ACCTS Military Trauma Healing Ministry

Military service to one’s country can be an honorable profession with many gains and losses. Among the gains are great friendships and equipping for life. However, some of those experiences can cause deep suffering that lasts a long time. This suffering, called trauma, makes us feel like a different person than we were before we joined the military.

ACCTS Military Trauma Healing team facilitates trauma healing groups to help people recover from trauma and loss associated with military service. Each team member is certified by the American Bible Society’s Trauma Healing Institute and has military experience and/or experience in ministering to military family members.

Basics of military trauma healing ministry within ACCTS: 

We facilitate biblically-based topical discussions and activities. These are not a classes, but are participatory. They can be used by military Christian fellowships to equip their members, to help participants develop wisdom for leadership, and for personal healing. We cover 8 core topics to learn what the Bible says while applying best mental health practices to find hope.  

• Session 1 - What is a wound of the heart (what is trauma)?
• Session 2 - Moral Injury (What if we’ve acted against our values?) 
• Session 3 - If God loves us, why do we suffer? 
• Session 4 - What can help our heart wounds heal? 
• Session 5 - What happens when someone is grieving? (Unhealthy vs. healthy grieving) 
• Session 6 - Bringing our Pain to the Cross 
• Session 7 - How can we forgive? 
• Session 8 - Looking Back and Looking Forward with Resilience   

In addition, we offer biblically-based mini-lessons for discussion.

Mini-lesson options:

• Moral Injury
• How can we help children affected by war? 
• Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault 
• Addictions 
• Suicide 
• Caring for Caregivers 
• Domestic Abuse   

For more information contact: Anne Gabel or Emanuela Haien

Helpful links:

• Reboot Recovery
• Free Downloadable Resources from Trauma Healing Institute 
• Trauma Healing Institute Events 
• Welcome Home Initiative