ABSTRACT PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO TRAUMA SURVIVORS: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES by Jeff R. Brooks Trauma survivors conceptualize and experience life differently than the typical church congregant. The purpose of the ministry transformation project was to pilot a sermon series designed to help evaluate the preaching effectiveness of a trauma-informed Gospel message, delivered within a culturally sensitive setting and measured through the affective, attitudinal, social, and spiritual health changes in participants attending a church-sponsored symposium. The symposium was delivered through a six-session, trauma-informed sermon series at The Vail Church in Edwards, Colorado. Nineteen adult attendees aged twenty-one and older responded to the invitation to participate in a trauma-informed symposium titled, “Where Are You God? Finding Meaning in the Tragedy of Life.” This led to the acquisition of four study participants who were recruited to participate in the research component of the symposium. Study participants completed an anonymous process for informed consent, screening, and pre- and post-testing before they were chosen to be included as participants in the pilot project. The pilot study accomplished the creation and implementation of a trauma- informed sermon series held within a trauma-informed setting and applied to a group of adults with a prior experience of trauma. The study findings ultimately provide relevant material for consideration and pillars upon which to build further research into the relationship between effective ministry and the needs of the trauma survivor. PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO TRAUMA SURVIVORS: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Jeff R. Brooks May 2020 © 2020 Jeff R. Brooks ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... XII CHAPTER 1. NATURE OF THE PROJECT .................................................................. 1 Overview of the Chapter ...................................................................................... 1 Personal Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................... 7 Purpose of the Project .......................................................................................... 7 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 8 Research Question #1 ............................................................................... 8 Research Question #2 ............................................................................... 8 Research Question #3 ............................................................................... 8 Rationale for the Project ...................................................................................... 8 Definition of Key Terms .................................................................................... 10 Delimitations ..................................................................................................... 12 Review of Relevant Literature ........................................................................... 13 Research Methodology ...................................................................................... 15 Type of Research ................................................................................... 16 Participants ............................................................................................ 17 Instrumentation ...................................................................................... 17 Data Collection ...................................................................................... 18 Data Analysis ......................................................................................... 19 iii Generalizability ...................................................................................... 19 Project Overview ............................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT ...................................... 23 Overview of the Chapter .................................................................................... 23 Biblical Foundations .......................................................................................... 23 Old Testament ........................................................................................ 23 The Law ................................................................................................. 28 Treatment of the Foreigner, the Alien, and the Exile ............................... 28 The God of Mercy, Compassion, and Justice .......................................... 29 New Testament ...................................................................................... 31 Theological Foundations .................................................................................... 40 Orientation ............................................................................................. 40 Attributes of God ................................................................................... 43 Evil and the Collateral Damage of the Fall ............................................. 47 The Flesh ............................................................................................... 50 The World .............................................................................................. 53 Salvation ................................................................................................ 54 Restoration ............................................................................................. 55 Human Agency in The Kingdom ............................................................ 59 Characteristics of Trauma Survivors .................................................................. 61 Attributes of Trauma Survivors .............................................................. 63 Needs of Trauma Survivors .................................................................... 66 Trauma-Informed Care ...................................................................................... 71 iv Trauma-Informed Care Considerations ................................................... 71 Communicating Effectively to Adult Trauma Survivors ......................... 75 Homiletics ......................................................................................................... 77 Style ....................................................................................................... 78 Composition and Content Attributes ....................................................... 79 Setting Attributes ................................................................................... 81 Liturgy Attributes ................................................................................... 81 Music and Media Attributes ................................................................... 81 Special Considerations for Victim and Perpetrator .................................. 84 Research Design Literature ................................................................................ 88 Summary of Literature ....................................................................................... 89 CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR THE PROJECT .......................... 92 Overview of the Chapter .................................................................................... 92 Nature and Purpose of the Project ...................................................................... 92 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 94 Research Question #1. What were the affective, attitudinal, social, and spiritual health indicators of the study participants prior to the preaching series? .................................................................................................... 94 Research Question #2. What changes occurred in the affective, attitudinal, social, and spiritual health indicators of the study participants after the preaching series? ................................................................................... 95 v Research Question #3. What elements of the sermon design, delivery, and worship setting assisted the study participants with any positive changes in their affective, attitudinal, social, and spiritual health indicators? ........... 96 Ministry Context ................................................................................................ 97 Participants ...................................................................................................... 100 Criteria for Selection ............................................................................ 100 Description of Participants ................................................................... 101 Ethical Considerations .........................................................................