Truth Trauma Theology

When Karen Sjoblom relocated to her Midwest birthplace after her daughter left for college, she anticipated exciting possibilities. Instead, she found herself on an unexpected pilgrimage through past trauma, family fractures, and rigid generational expectations. That’s when she discovered she’d have to cross through a wilderness of pain if she wanted to reach her own promised land.
Mirroring the biblical Exodus in which the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt—a place familiar but enslaving—Sjoblom’s reflections on her healing journey illumine the unique losses, lies, and failings we can stumble on, especially at midlife. And yet, they also point to healthier beliefs, relationships, and possibilities to carry us forward.
With humor, hope, and hard-won wisdom, Gone for Goodwill help you:

• Understand the healing reasons for your desert seasons
• Trust that God is a good guide who wants to redeem your pain
• Walk in authentic freedom from the pain of what’s been to the promise of what might be

Sjoblom poignantly captures the exhilaration of new beginnings, the longing for what’s left behind, the grief over our wandering years, and the truths required to leave “Egypt” behind. A good God does indeed allow hard journeys, but there’s redemption on the other side: renewed trust in his character, freedom from the past, and knowledge that it’s never too late to embark on a soul-healing expedition. As Sjoblom demonstrates, when we stay with the lessons until the lessons are learned, God enables us to release our wounds and losses so they’re gone—for good.

For more information about Karen visit https://www.karensjoblom.com

Let the Awkward Conversations Begin!
Adaeze and Chad―two different people, two different backgrounds―both brought a lot of baggage into their relationship. Adaeze, a black Nigerian American woman who has lived with racism and discrimination her entire life. Chad, a white man with a family from the South who mostly grew up in white spaces. Determined to learn to communicate honestly and effectively, they stepped into tough conversations about their differences. Walls came down and Adaeze and Chad discovered the trust and respect they could have in and for each other. White Boy/Black Girl is an open-handed invitation from Adaeze and Chad to learn:

• Why trying to be the “perfect” Black or white person can’t be the goal
• How to attempt to get it right when you’re terrified of getting it wrong
• What to do when you’re feeling uncomfortable, defensive, or misunderstood
• That repair is possible even when you’ve flat-out stepped in it
• The importance of surrendering our pain and prejudice to the redemptive work of Jesus

Adaeze and Chad provide a safe space for us to eavesdrop on some of the most vulnerable conversations they’ve had about their differences. Their candid and honest back and forth gives us common, usable language to meet each other where we’re at. The path to empathy and understanding isn’t easy―but they promise you, it’s always worth it.

Let the Awkward Conversations Begin!
Adaeze and Chad―two different people, two different backgrounds―both brought a lot of baggage into their relationship. Adaeze, a black Nigerian American woman who has lived with racism and discrimination her entire life. Chad, a white man with a family from the South who mostly grew up in white spaces. Determined to learn to communicate honestly and effectively, they stepped into tough conversations about their differences. Walls came down and Adaeze and Chad discovered the trust and respect they could have in and for each other. White Boy/Black Girl is an open-handed invitation from Adaeze and Chad to learn:

• Why trying to be the “perfect” Black or white person can’t be the goal
• How to attempt to get it right when you’re terrified of getting it wrong
• What to do when you’re feeling uncomfortable, defensive, or misunderstood
• That repair is possible even when you’ve flat-out stepped in it
• The importance of surrendering our pain and prejudice to the redemptive work of Jesus

Adaeze and Chad provide a safe space for us to eavesdrop on some of the most vulnerable conversations they’ve had about their differences. Their candid and honest back and forth gives us common, usable language to meet each other where we’re at. The path to empathy and understanding isn’t easy―but they promise you, it’s always worth it.

If you’re a survivor of sexual harm, recovering your sexuality is possible. You are worthy of good care.
The toxic effects of sexual trauma and abuse can be devastating and lasting. Victims’ ability to experience healthy sexuality, even if they free themselves from the abuse, is often shattered.
If sexual abuse, violence, or coercive control is part of your story, certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT) and trauma specialist Tabitha Westbrook wants you to know: you are not alone, and healing is possible. In Body & Soul, Healed & Whole,Tabitha draws on her specialized expertise, her own personal story of abuse, and a deep knowledge of Scripture to create a safe and compassionate place for you to start recovering – or even finding - the healthy sexuality God intended for you.
With honest wisdom and empathetic understanding, Body & Soul, Healed & Whole will help you discover how to:

• process your story of abuse―whether it occurred as a child, within marriage, or by someone in a position of power―without shame,
• develop healthy relationships with God, with ourselves, and with others (including those of the opposite sex),
• reconnect with your good body and establish a foundation for healthy sexuality, whether currently married or single,
• identify and address any spiritual abuse that may have taken place within sexually abusive relationships,
• understand what arousal structures are, how they’re formed and distorted by abuse, and how to shift them when needed for healing, and
• incorporate practical skills for self-care during your healing process.

