Truth Trauma Theology

We have more insights and resources for emotional and spiritual health than ever before, yet it takes one look at the headlines―and even our own lives―to see that true depth of character is still lacking. From the broken trust in the highest political, corporate, and ecclesial offices in the land to the broken places in our own hearts, we’re facing a profound unveiling. How can we ever really know who to count on? How do we make sense of it all? And in a day of quick comebacks and empty apologies, how does slow and lasting change take place?It won’t be easy, but it will be sacred. Combining rich cultural analysis with pastoral and psychological wisdom, therapist and professor Chuck DeGroat invites us beyond techniques and tactics to offer a revolutionary, hopeful new guide for building the internal and external architecture for deep and sustaining character change.In Who You’re Becoming, we’ll:gently confront the ways we’ve traded character for charisma, formation for information, communion for control, discipleship for displaythink clearly and carefully about how Christlike character grows and matures―in our personal lives, parenting, church and spiritual formation processes, even educational spacesexplore new discoveries in psychology and neurobiology that reveal how character breaks down―and how it can be rebuiltengage ancient and contemporary processes and practices that cultivate strong friendships, grounded leaders, connected marriages, healthy systems, anchored identity, and creative workThe temptation to posture is strong, but the invitation of Christ is deeper still. It’s an invitation not to perform, but to become ourselves: rooted, ripened, and resilient in a fractured and fragmented world.Follow on Social MediaInstagram: @chuckdegroat Facebook: @chuck.degroat X: @chuckdegroat Substack: @chuckdegroat YouTube: SoulCareCollaborative Website: https://www.chuckdegroat.net/

Understanding spiritual abuse and trauma is one thing―knowing how to move forward is another. Survivors are often left unsure how to reconnect with God, their soul, or to community. Anything associated with their prior spiritual practice―attending worship, prayer, reading Scripture, participating in Christian community―becomes a trigger for reliving their abuse. How do we restore health and wholeness and rebuild our faith when our spiritual life feels painful?You don’t have to force your faith or abandon it altogether. There is a sacred space in between―unhurried and gracious―where the shattered pieces of your soul can be gathered into wholeness by the love, compassion, and gentleness of the Divine.In her debut book, The Shattered Soul, trauma therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor Colleen Ramser journeys with survivors as an empathetic companion on the path to recovery from spiritual trauma and abuse. Through expert knowledge and her own vulnerable story of reconnecting to her faith after abuse, readers will come to understand how to:become aware of instances of spiritual abuse and spiritual trauma in your storysee how the impact of spiritual trauma on your body and soul hinders your capacity to experience God, others, and your faithovercome the silence that keeps you debilitated and stuck in your thoughts and emotionssoften the guarded parts of your soul to experience connection within, with God, and community in safe waysunderstand the relational dynamics that made you vulnerable to prevent future riskuse practical tools and direction to help begin the process of healing your trauma and reconnecting to your soul and your faithRestoration is possible. In the pages of this book, discover how to truly reclaim an authentic and embodied faith in Christ.Colleen Ramser, MA, is an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor (LPC), speaker, and writer who meets Christ followers at the intersection of trauma and faith. She is a sought-after trauma specialist—particularly on issues of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, and complex trauma—and she has spent years journeying with souls in the church and within the scope of her clinic practice. Colleen also frequently speaks to pastors, ministry leaders, organizations, and other mental health professionals who desire to help survivors individually and to address systemic harm. She has appeared on podcasts such as The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and The Slow Work. As a survivor of trauma, Colleen is a compassionate witness on the journey, bringing not only her clinical expertise but also a deep knowing of dark nights and the breath of new mercies. Colleen lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband and two kids and enjoys being swallowed up by God's beautiful landscapes and catching a good pun.

In Freely Sober, Ericka Andersen invites Christian women to reconsider their relationship with alcohol from a posture of honesty, curiosity, and self-compassion, offering empowering knowledge and trusted recovery principles for those curious about sobriety or seeking a way out of a habitual or destructive relationship with alcohol.Andersen vulnerably shares her own story of sobriety, reflecting on how her private drinking habits began impacting her faith and life. Through her honest account, she opens the door for sober curious women of faith to explore their drinking patterns and see clearly to choose what's best for them.Freely Sober features:Practical Tools for Growth: Includes reflection questions, action steps, and assessments designed to help listeners see alcohol more clearlyFaith-Based Guidance: Invites listeners to draw closer to God in their sobriety journeys, leaning on the Holy Spirit and a supportive community for encouragement and accountabilityAccessible for a Variety of Stages: Great for those who are sober curious, questioning their habits, or who want to dig deeper into how alcohol affects their life and faithInterview Outline:What exactly does it mean to “sober curious”? What eventually led you to stop drinking? What motivated you to write about the topic now, including countless articles and of course the new book, Freely Sober? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than twelve million American women struggle with alcohol in some way. Why do you think the struggle with alcohol is so often seen as a man’s problem? Why do Christians often avoid talking about the struggle with drinking? What is the first step to changing one’s relationships with alcohol? What mindsets or myths often get in the way of women making changes, or even talking about their struffle alcohol? Which questions do you lay out for women to consider with regard to alcohol? Why are these important? Loaded question--should Christian's drink alcohol at all? How did alcohol impact your spiritual life? How has your life changed since you changed your relationship with alcohol? Ericka Andersen is a journalist whose writing has appeared in Christianity Today, World Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. She is the author of Leaving Cloud 9 and Reason to Return: Why Women Need the Church and the Church Needs Women. She lives with her husband and two children in Indianapolis, Indiana.Follow Ericka on Social Media:Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ericka_andersen/?hl=en

