Understanding Trauma: A Biblical Introduction for Church Care

by Steve Midgley

Guidance for churches on how to walk with wisdom and compassion alongside those who are struggling with trauma.Many of us long to serve and be there for those who are suffering from trauma, but we don't know how to do so in a way that is caring and helpful.

This book enables Christians, and especially pastors, elders, and ministry leaders, to understand what trauma is and how it affects people, including their experience of church, so that we can lovingly support those who are suffering from it.

Author Steve Midgley trained as a psychiatrist before being ordained, served as Vicar of Christ Church Cambridge for 18 years and is now the Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK. He writes with wisdom and compassion to summarize current understanding in this area, gives a biblical perspective, and makes lots of practical suggestions about how churches can be sensitive to, and be there for, those who have experienced trauma.

This book will help whole church communities to help and care for those who are struggling with trauma.

Genres: Christian, Counselling, Psychology

192 pages

Published March 1, 2025

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful, biblical, gracious perspective in a culture and time like ours when trauma has become such a buzz word. Similar to “When Home Hurts” this is a great introductory book that goes deep enough and would be a good resource for elders, small group leaders, and others who serve at churches in similar contexts. Recommend.

[Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very, very good. Quite light-touch but therefore accessible for all in the church. A must-read for Christians seeking to love broken people.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Steve Midgley has previously contributed to the co-written book Mental Health and Your Church: A Handbook for Biblical Care, and this book is a helpful follow-up. This book focuses specifically on trauma, and the first section of the book explains what trauma is like for sufferers and how trauma connects with biblical teachings. Midgley shows that even though the word 'trauma' is not in the Bible, the concept certainly is, and that the Bible has helpful resources for traumatized people, as well as the church leaders and caring friends who want to help them. Midgley also shares fictional case studies to show ways that people with different types of trauma might struggle to engage with church.

The second part explores what our current medical understanding of trauma is, and how this connects with biblical teaching. Midgley highlights the significance of how trauma impacts relationships, and he writes about ways that the church can come alongside sufferers and help them through caring, compassionate relationships. The final section explores ways that churches can help trauma sufferers, both through thoughtful and considered elements of worship services, and through community life. Midgley also warns readers about common pitfalls, raising awareness about ways that churches often fail sufferers and hurt them more.

This book is a straightforward, helpful guide for ministry leaders and church members who want to better understand how trauma affects people, and how they can help. The writing is clear and easy to understand, and the author did a wonderful job of covering a lot of trauma-related topics at a high level. He is never too vague, and he also avoids overwhelming the reader with too much information. This is a very helpful, wise book that I would recommend to Christians who are interested in learning more about the subject.

I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Rob Seabrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the particular focus on helping us as churches to understand how trauma can affect individuals, this is a practical resource that will help us to see how we can support sufferers.
It is especially ideal for pastors, elders, leaders and those in ministry, as it will help them to understand what trauma is and how it affects people, including their experience of church, so that we can lovingly support them.
The author, Dr Steve Midgley, trained as a psychiatrist before later being ordained and serving as a vicar, as well as being an experienced Counsellor, allowing him to offer both a professional and a Biblical perspective on the topic.
I often remind myself that everyone has a story, a set of experiences and circumstances that have led to them being the person they are today. The important thing for them to know is that the person they are, warts and all, is known and loved by God. Our role as the church is to reflect that love and wholly accept them, whilst doing all we can to help, heal, nurture and build them up.
The church is in a privileged situation to help people who suffer with trauma. The Church is relational, a community where individuals can rediscover their identity in Christ, know their value and be accepted for who they are. Churches are places of fellowship and community, environments where people can find genuine acceptance without judgement. Or they should be. They need to be.
This book is very much an introduction to the topic, showing how the church can be wholly accepting and able to put in place some practical measures to support those who are experiencing the effects of trauma.
See more reviews of Christian books at https://www.robseabrook.com/

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book advocating for the church to adapt "trauma" language as a necessary part of caring for sufferers. Midgley clearly loves the church, loves God's people, and desires to care well for them. There's much to commend in tone and heart in the book. Despite that, I think it fails as an exercise in wise, faithful biblical counseling.

Like Darby Strickland's work, this book sadly follows an implicit integrationist model: we need the insights of trauma researchers to really understand the culture and people's struggles. At various points Midgley says the Bible must provide the master categories and reinterpret secular diagnoses, but nowhere does this actually function as a working conviction. Midgley does better than Strickland at actually defining his terms: he uses a "three E's" model to capture what he means by trauma. Trauma is an Event that someone Experiences as overwhelming, leaving them powerless, followed by negative Effects afterwards. That at least is clarity about what constitutes trauma. But then the term doesn't function with such a narrow range throughout the book, leaving me to wonder where "trauma" equals "severe suffering", or where it is something else. There is an implicit understanding that trauma is subjectively defined - and that is problematic.

And lastly, I found the application of trauma language to Christ and his sufferings deeply troubling. Did Christ experience negative "effects" of his atoning death? Did it overwhelm him and leave him unable to cope? Not according to Hebrews 12:1-2! This is not to minimize the horror of the cross or the depth of our Savior's suffering. But forcing "trauma" over all biblical depictions of suffering, especially the supreme suffering of Christ, distorts the biblical picture.

[Jon Cheek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful book. "Trauma" has become the word of the decade. Christians and pastors need to understand trauma and how to care for people who are struggling as a result of traumatic experiences.

Midgley correctly warns about concept creep with "trauma." At one point "trauma" referred only to serious injuries or the experiences soldiers faced during and after intense combat. Now people refer to an unexpected rain shower as a "traumatic" event.

However, Midgley also correctly explains that many people have gone through experiences in life that have impacted their bodies, brains, and relationships. People may use the word "trauma" to explain how these situations have impacted them. And the church needs to be able and prepared to care for these people effectively.

Again, Midgley acknowledges that everyone with traumatic experiences will have varying levels in which they have been impacted by their traumatic experiences. And Midgley warns against people constantly talking about their experiences as "trauma" or "my trauma." Trauma cannot become an excuse for sin.

The church can more effectively help people who suffer this way by learning more about trauma and how it impacts people. This book is a helpful resource to this end.

[Alastair Gooderham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightfully and carefully Steve Midgley walks us through his book seeing to help pastors and the church more generally to understand trauma. I found the section on how the church ought to respond to trauma with compassion with concrete worked through examples especially helpful.

Steve is not seeking to equip the church to be the answer but to play our part in compassionately connecting people with Christ through sensitivity, awareness which will make us churches of compassion and gospel truth.

[Belinda R. Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! As a Christian counselor I enjoy and appreciate books that help those in the field of mental health but also for those who are not. This was a great tool for those in leadership or even people within the church body who want insight on how to care for the congregation. As Christians we should love others humbly and openly in a way that imitates the Christ.

Note: this is not a book for trauma training or certification purposes. This book gives biblical and Christ centered insight within the topic of trauma and how to care for those in our midsts who are suffering.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Christian book. I felt like the author was balanced when it came to research. He points out that there is still a lot to learn. While it is geared toward practitioners and other helpers, I found it helpful pertaining to general info, too.

[Tanya Flores]

Integrative approach. Uses secular resources to inform the reader of trauma. I found other books better to inform the Biblical counseling approach using Scripture to define suffering and it's symptoms.

[Emily Booher · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the point, biblical, hopeful, good insights.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankful this book exists as a desperately needed start to the conversation. Recommend for those who are just starting to learn about trauma and it’s widespread impact

[Beth Tomic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book. Wise, compassionate, readable, practical. I wish all church leaders would read it.

[Amber Thiessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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