Reconstructing the Dechurched and the Broken

A thought provoking, prayer provoking, action provoking essay (several years old now) from the journal, The Other Side – Restoring A Damaged Faith by Mary Tuomi Hammond – referenced several times by Alan Jamieson in his most recent book, Called Again. You can read the essay here.

“…Thousands of Christians have left the church [the dechurched] because it has wounded them. Others are one step from the door. How can we support those struggling to rebuild their faith?”

“…This reconstruction process admits of no quick fixes or easy paths. It calls for a gradual restoration that encompasses four areas: engaging in personal healing and recovery; identifying systemic issues within one's situation; decontaminating the Bible; and reworking one's theological understandings.

"...The dechurched need ministries of personal healing and recovery in order to address old wounds. It is possible to deny that one's pain exists, pretend it is not there, or bury it deep within the soul. But sooner or later, it will reappear, often in ugly and unproductive forms. Through appropriate ministry, God's Spirit can change denial into truth-telling, bitterness into restoration, captivity into redemption. Especially for those who are dechurched because of abuse, trauma, or dysfunction, personal healing is an integral part of the journey. This process, which can take years, begins with providing an inner space where a renewed faith can gestate and ultimately form..."

Comments

[Sivin Kit]

there's quite a number in my own relationship circle that's in this "phase" (i.e. dechurched). Thanks for this post ...