If churches are fulfilling their missions, they will be reaching out to people
who have problems, Jim Young emphasized recently.
If churches are fulfilling their missions, they will be reaching out to people
who have problems, Jim Young emphasized recently.
And that means they will be opening themselves up to a variety
of possible crises, added Young, director of the Center for Community Ministries
of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
A “crisis” is any traumatic event in which people
are beyond their normal ability to cope, Young explained during a recent Southern
Baptist conference on helping churches deal with such events. The “Churches
and Crisis” conference was sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of
the Southern Baptist Conference.
Youngs definition encompasses events such as the September
11 terrorist attacks on America. However, it also covers a variety of possible
situations, he indicated.
“If you have two people, there is a potential for crisis,”
the Texas Baptist worker explained. “When you get three or more people,
the odds go way up.”
Since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, people
have become more conscious of the potential for crises around them, Young said.
“Never say, It cant happen here.”
he stressed. “It can. Even Jesus said that in the world, you will have
tribulation.
“He tells us crises will happen.”
Young said that while people may not be able to anticipate
traumatic events, they still can develop some fundamental plans for the unimaginable.
For instance, using the example of a church weekday school
program, he asked conference participants to imagine they have a student in
the program whose father comes to the school drunk or on drugs to pick up his
child.
“He demands you give him his child, but you know it isnt
safe, so you refuse,” Young proposed. “Then, the dad pulls a gun,
and you have a hostage situation. What do you do?”
While anyone would like to think a situation like that never
would happen, Young emphasized that it could.
“You must have a plan of action,” he said. “Think
about the worst things you can imagine, and then, think about how you would
deal with it.”
Young said plans need to be in place, and everyone associated
with the church program or ministry in question needs to be aware of them.
“(And) When you are working with someone in a crisis situation,
never be afraid to point that person back to Christ,” he added. “They
may say they dont even think Christ is there right then, but even that
points them back to him.”
Taking into account churches roles as ministers to children,
Young pointed out that a childs reaction to trauma depends a great deal
on his caregivers reaction.
“When the caregivers security level is down, the
child feels his stability and security are threatened,” he explained. (See
accompanying article)
“We all function on a sliding scale of security,” Young said. “What
one person handles well, another might have a problem dealing with.” (BP
Take care to help children cope with life events, worker says
A Baptist leader recently offered tips for helping children cope with crises,
including the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.
Jim Young reviewed eight tips at a recent Southern Baptist
conference. The director of the Center for Community Ministries of the Baptist
General Convention of Texas, urged parents and workers with children to:
Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.
Love and care is a primary need, Young said. Time should be spent to let children
know that someone will care for them and, if parents are survivors, that they
have reassumed roles as protector and nurturer. Physical closeness is key.
Talk with children about the tragedy and address
the irrationality and suddenness of disaster. Children need to be allowed to
vent their feelings, as do adults, and they have a similar need to have those
feelings validated, Young said. Activities that offer children time to paint,
draw or write about a situation may be useful.
Be prepared to tolerate regressive behaviors
and accept the manifestation of aggression and anger, especially in the early
phases after the tragedy.
Be prepared for children to talk sporadically
about the event, spending small segments of time concentrating on particular
aspects of the tragedy.
Provide children with factual information and
allow them to discuss their theories about what happened so they can begin to
master the trauma and reassert control over their environment.
Since kids often are reluctant to initiate conversations
about traumas, it may be helpful to ask what they think other children felt
or thought about the event.
Reaffirm the future and talk in hopeful terms
about future events. This can help children rebuild trust and faith in their
own futures and in the world, Young said. Unfortunately, parental despair often
interferes with a childs ability to recover.
Address death issues concretely. (BP)