Equipping Churches

We offer a variety of trainings and preparation resources as well as opportunities for your church to make a difference at an open response site.

Have you ever wanted to support someone who was grieving the loss of a loved one, navigating a difficult diagnosis or facing another life-altering hardship, but found yourself at a loss for words? Or maybe you’ve said something in the moment, only later to think, “I wish I hadn’t said that.”

Trauma Care—also known as “Healing Conversations"—is a focused, impactful training designed to help you navigate these difficult moments with compassion, grace, and confidence. Through this training, you'll learn:

• What to say (and not to say) in sensitive situations
• How to ask meaningful, open-ended questions using a simple three-step framework
• What it means to truly listen, and how to identify and overcome your personal obstacles to being fully present in conversations

Maybe your church has already hosted the basic Trauma Care Training, and you are ready to dive deeper. Let us know if you are interested in a refresher training, Trauma Care 2.0, a training in biblical lament, launching a local church care ministry and/or learning how trauma-based Bible studies can be used to share the gospel in your community.

Debriefing provides a safe space to process a traumatic experience, whether it's a natural disaster, a personal betrayal, church hurt or a community crisis. It is a guided group experience where participants can reflect on what they've been through, express their emotions, and begin to make sense of the event in a supportive and respectful environment.

While this is not a substitute for professional counseling, debriefing is a powerful tool for healing. It helps individuals find the words for what they’ve experienced—and in that process, many discover hope, clarity, and a path forward.

In the last several years we've seen an increase in hurricanes, tornadoes, acts of violence and devastating wildfires. When crisis occurs, people look to their local church for assistance. Is your church prepared to serve after a crisis strikes? We can help.

EFCA ReachGlobal Crisis Response aids churches through resourcing and training in crisis preparedness. We help establish plans for the church facility, the body of believers and the surrounding community. This preparedness training encompasses the physical aspect of the crisis and the spiritual and emotional impact crisis events have on a church and community.

EFCA ReachGlobal Crisis Response has formed a network of churches ready to respond to disasters. Mobilized churches are equipped with both pre-field and on-the-field training at one of our current response locations. Our experienced training team can help your church serve your community physically and spiritually following a crisis.

Following this training, equipped churches are then prepared to respond with ReachGlobal when a crisis occurs. They may also deploy as a staffing resource during peak ministry times at current Crisis Response locations.

Ways your church can serve on-site:

•  Job-site supervisors
• Cooks
• Hospitality
• Discipleship ministry team member
• Praying with others
• Accounting assistance

If you feel like the Lord is calling you to get involved in one of these opportunities, take a look at our Team Leader Packet.