Trauma and Coping Mechanisms Among Assemblies of God World Missionaries: Towards a Biblical Theory of Well-Being - Hardcover

by Valerie A. Rance (Author)

Trauma, from the fall of Adam and Eve forward impacts human lives in overpowering ways. A review of the lives of biblical personalities and missionaries reveals shared traumatic experiences. In addition to the stress of cultural adjustment, missionaries often live in contexts of violence, political unrest, economic instability, natural disasters, and relational conflict. The examined biblical personalities faced similar issues, yet a majority coped with trauma in ways that led to well-being. The proposed biblical theory of well-being assists missionaries to move deeper in their trust of God by utilizing the coping skills of the biblical personalities including asking God for help, lifting up their praise and worship to God, standing on a sense of call, working with God, lamenting/venting to God in healthy ways, embracing a theology of suffering, and accepting assistance from friends and family. The adherence to the constructs of this theory protects missionaries from the ravages of psychological trauma by avoiding negative coping and developing positive coping skills that lead to trusting in the only One who gives hope in seemingly hopeless situations.

Author Biography

Valerie A. Rance and her husband are appointed Assemblies of God World Missions missionaries. They served in El Salvador (1984-2004) and at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) and Latin America (2005-present). Valerie has a BA in Ministerial/Psychology from Bethany Bible College, a MA in Counseling, and a PhD in Intercultural Studies from AGTS. Along with teaching at several AG Universities, Valerie continues to train and counsel missionaries around the world.