Only God can turn the victims of war into the instruments of revival.
When our founder was beginning the ministry in Northern Uganda, she first called the American embassy in that region in order to coordinate her first steps. The phone call is memorable. The representative reminded her that Northern Uganda was Joseph Kony’s territory (terrorist rebel in the late 80s through the early 2000s) and that they STRONGLY suggested she not go. She responded, “Is this a suggestion or an order?” “It’s a strong suggestion. If you insist on going, we will cross you off the list,” they said. “What does that mean?” she asked. “There is no chance for you to return to [the US] except in a body bag,” they quipped.
Volatility has always been a factor wherever we have gone. In the beginning, our landscape was fraught with war. Now, it’s war, gang life, and much more. Favor’s Trauma Counseling ministry began during the war with the LRA in northern Uganda and post-war national recovery to see God bring healing and hope. Though founded in biblical curriculum and implementation, the services and healing we offer to traumatized communities are not always presented as a “religious” function, but as a two-week process that works.
During the time spent with our team in trauma counseling, participants learn about the love of Jesus demonstrated for them on the Cross, and receive His forgiveness, prayer, and more emotional healing with the whole group. People learn to extend forgiveness and be emotionally healthy people to their families and other relations.
The original Trauma Counseling curriculum we use was written by believing Christian psychologists from Australia, was peer-reviewed through publications at Boston University, and for many years has been adapted and contextualized for the many people groups we serve throughout South Sudan and Uganda.
Favor has discovered an immense demand and need for trauma counseling, as both nations from top to bottom has experienced brutal oppression and injustice in generations of civil war. We are working at great speed to bring trauma counseling to many contexts. We have hosted reconciliation meetings between tribes with continuous violent raids. In South Sudan, we are bringing counseling to the military units throughout the young nation.
These experiences have left individuals with behavioral symptoms indicative of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has made reintegration into communities difficult. Many extend their behavior into the community which in turn perpetuates trauma with the family and community. Our trauma program provides counselors who have intensive training to provide care and experience breaking the ongoing cycle of hurt, anger and retribution.
