The Reshaping of Mission and Call of the Church: When the church learned to ask "why?"

Old Paths New Steps

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In this episode, Peter takes us through part of the introduction of a book he's working on. He explores how a simple question—"If our church disappeared, would anyone notice?"—led to a profound discovery about trauma, community, and hope. When their church decided to serve a low-income neighborhood, they thought they understood poverty and struggle. Then they learned about ACEs—Adverse Childhood Experiences—and everything changed. This training didn't just teach us about childhood trauma; it revealed why asking "What happened to you?" instead of "What's wrong with you?" transforms how we love our neighbors. Peter shares the story of Jane, a single mom with MS who needed help moving apartments, and how the church's response demonstrated that small acts of service can prevent catastrophic outcomes. This is the first in a series exploring how trauma shapes us, how resilience rebuilds us, and how the church is uniquely positioned to create the kind of community where real flourishing becomes possible. There's so much more to uncover about brain science, epigenetics, sin, and the power of belonging—but it all starts here, with learning to see our neighbors through new eyes. We'd love your feedback on this episode. Reach out at info@oldpathsnewsteps or on Facebook or Instagram at Old Paths New Steps.

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#Religion #Christianity #Malissa Bertella, Josh Lott, Peter Voorhees #Josh Lott #Malissa Bertella #Peter Voorhees #Trauma #Hope #Love #Autonomy #Theology #Compassion #Empathy #Wisdom