Leadership that begins from within.MetaForge Leadership invites you to discover how God shapes faithful leaders from the inside out. This is not a book about strategies or church models. It is a call to understand and engage in the inner transformation required to lead with depth, conviction, and lasting faith.Why did you write this book?The first section entitled “Forged on the Inside” deals with the interior life of a leader, why is this important?The second section “Forged in the field-How you lead” deals with the over leadership approaches. Explain the concept of “Low Man Wins”?In the third section “Forged for the Long Haul-How You Last” you talk about liminal seasons, can you explain this further?Johnny Rivera draws from over twenty years of ministry to help leaders confront the pressures, temptations, and fatigue that come with the role. With biblical insight and hard-earned wisdom, he reminds us of a sobering truth: You can preach to others and still be disqualified yourself.This book will help you stay grounded when results are slow, stay humble as your impact grows, and stay faithful when no one is watching. If you want to lead from a place of strength, not just skill, and finish the race with your soul intact, MetaForge Leadership offers a trusted guide for the journey.Johnny Rivera is a pastor, coach, and author who has spent over two decades helping leaders grow from the inside out. A Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican, Johnny brings street-level grit and spiritual depth to his leadership, blending biblical wisdom with raw honesty and practical experience. He serves as an evangelist and elder of the Central Jersey Church of Christ and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Christian Spirituality.Johnny is the founder of MetaForge Leadership, a coaching ministry that equips leaders to lead with integrity, resilience, and soul. When he’s not writing or mentoring, you can find him walking through life with his wife of 30 years and enjoying life with their two adult kids, or quietly listening for God in the spaces most people rush past.

The biblical call to "love your neighbor" echoes through centuries, yet remains one of Christianity's most profound and challenging practices. In this innovative synthesis of practical theology and psychological science, professors Katherine M. Douglass and Brittany M. Tausen bring ancient wisdom from Scripture and cutting-edge research into a conversation that can revolutionize how you build meaningful connections.Pulling from their respective areas of expertise, Douglass and Tausen illuminate the psychological pathways and spiritual practices that activate neighbor love. Through engaging stories and evidence-based insights, they reveal why human connection often faltersand provide actionable strategies to overcome these barriers.Each chapter pairs illuminating research with practical exercises that readers can implement immediately, creating ripples of connection that extend far beyond their immediate circles. Love Your Neighbor doesn't just explain the biblical commandit empowers you to live it. Ideal for personal growth, small groups, or community-wide initiatives, this essential resource will help you love better and cultivate more Christlike ways of living in community.Katherine M. Douglass is associate professor of educational ministry and practical theology at Seattle Pacific University. She is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Her research interests include the role that the arts play in faith, confirmation as a rite of passage, ministry with marginalized youth, and religious socialization in the home.Brittany M. Tausen is assistant professor of social psychology in the Honors College at Baylor University where she teaches in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core. Her research focuses primarily on ways to reduce dehumanization, enhance neighbor love, and cultivate virtue so that loving intentions more readily manifest in loving actions.

Whether you're a pastor, counselor, church leader, or someone who has been hurt by the church, Traumatized Church—written jointly by New Testament scholar Scot McKnight and therapist Adrienne Gibson—will help you on the road to healing and understanding. From understanding the symptoms of trauma in today's church members to providing actionable steps to foster safety, trust, support, collaboration, and empowerment, this book creates a roadmap for healing. Scot and Adrienne dive deeply into the realities of trauma—how it impacts individuals, communities, and ministries—Traumatized Church pairs theological insights with counseling expertise to guide readers through the four R's of trauma care: Realize, Recognize, Respond, and Resist. A compassionate and practical framework to address the wounds of trauma and learn how to develop churches as trauma-informed spaces. McKnight examines the life of the apostle Paul and his complex relationship with the Corinthian church, offering biblical wisdom from Paul's life that helps us shape a renewed response to trauma within the church today. Gibson relates stories of real experiences, practical advice, and scripturally grounded therapy insights to encourage a Kingdom-minded approach to community, rooted in love and restoration rather than re-traumatization. If you're ready to transform your understanding of trauma and begin building spaces of redemption, Traumatized Church is an essential resource for your ministry or personal growth. Together, we can create churches that reflect Christ's healing and compassion. Scot McKnight (PhD, Nottingham) has been a Professor of New Testament for more than four decades. He is the author of more than ninety books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed as well as The King Jesus Gospel, A Fellowship of Differents, One. Life, The Blue Parakeet, Revelation for the Rest of Us, and Kingdom Conspiracy. Adrienne Gibson is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), clinical supervisor for the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE), and the owner of Valor Counseling. She has been licensed for over two decades, working with children, families, and adults, and has served as a clinical supervisor and clinical director for two large community based mental health agencies in Arizona and Oregon. She has master’s degrees in counseling and New Testament. She regularly speaks on the topic of trauma and healing and consults with denominations on implementing trauma-informed care practices.

