F.I.T. was created in response to a need for those who serve within faith-based communities to be informed about trauma and its impact on individuals and families who make up those communities. We consider faith-based communities as “pivotal points” of connection for people seeking services. These communities can be churches as well as para-church organizations, such as schools, food pantries, homeless shelters, recovery programs, community centers, and the like.

Why It Matters

Using the spiritual lens as an overlay to the trauma-informed lens helps to truly create a pathway to healing. We know that God wants us to be healed and whole, so we know the direction of the journey He wants us to take. We know as believers and leaders within the church that God desires for a person to be whole. For us to assist in that, we have to gain an understanding of where one has come from as we encourage and support the healing process.

This new lens will equip us in understanding such individuals’ stories, which opens the door of compassion and empathy instead of judgement. It shifts us from a mindset of asking “what’s wrong with them” to “what might have happened to them.”Having both spiritual-based and trauma-informed lenses enhances how we serve such individuals. Without knowledge and understanding of trauma, we run the risk of harming or re-traumatizing individuals  be it psychologically, emotionally, or spiritually.

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