In this interview, Kristen Humiston shares her journey from trauma to healing and discusses the importance of creating safe spaces in the church to support and minister to those who have experienced pain.
Kristen Humiston: Trauma-informed Coach
In a world filled with pain and trauma, finding healing and restoration is crucial for individuals and faith communities. Kristen Humiston, a trauma-informed coach, consultant, and speaker, has dedicated her work to helping Christian women, ministry wives, and church leaders navigate the path from being wounded to living in hope, healing, and joy. In this blog post, we delve into Kristen’s inspiring story and explore the valuable insights she shares on finding healing and supporting others in their journey.
“Revival starts with us being honest about our own struggles and becoming people who listen and ask questions without judgment.” ~Kristen Humiston
Finding Rest and Abiding in Christ
One of the key habits that Kristen emphasizes for staying healthy as a Christian leader is the practice of rest. Recognizing the importance of rejuvenation, she encourages taking short breaks between meetings, stepping outside for fresh air, and incorporating periods of rest throughout the day. Kristen also highlights the app called “Pray As You Go,” which offers guided devotionals and serves as a source of daily rest and spiritual nourishment. By abiding in Christ and prioritizing rest, she believes leaders can fuel themselves from a place of deep connection with God.
Kristen’s Personal Journey
Kristen’s passion for serving leaders and her journey toward becoming a trauma-informed coach and consultant emerged from personal experiences of trauma and adversity. Growing up as a pastor’s child, she always felt drawn to ministry and working with leaders. However, her life took an unexpected turn when her husband experienced a forced termination from their ministry position. This event shattered their lives, leaving them without a home, income, or community. Kristen shares the challenges they faced during this dark season, including feelings of depression and even thoughts of suicide.
However, it was during this time of immense pain that Kristen began to sense God’s calling on her life. Reflecting on various instances from her past, she realized a recurring thread of walking alongside the hurting. Step by step, she embraced coach training and pursued a master’s degree in social work, ultimately answering God’s call to support others who have experienced trauma. Kristen’s own healing journey continues, and she now works with ministry-impacted women, offering compassion, support, and guidance as they navigate their own stories of pain and restoration.
Supporting the Hurting within the Church
Recognizing the prevalence of trauma and woundedness within the church, Kristen shares valuable insights on how to identify and support those who are hurting. She explains that trauma can manifest in various ways, such as anxiety, chronic health issues, withdrawal, characteristically fast speech, memory problems, or even excessive spiritualizing. By being attentive and aware of these signs, church members can extend a compassionate ear and create a safe space for individuals to share their stories.
Kristen encourages church members to adopt a posture of openness and willingness to hear the hard words without defensiveness. She emphasizes the need for churches to become safe places where individuals can bring their pain, experiences, and struggles without fear of judgment or shame. By becoming compassionate witnesses and holding space for others, the church can play a vital role in the healing process, allowing individuals to find solace, restoration, and a renewed connection with God.
Preparing the Church for the Harvest
Kristen believes that preparing the church for the harvest, for a great revival, begins with acknowledging the need for change. Churches must be willing to examine their own shortcomings, become honest about their struggles, and create an environment where individuals can be vulnerable and authentic. By prioritizing truth and compassion over perfection and performance, the church can become a safe haven for those seeking healing and restoration.
Furthermore, Kristen emphasizes the importance of learning about the impact of trauma on the body and its connection to spirituality. She recommends resources such as “Anatomy of the Soul” by Curt Thompson, “Trauma in the Pews” by Dr. Janyne McConnaughey, and “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk, which delve into the intersection of trauma and faith. Equipping church leaders with this knowledge allows for a more trauma-informed approach to ministry and enables them to better understand and support individuals on their healing journeys.
Conclusion
Kristen Humiston’s inspiring journey from trauma to healing serves as a beacon of hope for individuals and faith communities. By sharing her own experiences and offering practical guidance, Kristen empowers Christian leaders to become compassionate witnesses and provides the necessary tools for supporting those who have experienced trauma. Through her work, she envisions a church that embraces honesty, empathy, and vulnerability, becoming a transformative force that guides individuals from being walking wounded to living in hope, healing, and joy.
Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast app:
More about Kristen Humiston:
Kristen is a trauma-informed coach, consultant, and speaker who works with Christian women, ministry wives, and Church leadership to help individuals and faith communities begin to move from walking wounded to living in hope, healing, and joy after experiencing the impact of trauma on their lives. Kristen’s journey began as a pastor’s kid, living ministry life in the trenches, and continued as a pastor’s wife herself, experiencing firsthand the isolation, harmful impact of unhealthy power dynamics within leadership structures, and the burnout and emotional toll that often plaques ministry leaders and families. After a forced termination that caused a sudden exit out of ministry, Kristen finally hit a wall. Through her own healing journey, she found God better than she had ever imagined and found renewed hope and joy… She began to see more and more that many Christian women and Church leaders were struggling with trauma-related issues and God used her experience and education to begin bringing hope and healing to others walking a similar path. Kristen is a wife, mom, and grad student who enjoys any rare moment of quiet with a cup of coffee and some time with Jesus amidst her full life.
Connect with Kristen:
Vision Planning Guide
These worksheets will walk you through 5 steps to help you reach your future destination:
Are you ready to reach your Destination?
*This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. It doesn’t cost you any extra but it does help us offset the cost of operating so we can continue to offer more great content!