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Building Character Through Pain and Suffering

DEALING WITH THE PAIN OF POVERTY

The slums are places of intense pain, and deep bitternesses. Their very existence may be because of neglect by ruling authorities but rapidly progresses to contexts of oppression by those aurthorities or other self-appointed authorites, drug gangs or slum lords who step into the vacuum. The structural brokenness leads to drunkenness, rape, violence, and in their wake almost every one you work with is in deep pain. What is the role of the church, the Spirit, and the pastor in bringing healing?

Overview of Grief

Time of Prayer for Healing

 



Related Readings

Learning Objectives

Praxis: Past hurts will be brought before God and where possible, processes for resolution determined.

Action & Assignments

1. Prior to class, fill in the Grief Questionnaire, Ten Rules for Respect and Dealing with Bitterness

2. Develop a study on Forgiveness for your Spiritual growth group. Final Report on your group.

3. Find other readings on forgiveness and as a class seek to identify the 2 best resource articles.

4. Continue with the examen exercises.

5. Integrate your indigenous and slum spirituality notes ready to pass in the paper in the final week.

 

Conversations

  1. People do tend to grieve differently? How have you experienced this in your situation?

What have been some of the ways you have found for voicing your grief? Can you share it?

What is this transferral of the pain of oppresion and grief to Jesus? What is the meaning of Isaiah 53? Is this a kind of magical approach?

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