In some Middle Eastern countries years of civil unrest, economic instability, and political oppression have left deep scars on individuals, families, and entire communities. The collective trauma these communities experience runs deep. The psychological toll is undeniable, and many people carry unprocessed grief, anxiety, and frustration as they struggle to cope with daily survival in an increasingly harsh reality.

This silent epidemic of unaddressed trauma reaches even into the church. The Middle Eastern church needs more than just encouragement to stay strong — it needs tangible support to help its people process and heal from trauma. As the church has begun to recognize the toll of trauma, it has invited Word Collective to work alongside it to build hope. In four Middle Eastern countries, we help these churches:

• Offer support, healing, and hope to refugee communities to help them process their trauma from violence and displacement. The goal is for refugee communities to recognize and address their trauma, develop coping strategies, and gain the resilience necessary to rebuild their lives.
• Create sustainable plans for evangelism. For churches that have a vision to reach the hard-to-reach people in their countries, we help them determine how to enter communities effectively, share the Gospel in culturally appropriate ways, and make sure their strategy is trauma-informed.
• Train pastors and church leaders how create biblical, story-based, and trauma-informed discipleship for their congregations.
• Create initiatives that empower participants to recognize and address their personal and collective struggles and equip them with a paradigm that allows them to navigate ongoing trauma. More than just individual healing, these initiatives build strong communities that foster a sense of solidarity and allow people to support one another and find strength together.

The body of Christ is called not only to endure but to heal, restore, and uplift one another. Addressing trauma within Middle Eastern churches is an act of love, of restoration, and of walking alongside those who have suffered in silence for too long. The road to recovery is long, but there is a way forward.