By; GRACE JAMES, Kaduna
Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN) North West Zone has organized a three-day trauma healing workshop for senior Christian clerics in the zone.
The workshop is aimed at training Christian leaders to strengthen their members and other citizens who are passing through pains as a result of traumatic experience.
Declaring the programme open, the President of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria known as HEKAN, Reverend Dr. Amos Kiri said the spate of insecurity, bad governance, and hunger are some of the root causes of traumatic stress many Nigerians are passing through.
He added that kidnapping, banditry, farmers/herders clashes, ethno-religious crisis has turned many women widows, children to orphans and millions rendered homeless.
The Holy Bible and prayers according to Kiri, are key manual of Christians cannot do without.
The HEKAN President enjoined participants to take the workshop serious and use the opportunity to reach out to many passing through trauma as a result of one challenge or the other.
The lead facilitator, Julius Jeff Abimiku said that trauma is an unpleasant experience or shock that affects the state of mind of a person.
He noted that excess tiredness, pressure, tension, uncomfortable situation among other things can also lead to traumatic experiences.
Mr. Jeff maintained that the training will help participants recognize and understand trauma, know how to deal with and heal from it, know that life continues after such events and reconnect themselves to the communities and rebuild society.
Earlier in their separate remarks, the North West chairman of CRUDAN, Joel Yohanna, former board representative North West, Victor Dilli and Istifanus Musa said the aim of the training is to have enlightened senior pastors they believe can play vital roles in addressing trauma among their congregation which will in turn reach out to the larger society.
Trauma according to CRUDAN leads to early and untimely deaths.
Participants are expected to go back well equiped when it comes to working on people passing through trauma.
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Anglican Church, Nigerian Baptist Convention, United Church of Christ In Nigeria (HEKAN), Harvesters for Christ Ministry, All Nations Christian Assembly (ANCA) denominations are the worst hit by the activities of armed bandits, kidnappers, farmers/herders clashes among other violent crimes in the North West region.
The workshop was later split into four groups for discussion and presentations.
The workshop is expected to end on Thursday September 23, 2021.
