Training Pastors and Healing a Nation 🌍
A Deeper Look into Pastor Training and Trauma Healing
PASTOR TRAINING:
Pastoral Training and Trauma Healing are at the very heart of Transform South Sudan’s (TSS) mission, “to empower the people of South Sudan with good health, knowledge, and skills to achieve sustainable peace and gospel-driven transformation.” When TSS founder, James Baak, was given the twin gifts of the gospel and an education in the refugee camp in Ethiopia, he vowed to return to South Sudan and bring these life changing gifts to his people. Thus, ever since its inception, Transform South Sudan has prioritized the training of pastors, particularly in regions of South Sudan that lack access to formal seminaries.
This is critical since the church in South Sudan is expanding rapidly, but very few pastors have access to formal seminary training. Solid biblical training is necessary to guard against the syncretistic blend of Christianity, Animism, and traditional ancestral worship that can distort the gospel of Jesus Christ. James Baak has implemented the use of the Bible Training Center for Pastors (BCTP) to train pastors at mobile seminars held throughout the year to provide them with the knowledge and tools to lead their churches and communities well. This year alone, we will graduate 42 pastors who have completed the program and will launch a new cohort of 35. More biblically trained pastors mean more transformed lives, families, communities and even countries.
TRAUMA HEALING:
A nation born out of decades of civil war and tribal conflict, South Sudan has one of the most emotionally traumatized populations in the world. The people have been deeply wounded by death, disease, displacement, fractured families, illiteracy, and lack of hope. Unresolved trauma destabilizes the nation and prevents meaningful healing in individuals. When trauma is not processed, it can turn inward—or worse, outward—repeating cycles of pain and retaliation.
James Baak believes that true peace must begin with the individual. To combat the negative effects of trauma, TSS conducts trauma training sessions throughout the year to teach pastors and community leaders how to bring peace, reconciliation, and healing to their traumatized communities. These trained pastors and leaders are slowly transforming broken people to gospel-infused people of hope.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(Matt 25:35-40)
For His Glory and For a Better Tomorrow for South Sudan
Mike Vogt • Chairman of the Board | Transform South Sudan