Walking Wounded

Kathy Escobar and Phyllis Mathis are starting a four-week online course for those who have been hurt by the church. It is called “Walking Wounded.” Here is some more information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCxBvA7co9w

Walking Wounded

Hope for Those Hurt by Church

For most of us, our faith journey is the most essential thing about us, the closest thing to the core of who we are. So whenever some major shift in perspective rocks our faith, or we’re involved in a conflict involving our faith community, it goes deep, affecting our soul in some surprising ways.

If you are feeling lost, disillusioned or hurt as a result of a shift in your faith or by a negative church (or other faith community) experience, this just might be the class for you.

Join us February 6, 2012 for Walking Wounded: Hope for Those Hurt by Church. Class price is $49 and includes daily posts (Monday through Friday) and weekly exercises in journaling, storytelling, and wellness practices.

Course Description

Thousands of honest, sincere people are finding themselves on the outside of a faith system they once held dear. The sadness, anger, disillusionment and fear can be debilitating. And confusing.

Have You:

• Been asked to leave a church or told you’re not a “good fit”?
• Felt forced to conform or remain consistently overlooked?
• Been told that you are loved but not your sin?
• Questioned leadership or theology and found yourself on the outside?
• Felt sad, angry, afraid, lost, or disoriented after painful church experiences?
• Experienced a significant shift in your theology or faith perspective and find yourself feeling disoriented and unsure?

You are not lost, and you are not alone.

Walking Wounded: Hope for Those Hurt By Church is designed to help you move through the painful and confusing aftermath of a negative faith-based experience.

In this 4 week class you will:

• Connect with others who have similar experiences
• Identify your losses and reclaim your dreams
• Tell your story and receive support
• Work through your unfinished business
• Learn effective practices to restore a sense of sanity

Through interviews, conversation, journaling and storytelling, Kathy Escobar and Phyllis Mathis will guide you through the confusion and into a place of purpose and peace.

What to Expect from Walking Wounded

If you are feeling lost, disillusioned or hurt as a result of a shift in your faith or by a negative church (or other faith community) experience, Walking Wounded just might be the class for you. Join us February 6, 2012 for Walking Wounded: Hope for Those Hurt by Church. Class price is $49 and includes daily posts (Monday through Friday) and weekly exercises in journaling, storytelling, and wellness practices. Read the course description.

How do I know if I’m one of the “walking wounded”?

Church experiences or religious leaders have negatively impacted your heart and soul.  You’re walking around with sadness, anger, disillusionment, and some level of confusion about what you experienced, what you believe, who you are, or who God is. You might have had a painful exit from a church or other ministry. You might have been saddened by something that happened at your church and felt you had to leave. Maybe you’re just re-thinking what you’ve been taught and are feeling disoriented, not knowing what to believe.

What can I expect if I attend?

First, you can expect to be welcomed warmly, regardless of what you believe, what you don’t believe, or whom you’re associated with. Then, be prepared to laugh, meet fellow wanderers, and lose your sense of spiritual vertigo. You will have the opportunity to share some of your experiences and discover you are not alone.

Why you? What makes you qualified to facilitate this kind of gathering?

First, because we ourselves were the walking wounded. We’re still healing in different ways but have found greater hope, life, and peace over the past several years.  Finding others along the way made all the difference.  Second, as counselors, pastors, and friends, we work with and are friends with many wonderful people who have been through difficult faith-based experiences.  We’ve found that most of these situations are threaded with similar themes.  Third, there are a lot of us out there wandering, and we know the hope that comes from discovering we’re not alone.

How can I know that what I share will be safe?

We value safety as the foundation of community, so the class will be password protected and the participants encouraged to hold all disclosures confidential. We hope as you experience the class you will know that you are loved and accepted, regardless of what you’ve been through or where you are now.

Where does God fit into all this?

God will fit in wherever you see fit. We’re each on our own path. We’re not here to tell you where God is or isn’t. However, a lot of attendees could be in a state of heightened sensitivity (kind of like allergic) to all things churchy, so we’ll be avoiding religious jargon and conventional spiritual practices. Not because we don’t love God, but because we want to be as hypo-allergenic as we can be. Everyone has a different and unique relationship with God; you will not be forced to believe, see or accept anything, especially related to God.