The Church’s Investment in Trauma Therapy
Rapha gets its name from Yahweh Rapha - the God Who Heals. Healing is unquestionably a defining principle of Christian ministry, and healing with excellence should be a priority for the modern Church. During his ministry, Jesus healed countless people of physical and spiritual infirmary. In light of this, we believe that the Church has a critical and defining interest in investing in holistic healing, including quality mental health care.
Rapha is, unashamedly, a faith-based organization that takes seriously the scripture that reads: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with action and in truth” (1 John 3:18). It is with compassion energized and sustained by love that we act on behalf of victimized and vulnerable children. Though we are faith-based, we offer aid without requiring those that we help to embrace our faith. When Jesus fed the 5,000 he did not withhold from those who refused to believe. He gave freely, and so do we.
We also believe in offering the highest quality, evidence based, trauma informed care possible. The trauma those in our care have experienced is complex and debilitating, and like other medical conditions, it requires professional treatment for resolution. In the same way that we believe both doctors and prayers play a role in healing a fractured bone, we believe that it is with the best possible mental health care and a faith-based foundation that we approach trauma.
In all of our international programs, Christian staff members organically model the love of Christ to the children we serve. Through opportunities to take part in intentional devotionals, and church services in the community whenever it is safe to do so, the girls served by Rapha International are able to gain a deep understanding of the healing, hope, and freedom found in Jesus Christ, while simultaneously receiving trauma-informed counseling.
Our international headquarters and the flagship Hope and Healing Center are located in Southwest Missouri where, as in many places in the US, quality trauma-focused care is very scarce. Families are forced to travel to major cities for care, or to spend months on waiting lists for providers in the area. Many families and children are unable to access the providers that do exist in the area because they are uninsured or under-insured.
At Rapha, it is our goal that those in need can access the critical services at the Hope and Healing Center regardless of ability to pay. Supporting Rapha's work at the Hope and Healing Center grants access to all, and increases our capacity to serve by eliminating time-consuming and inefficient billing processes.
For the church, partnerships with professional mental health providers, especially those with roots in Christ-centered service like the Rapha Hope & Healing Center, are a great way to carry out the mission of Yahweh Rapha and provide healing for those in need.
Interested in how your church can help bring healing to the most vulnerable? Send us an email at freedom@rapha.org or click the “Let’s Connect” button below!
