Australia: NT Discipleship Track update

Bickerton Island Trauma Healing Group creating their own song in Anindilyakwa from a Psalm. © Terry McCoy, 2017.

 

“When we share, it all comes out and we talk together and it’s healing us.
It is healing our hearts. As we go out, I can feel it is healing my heart”

These words were spoken by a participant in the Groote Eylandt Trauma Healing Group training course run by the Ministry Development Team (MDT) of the Diocese of the Northern Territory.

Another participant said, “This helped me think about what really happened to me”.

Many Groote Eyelandt inhabitants have experienced very great trauma in their lives.

A series of Trauma Healing Group sessions were run in 2017 in the lead up to the second anniversary of the 2015 riots, which was a particularly troubled time with a flare up of arguments between families involved in the riot.  Some of the women in this group had grandsons involved in those riots and they said they found the groups particularly helpful. 

To date, 4 women on Groote Eylandt have completed 8 lessons and another 12 have participated in some trainings, so it is hoped more will complete the 6 lessons which comprise the core of the course.

The participants in these groups greatly value the opportunity to talk, listen and learn: “I thank God [for your] training so you could share this with us. This [trauma healing group] is very important. You made me strong, so the ladies can talk and share the problems we have and learn from each other”.

In 2018 additional groups were formed in Bickerton Island (pictured) where 4 women and 2 men participated in an Oral Healing Group.

ABM is supporting this initiative of the Diocese and your generous donations have enabled Terry and Liz McCoy, two members of the MDT, to complete a USA based training to enable them to train local leaders in running the oral Trauma Healing Groups.

ABM thanks the dedicated staff of the MDT and the local men and women who wish to see healing and peace in their communities. ABM also thanks our supporters for the generous donations received but knows that more funds are needed to ensure these local champions can complete the lessons needed to run the Trauma Healing Groups in their communities.

Please give generously to the Northern Territory Discipleship Track project so that this vital work can continue and reach more people who are in need of healing. Donate here. 

 

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