BK (Alfredo Valentin) is an urban apologist who focuses on providing apologetics, which is the defense of a religious or philosophical belief, specifically in the context of urban environments. someone who specifically addresses the questions, concerns, and objections of people living in urban areas, and presents the Christian faith in a way that is relevant and meaningful to them.Tell about your ministry and why you decided to become an Urban Apologist?Why do believe it is important that Christians understand the law and the OT?There are many groups that say Christians are still required to follow the Mosaic Law, give us a basic overview of how the law is fulfilled in Christ.How can people prepare themselves to engage with these various perspective.

Transform Your Suffering with Tools from Theology, Psychology, and Spiritual FormationWe don’t like pain.So, we find creative ways to go around it. We try to ignore, minimize, or deny our suffering, but we're stillleft hurting. The twisting and defiling work of sin on this world is overwhelming and shatters our assumptions about ourselves and our place in the world. And yet, the path forward is through suffering. Our afflictions present an opportunity to encounter God and allow him to redeem our suffering.Drawing on six years of research, When the Journey Hurts untangles common misconceptions about suffering, instead helping you find meaning in it. The authors integrate theology, psychology, and spiritual formation to provide actionable steps and tools that teach you how to suffer well in relationship with God and others.This book introduces seven key practices to help you uncover meaning in your suffering, equipping you toengage with suffering in a healthy, faithful way:Identifying with Christ's sufferingLamentSurrenderForgivenessGratitudeMemento mori (remembering our mortality)Weaving our storyof suffering into God's storyThese practices are supported by both theological insights and psychological research, providing a unique approach to navigating suffering. Rather than diminishing the weight of your pain, this book is designed to help you transform suffering into an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper connection with God. With When the Journey Hurts, you'll find that your pain can lead you closer to Jesus.Jason McMartin is professor of theology at Biola University. He has served as an urban missionary and also as a bi-vocational pastor.Kelly M. Kapic holds the Honorary Chair of Theology and Culture at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Kapic has also worked on research teams funded by the John Templeton Foundation. He is an author or editor of more than fifteen books, including the award-winning titles You’re Only Human and Embodied Hope, and is an active speaker.Dr. Liz Hall is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, in La Mirada, California. For the past decade, she has led a team exploring the resources Christianity offers during difficult times. She coauthored Relational Spirituality with her husband, Todd, and has published over 150 academic works.

With wisdom and deep empathy, a seasoned chaplain reminds listeners of God’s steadfast, loving presence in their lives.When life turns upside down, the world's cruelty can feel crippling. Unexpected and devastating news like a diagnosis, betrayal, or layoff can make God feel distant—or nonexistent. It's natural to wonder where God is and whether he cares at all. Those who face trials need a reminder that God is still for them.Bob Page, retired Air Force brigadier general, offers ten reasons to persevere in faith and move toward a life of renewed hope and purpose. God Is Still for You invites listeners to sit with a battle-seasoned chaplain, who knows firsthand how painful life can be, and ask the hard questions. With decades of experience in active duty, Bob personally understands how dark it can feel to believe God is absent.Each chapter highlights Scripture, contains real-life stories, and ends with a clear statement of why the listener can be sure that God is still for them. With biblical truth, fresh and compelling retellings of Bible stories, and a wise and personal writing style, Bob will guide listeners to find hope.

In The Hallway Miracle, Cara shares a story of personal transformation shaped by early antisemitic bullying and a lifelong wariness of Christians. Years later, she finds herself working at an elementary school as the only Jewish staff member among Christian coworkers, uncertain what genuine faith truly looks like.Set during the fall of 2002, as sniper attacks bring fear into everyday life across the Washington, D.C., area, the memoir unfolds against a backdrop of heightened anxiety and uncertainty. When a student is killed at a nearby school, the fragile sense of safety disappears.Blending personal reflection with historical tension, The Hallway Miracle explores anxiety, identity, and faith. Through a small but unexpected moment involving a desk calendar devotional, a handful of M&M’s, and a powerful prayer, Cara encounters a moment of grace that reverberates far beyond the hallway where it begins.Written with honesty and sensitivity, this book will resonate with readers who carry complicated questions about faith and long to see what belief looks like when it is lived out with quiet authenticity.Cara Shine is a retired award-winning elementary school teacher with a passion for encouragement, anxiety management, and “bridge building” between the Old and New Testament through her Jewish background. When she isn’t busy with her work as a lay pastor and ministry coordinator, Cara and her husband, Jeff, enjoy trying to beat their daughter, Emma, and her husband, Matthew, at Pickleball whenever they have a chance. They rarely succeed, but darned if they don’t keep trying! Her faith story, The Hallway Miracle, will reignite your compassion for those around you and remind you that even in the darkest hours, God can turn ashes into something beautiful.