By Ryan Johnson, Special to the Baptist Message
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a pair of articles about how to share the Gospel with people who have experienced trauma.
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – Trauma-informed evangelism recognizes that behind many Gospel conversations lies a story of pain — and calls the messenger to respond not with pressure, but with patience, presence, and Spirit-led compassion.
Imagine two friends at a coffee shop. One, a slightly nervous Christian, has just lovingly shared the Good News. The other hesitates, eyes brimming: “I want to believe this is true… I really do. But I’ve been hurt so badly. Every time I’ve trusted someone—even Christians— it ended up breaking me.”
DISCERN THE MOMENT
In evangelism, we are laborers in God’s harvest fi eld (Luke 10:2), working alongside the Holy Spirit, whose unseen movement brings new birth (John 3:8). When trauma surfaces alongside a longing for peace, trauma-informed evangelism calls for discernment, pastoral sensitivity, and a non-intrusive presence–one that listens more than instructs, and invites rather than insists.
In our urgency to call people to repentance and faith in Christ, we must labor alongside the Holy Spirit to nurture genuine responses. Nurturing a trauma survivor toward salvation means using Scripture to reframe the Gospel as a message of both rescue and restoration; being sensitive to signs that trauma may have been triggered; and distinguishing between the faith decision to trust Christ and the longer journey of healing that follows.
REFRAME THE CONVERSATION
In trauma-informed evangelism, the messenger listens with compassion, identifies core wounds or fears, and thoughtfully uses Scripture to reframe the conversation—showing how Jesus enters those very places with healing, truth, and saving grace.
These passages serve as bridges—connecting the deep wounds in a person’s life with the healing truth of Christ.
— Isaiah 53:4a “Surely, He [the Suffering Servant — Jesus] has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Jesus enters the pain of trauma survivors, bearing what they were never meant to carry alone.
— Isaiah 61:1-3 declares that God heals the broken[1]hearted, gives liberty to the captive, anoints those who mourn with the oil of joy, and lifts the spirits of those burdened with heaviness. The Savior binds up what has been shattered, and plants hope where despair once grew.
— Romans 8:1a assures us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. ‑ e Gospel breaks the cycle of shame, declaring that in Christ, we are no longer defined by what we have done, or what has been done to us — but by the mercies of God that set us free.
— Revelation 21:5a “Behold, I make all things new.” The invitation to trust in Jesus marks the beginning of restoration — the divine promise that the pain of the past will not have the final word. Jesus makes all things new, including the lives of those who have experienced trauma.
The enemy often uses traumatic memories in a person’s heart and mind as a dark fortress where no outsider may tread. However, the Word of God spoken by a loving messenger is the glorious light to reveal the path of life.
DISARM DISRUPTERS
Be mindful of trauma responses that signal an interruption in the Gospel conversation. These signs include glazed or distant eyes, freeze responses, sudden agitation, or shifting the topic away from pain or Gospel truths. If the trauma survivor displays any of these, pause the conversation, acknowledge their reaction, and reassure them.
Ask for feedback.
Say something like: “You just seemed to look away and appeared disengaged. Did I say something to upset you? If you feel overwhelmed right now, that’s okay. We can slow down. Could you please help me understand what you are feeling right now?
NOW AND LATER
Individuals who have experienced trauma may struggle to move forward with decisions that involve trust in relationships. Help them understand that God is seeking a relationship with them AND desires to heal them of their trauma. In fact, He is actively pursuing them.
Past betrayal may give them pause, but His movement via the Gospel is the first step in a journey towards healing and wholeness.
Encourage them to make two decisions: commit to faith in Jesus AND seek His healing power.
HAVE RESOURCES READY
Be prepared to recommend licensed counselors, trauma recovery ministries, or church-based support groups. Have a list of local referrals, such as Christian trauma counselors and ministries like Mending the Soul and Celebrate Recovery.
Above all, surround them with people who will love them back to life—even if they don’t fully understand the journey. Presence is more powerful than perfection.
For survivors of trauma, the local church is more than a religious group; it is a healing community where corporate worship and biblical fellowship lead to the renewal of the mind and the healing of the spirit.
A trauma survivor may initially struggle with large group gatherings. But keeping them engaged through small groups can help them pursue Christ and find healing.
FAITHFUL NOT PERFECT
The beauty of trauma-in[1]formed evangelism is that you do not need a degree in theology or counseling to be used by God. Be a witness who listens well, speaks gently, admits what they don’t know, and enters the mess without pretending to fix it.
You are not alone in the moment—God is with you, and He is already at work in the person in front of you. Walk into that conversation with humility, compassion, and courage. Carry the Gospel not only as a message of rescue, but as a ministry of healing. And remember: Jesus does not need you to be perfect. He calls you to be faithful, honest, and willing to walk beside the broken… all the way to Him.
Ryan Johnson is a husband, father, foster/adoptive parent, Trust-Based Relational Intervention practitioner, non-profit leader. He serves as a pastor in North Alabama and is a PhD student with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
