Trust in the Valley: A Hermeneutic of Trust, Felt Safety, and Connection for Survivors of Trauma

Abstract

Arms of Hope is a nonprofit organization in Texas that ministers to a population that has experienced various forms of betrayal of trust. This includes neglect, emotional abuse, as well as physical and sexual abuse. Arms of Hope – Boles Campus, where I live and work, is a residential campus that aims to serve this population through meeting basic needs, counseling, case management, life skills development, and spiritual care. My role at Arms of Hope has taught me that Christians struggle with conversations surrounding trauma and trust. Many in our surrounding community have unfair theological stereotypes involving Arms of Hope’s residents, and some have a genuine fear of getting too close to residents on campus. This critical issue prevents healing for the residents of Arms of Hope. There is a need for Christians to provide support to those who have experienced betrayals of trust, beyond monetary support. It is through trust, felt safety, and connection that relationships develop, and this can only happen when an individual understands trust and consistently shows up in a healthy manner. My thesis will attempt to bridge theological thinking and our biblical narrative on trust with what a trust-based relationship looks like and how a person achieves it when trying to love someone well. This thesis will move between the psychological damage that takes place when betrayal of trust occurs and how thinking theologically through trauma and trust can bring about a holistic view of the humanity of the person who has experienced the unfortunate trauma. The methodology that will be explored will include:• Literary Review of Trust• Biblical Narrative and Trust • Exploring Care Through Compassion and FriendshipThe literary review aims to educate my readers on trust and explain why this particular work is necessary. I will build upon the work that has already been done to expand my argument for the importance of understanding trust in making a positive change in the lives of those who have experienced betrayal. The pastoral care portion of this thesis will focus on the importance of Christians forming healthy relationships with individuals who have experienced betrayals of trust. Understanding trust leads to a deeper understanding of what connection and relationship look like.Exploring the biblical narrative will help my readers understand that trauma and betrayal of trust are not new phenomena. The scripture I will spend time with will bring Christians back to biblical stories that teach first hand accounts of betrayal of trust and how to think about compassion and care from a Christian perspective. The method of studying compassion and friendship will be essential to conclude on, as it will challenge my readers to recognize that they must commit to marginalized communities and that working with or ministering to trauma survivors will not be a “quick fix” but rather a lifetime of work.