5-Hour Training for Pastors and Ministry Leaders

(Friday night session will go from 6:30-8:30 and Saturday morning session will be from 9-12 at Lawrenceville First Baptist Church.)

Every weekend, people walk into our churches carrying wounds no one can see.

They faithfully attend worship, teach Sunday School, serve on ministry teams, lead small groups, and smile at the front door. Yet beneath the surface many are struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, anger, broken relationships, fear, shame, grief, or spiritual confusion. Too often, these symptoms are treated without recognizing the hidden wounds that fuel them.

What if the Church could respond differently?

Join Dr. Denice Colson, Ph.D., LPC, MAC, CPCS, CCS, DAAETS, Christian counselor, author, speaker, and developer of the Strategic Trauma and Abuse Recovery System (12STR®), for an engaging and practical five-hour training designed specifically for pastors and ministry leaders.

Drawing from her books Break Every Stinking Chain! Healing for Hidden Wounds and Let God Heal Your Trauma!, Dr. Colson will introduce a biblical, research-informed understanding of trauma and explain how hidden emotional wounds often shape people’s relationships with God, themselves, and others. Participants will discover why many sincere believers remain spiritually stuck despite their love for Christ—and how the Church can become a place where healing, not just survival, begins.

This training will explore:

·      Why trauma is far more common than most churches realize.

·      The connection between childhood adversity, adult struggles, and spiritual formation.

·      Common myths Christians believe about trauma, healing, and forgiveness.

·      Why simply addressing symptoms often leaves people trapped in recurring patterns.

·      The difference between behavior modification and true transformation.

·      The three phases of the 12STR® model that provide a clear pathway toward healing and restoration.

·      Practical ways pastors and ministry leaders can respond wisely, compassionately, and biblically to hurting people while understanding when to refer for specialized trauma care.

This is not a counseling certification course. Rather, it is an opportunity for ministry leaders to better understand the invisible wounds many people carry and to become more effective shepherds of God’s people. Participants will leave with greater confidence, practical tools, renewed hope, and a deeper appreciation for how God uses both biblical truth and His created design for healing to transform lives from the inside out.

If revival begins with healed hearts, then understanding trauma is no longer optional—it is essential.

Come discover how the Church can help break the hidden chains that keep people from experiencing the abundant life Christ promised.