Sexuality does not have to be forever broken. Rest assured in a God who understands and loves you in the deepest of deep ways―and begin your journey toward wholeness, restoration and healing.

Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT-S, LCMHC-QS, LPC-S, is a licensed therapist who helps people who have messy, funky pasts (and sometimes messy, funky presents) live amazing, empowered lives today. Tabitha graduated with her BA in Psychology from NC Central University & her MA in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. In addition to being a licensed counselor & supervisor, Tabitha is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist & Approved Consultant, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), & Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider (CCTCP). She’s also certified in Immediate Stabilization Protocol (ISP), an evidence-based disaster response protocol.

She’s the Founder & CEO of The Journey and The Process, a private practice with offices in North Carolina & Texas, specializing in complex trauma, with a focus on domestic abuse & coercive control. Tabitha is a nationally known expert & speaker on abuse, providing training to churches, therapists, & agencies. She also helps train domestic abuse advocates through Called to Peace Ministries’ faith-based advocacy training, as well as having served as a co-facilitator for the G5 Men’s Batterer Intervention Group. Tabitha is the author of Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control.

Tabitha is the proud mom to an adult son and currently lives in Dallas, TX.

It's time for church leaders and believers to stop offering prettily packaged responses from a safe distance. It's time for us to sit in the ashes with the hurting, our Sunday clothes covered in dirt and grime, our faces lined with tears. Trauma brings people to the ash heap, so that is where the church needs to go.

The church should serve as a refuge for people in pain. And yet, we often end up unintentionally causing more hurt to trauma survivors. Theological platitudes and positive thinking aren't simply dismissive to those who suffer, but they inevitably retraumatize the wounded. Does the Bible have anything practical to offer for church leaders as they engage the pain in their congregations?

Biblical scholar Michelle Keener shows us that the book of Job provides embodied and practical answers for the church today. In this incredible tool for ministry leaders and trauma survivors alike, Keener offers:

• deep wisdom at the intersection of trauma theory and the book of Job for Christian communities
• reflection questions for ministry practitioners and those walking alongside those who have experienced trauma
• engagement with the idea of a shattered worldview and how to overcome the effects of that experience.

Comfort in the Ashes helps leaders navigate their own trauma and gives practical guidance for supporting others whose worlds are falling apart. God meets us in our ashes and our pain. It's time for the church to do the same.

1. You define trauma as a response to an event and not the event itself. Why is it important that events are not defined as trauma?

2. In your book, you reference Judith’s Herman’s Three Stages of Recovery. What is it and why did you use Herman’s concept?

3. On page 49-51 you mention how it is common for people to present with Denial, Avoidance, and Shock as a standard

response. However, this can lead friends and family to confuse their presentation with maturity or faithfulness, can you share more about that?

4. In several places you insightfully point to the inner conflict of Job’s friends. How does trauma challenge our ordinary

assumptions of how the world works? Can you also say more

about The Retribution Principle?

5. Toward the end of the book you mention how God comes to Job in his ashes. Why is this important for those who are desperate for hope?

6. You mention the art of Kintsugi, how can this concept help us understand the trauma healing process?

Migrant God takes readers to the front lines of immigrant justice activism where Christians are putting hope into action.

From Tijuana, Mexico, to Douglas, Arizona, across North Carolina and beyond, Isaac Villegas cuts a new path through worn-out talking points and bears witness to loving solidarity among Christians—both with and without US citizenship. Along the way, he offers a theologically astute and politically rich vision of beloved community.

Centering the stories of people who have been transformed through their dedication to the work of collective wholeness, Villegas begins each chapter “on the ground”—with protests in the streets, hospitality in migrant shelters, and shared meals in home kitchens. He then engages in biblical, theological, and political reflection to explore the significance—for our faith and our world—of these sites of collective work. Migrant God is a stirring read for anyone who wants to shift conversations about immigration toward a more holistic Christian vision of life lived in solidarity with migrants.

1. Why are political discussions about immigrants so polarizing?

Common phrases used to describe the issue are “broken immigration system" and "the crisis at the border”. What are some things to consider when thinking about it this way?

2. In the book you share a story about being arrested after a standoff with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Why was it important for you to participate in the standoff?

3. How do you lead the reader from the horrors of the border’s violence toward a Christ centered way to thinking?

4. How can the realities of immigration shape our understanding of God?

5. Is a Christian to live in solidarity with immigrants? What does this look like?

Isaac Samuel Villegas is an ordained minister in the Mennonite Church USA who is involved in the work of community organizing and activism for immigrant justice. He is also a columnist for The Christian Century and Anabaptist World. 

