I am an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Neumann University in Pennsylvania. In addition to being on the board of ICTG, I am the Secretary at Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling.
What brought you to ICTG?
As a minister who has worked in local immigrant churches for over twenty years, I had great interest in ICTG's work. Specifically, I am interested in how the church can be an agent of healing after individual and communal trauma.
Why are you committed to ICTG?
The best part about working on the board of ICTG has been the opportunity to meet and work together with fellow board members. They are passionate about ICTG, compassionate about the sufferings of others, and have unwavering belief in the purpose and mission of ICTG. What has been important to working together is how fun they are to work with and just be with!!
What are your hobbies?
I love to walk in nature, trail run, and travel. I love seeing how different cultures shape people in how they see, think, and express their feelings. We are all more grounded and rounded by learning from the differences of other people in who they are and how they live. Since raising four children with my husband, I have not been able to travel much for fun but have gone to Korea to see parents and siblings. Locally, I love going with my children to different museums in and around Philadelphia and the surrounding cities. I live near Philadelphia, which is very close to New York, Baltimore, and Washington DC, so we have lots of museums to choose from. I also love doing crafts and going to community art classes as often as I can.
What's a fun fact about you?
For my K-12 grade education, I attended seven different schools in four countries. Children must be resilient, as I turned out okay.
What role do you think congregations play in helping people and communities heal after trauma and disaster? As physical, emotional, and spiritual beings, when trauma hits, all dimensions of the person are distressed by the devastation of trauma. Healing is needed to restore all dimensions of the person and the church. Healing happens through the word of God, the power of rituals and prayer, and communal support.
What have you learned from your time working with ICTG?
Trauma does not discriminate based on age, gender, race, class, or location. Therefore, it is imperative to be proactive in learning what to do when trauma hits home and how to help to those around you.
Where have you seen ICTG make a difference?
ICTG has made strides in alerting congregations to the prevalence of trauma. Trauma happens around us and within our congregations – stories of trauma are not those that only happen elsewhere. In addition to bringing awareness to the different kinds of trauma, ICTG has done a marvelous job of providing resources on their website and providing training to equip faith communities. ICTG training enables faith leaders to be healing agents in their communities and emphasizes the importance of sacred spaces for healing.
* Interested in becoming an ICTG Board Director or Advisor? Contact Executive Director Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe