Testimonials

Since its inception over a year ago, the Imago Dei Counselling and Training Centre has been ministering God’s grace to diverse communities throughout the Tigray region – both village people and city-based, young people and old, women and men, clergy and religious leaders, street persons, office workers and their leaders / managers from the regional government and non-government offices.

A typical introductory counselling and training program runs for several days in different parts of the Tigray region– and begins with basic psychosocial truths relevant to the Tigray context; this then leads on to the Christian truths that all participants are created in the Image of God, which they encouraged to appropriate as the core of their identity; created, preserved, provided for, loved and redeemed by God – and that this is the basis for a proper and healthy view of self and a healthy way to relate to others.

A traumatized woman:

The recent war has cast a long shadow over all the counselling programs run so far – working with individuals and communities severely traumatised by the hostilities. Among these, some of the most vulnerable are the women and girls, particularly the survivors of rape and sexual violence. Such is the level of trauma experienced by many women that they have retreated into themselves; because of the conservative morals of the traditional highland culture, they fear that opening up and disclosing their ordeals will lead to stigmatisation and further isolation. Without help and suitable intervention, these women live in an ongoing silent misery, their original trauma unassuaged.

Here is the testimony of one particular woman: this woman is highly traumatized mentally, emotionally and physically – but nonetheless fully engaged with three days of healing training, along with twenty other participants. At the end of the healing training she commented:

“I have participated in many training programs and regular, weekly psychological counselling, but this training has had a unique impact on me. I am leaving the training filled with unspeakable happiness, confidence, hope, because at last I realize that I am a valuable daughter of God, made in the image of God; God’s death for us in Christ has provided the grace to move on from the severe trauma of gang rape.”

“Now at last I can view the act of rape with some objectivity – seeing it not as a punishment from God for my sin, but due to the sinful intentions of the men who raped me”

“The words of the trainers have been matched by their graciousness shown to women like me with deep psychological wounds – their love, kindness, compassion and humility, their treatment of us women with dignity and respect has also been a tremendous encouragement. “

“Such was the depth of shame and fear I used to feel that I didn’t reveal my ordeal even to my local priest and father confessor, but this training has provided the trigger to emerge from this prison of shame and guilt; I can move out from behind this mask and at last be true to myself, not fearing the discrimination and stigmatization of the community.”

She concludes: “On my side, I will strive to advocate the cause of raped women and girls, encouraging them to unmask themselves. Please continue your valuable work, liberating sisters like me who have turned in on themselves following rape; teach our church priests to understand us and treat us with compassion; teach our children to help understand our situation”.

Re-educating and empowering our clergy

The counselling work also extends to helping the local priests and clergy better understand their roles ministering in their local communities:

One priest found the training something of a revelation: He comments – “I now understand for the first time that God is a missionary God – reaching out to his creation with provision, saving and regenerating work; with mankind as the pinnacle of his creation created in God’s Image.”

“This training has truly touched and blessed me – I used to carry out my priestly duties just to earn the monthly salary, but now I am motivated to serve this gracious God, fulfilling his plan to minister God’s grace to the church members in my care.  Throughout the counselling training, I was conscious of God’s Spirit within me, constantly urging me to live a life going forwards dedicated to God, to compensate for all the time and opportunity wasted before.”

Another priest related how the training has helped him properly understand himself and to begin the process of renewing his mind with God’s truth:

“The Bible gives me great hope – that with God there is real help for my struggles and solutions to our people’s problems; the current situation in our society can make you despair, but now I see that the root of our problems is not our loving, gracious God but our distorted thoughts. With a proper appreciation of the great commandments – Love for God and Love for each other, I can start making a real difference where I am, growing in godliness and ministering to my local community.”