In a world that prizes hustle and constant productivity, breaking the habit of hurry can seem far-fetched, and yet we still try to achieve it with life hacks to get more sleep and increase energy. But self-help strategies are not the solution to our exhaustion problem.

Today I’ve invited Eryn Lynum on for a discussion regarding her new book The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach us Sabbath Living.

Eryn Lynum is author of the book 936 Pennies, and has been featured on FamilyLife Today radio and the Simply Wholehearted podcast, as well as at Proverbs 31 Ministries, MOPS International, and For Every Mom. She lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and four children.

In this six-week Bible study, you'll explore the deep roots of rest found in Scripture and the outdoors while unearthing attainable rest for everyday life. Through nature reflections, scriptural word studies, and guided journaling prompts, you will learn how to

• return to God's original pattern of rest and work
• turn seasons of waiting into restful growth
• experience daily rest through selah pauses
• practice Sabbath in a way that fits your lifestyle
• live every day in God's restful presence

Donna Pisani, a pastor and Bible teacher with forty years of ministry experience, has a game-changing message for women leaders: the One who loves you most is cheering you on, has given you a voice, and already has a seat at the table waiting for you.

A practical tool for women who are called to leadership roles in any area of life, Entrusted to Lead offers biblical insight and real-life encouragement for how to navigate their leadership journey.
 
In Entrusted to Lead, Pastor Donna Pisani draws on over four decades of experience to offer a biblical perspective of women in leadership that considers their role an entrusted assignment rather than just an entitled position. Women who wrestle with God’s call to lead, or who don’t have anyone supporting their call, will discover how to:
  

• Embrace their God-given, unique leadership gifts 
• Become alert to the internal lies that make them hesitant to pursue their calling 
• Answer Jesus’ mandate to women to “go tell”—even when no one seems to be listening 
• Understand how Paul empowered both genders to lead and serve together 
• Lean into Jesus’ strength when facing leadership challenges

Generations of confusion keep women from answering God’s call to lead, depriving God’s kingdom of crucial gifts and abilities. Entrusted to Lead shows women what it looks like to lead with confidence in the workplace and in ministry—and why Jesus always wanted women to have a seat at the table.

Donna Pisani is a pastor and Bible teacher with forty years of ministry experience. The author of The Power of Not Yet, she has aMaster of Arts in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University and a DMin from George Fox University focusing on women in leadership.

Donna cofounded Capital City Church alongside herhusband and she is a cofounder of the Circle of Twelve, a mentoringprogram for women leaders. Her family includes four adult children,two son-in-laws, and two adorable grandchildren.

Like many people today, Jeff Mikels is concerned by the evangelical church’s embrace of cultural and political idols. Unlike many people, however, Mikels is a former evangelical pastor who regrets his complicity in this trend. 

Evangelical Idolatry: How Pastors Like Me Have Failed the People of God is both a confession and a call to repentance. Reflecting on his twenty-year pastoral ministry with candor and humility, Mikels acknowledges the ways he enabled parishioners to develop destructive loyalties to cultural and political idols. As he works to reform his own worldview and embrace allegiance to Christ alone, he urges evangelical pastors and laypeople to join him in reforming their faith and living out the good news of the true gospel.

Jeff Mikels holds degrees from Wheaton College and Denver Seminary. He has overtwenty years of pastoral experience, leading a church in Chicago for five yearsbefore planting one in Lafayette, Indiana. There, he was involved in the Pastors’Alliance; he also helped establish the Greater Lafayette Gospel Association, which isa network of gospel-focused ministries, and served as its president.

What does Bible study look like after inerrancy? Do you have to give up studying Scripture when you no longer believe in its literal interpretation? Can you still believe this book is sacred even while renegotiating your relationship to the church? In Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis after Losing Faith in the Bible, Liz Charlotte Grant offers compelling answers to these questions and more in this deeply personal commentary on the book of Genesis.
 
Braiding together encounters with the natural world, Jewish midrash, and art criticism, Grant makes familiar Sunday school stories strange and offers a fresh vision for reading Scripture after deconstruction. For those who have known the book of Genesis as a weapon in the culture wars, Grant interprets the Bible’s inspired book of beginnings as a work of art. Lyrical, insightful, and highly original, Knock at the Sky offers readers a capacious model for seeking God through Scripture even as one’s faith continues to evolve.
 
“In this book, you too have permission to question the sacred without fearing . . . unbelief. Knock loudly. . . . Reject answers that do not admit complication. Seek the resonance at the base of the story. The seeking is the point. Because there, in your wandering, God is.”

About the Author

Liz Charlotte Grant is an award-winning essayist whose work has been published in The Revealer, Sojourners, Brevity, Christian Century, Christianity Today, Hippocampus, and elsewhere. She also writes The Empathy List, a popular newsletter that has been nominated for a Webby two years running. She lives in Colorado.