Abstract

COETSEE, Dirk  and  GROBBELAAR, Jan. Equipping lay facilitators to support emotionally wounded children in Africa by means of healing communities. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2014, vol.48, n.1, pp.01-11. ISSN 2305-0853.

Many children in Africa are emotionally wounded by circumstances and experiences not supporting their overall well-being and healthy development, and are in need of effective support. It seems that the church's educational ministry and pastoral care based on individualistic pastoral practices do not address this need effectively. Beginning with an orientation to the problem, the article then focused on the development of lay facilitators for healing communities as an alternative way of ministering to children who experience emotional suffering. With reference to an illustrative narrative of a camp with deprived children, some elements contributing to the success of the camp were highlighted and linked to the effective functioning of healing communities. Thereafter the process used to equip lay people to facilitate such healing communities was described. The article concluded with challenges to the church in Africa to develop a new ministry to serve emotionally wounded children.

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