was something they looked forward to in our increasingly digitally focused world.
The Future of Trauma-Informed Ministry
At Alliance for Greater Works, we have spent the last three years intensively working with churches and faith leaders, helping to spread the good word of trauma-informed ministry and healing-centered engagement.
Trauma-informed ministries are vibrant and nurturing spaces, and for churches committed to guiding the next generation through its trials while caring for the whole person, we believe that training, fellowship, and collaboration with other institutions are essential.
When considering the first step in building a trauma-informed church, pastors and faith leaders should start by addressing the individuals they see in the mirror. We at Alliance for Greater Works believe that the education and training of church leadership in trauma-informed care is the key to a healed, whole and thriving congregation.
It is with that spirit that I invite pastors and faith-based leaders to join the Alliance for Greater Works by applying to be part of our 2025 Resilient Church Collective.
As part of this one-year program, you will:
- support faith leaders in healing others, and themselves
- gain knowledge on trauma and the signs and symptoms of trauma
- make space for self-reflection and personal improvement
- be part of a network of churches dedicated to supporting their congregants and the Black communities they’re a part of.
Together, we can build a flourishing church that is a true refuge for all who seek healing. To learn more and apply, visit allianceforgreaterworks.org today.
About Sherrye Willis
Sherrye Willis is the founder and president of Alliance for Greater Works, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering marginalized communities and creating systemic change. With over 30 years of experience as an executive, author, speaker, and coach, she equips leaders with the skills to transform under-resourced areas. Sherrye is also a doctoral candidate, focusing on leadership development for multigenerational women of color.