On Oct. 30, some local churches began a series called Hope > Despair.
CrossWay Church, Hockinson Community Church, Landmark Church, Starting Grounds Church and Cherry Grove are coming together with a common goal in mind: ending teen isolation and suicide.
To do so, the series will help attendees better understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
ACEs is a 20-year-old study that shows, depending on if one’s ACEs score is high or not, if one is more likely to have negative outcomes in their life, from physical, emotional, social, and employment issues.
An ACEs score is based on 10 elements of trauma within three categories: physical — emotional and sexual; neglect— physical and emotional; household dysfunction — mental illness, incarcerated relative, mother treated violently, substance abuse and divorce. The higher the number out of those 10 that a child has endured, the higher chance of a variety of negative outcomes as an adult.
Connect Battle Ground, which started in the beginning of 2013 as a response to a series of teen suicide in the area, has been instrumental in informing people about ACEs.
Connect BG’s Executive Director Curtis Miller said that when he started sharing the ACEs study with local churches, they quickly recognized that the scientific studies of the ACEs held true with biblical teachings as well. Since then, many local churches have begun taking steps to help inform the community about ACEs and, more importantly, what to do about it.
The remedy, Miller explains, is within the very same studies. The extensive ACEs studies that show the negative results of childhood trauma also holds evidence of resilience.
One of the primary ways someone overcomes trauma is by feeling loved by someone and by having their sense of significance in life restored.
“We are operating as a disconnected and siloed community,” Miller said.
He went on to explain that “suicide, bullying, academic failure are symptoms of a disconnected generation and culture that doesn’t understand their own significance. Teens, don’t understand their significance as an internal thing. They understand it as something they do or are recognized for.”
The churches hope to take ACEs and run with it, teaching how the Bible and Christianity line up with the studies around ACEs on overcoming trauma and how to help others overcome it.
“The potential for resilience is really powerful,” said Miller.
Eddie Stanton, associate pastor at Landmark Church, pinpointed the fact that one thing studies surrounding ACEs have shown is that having just one caring adult in a child's life can help “alter the trajectory of someone’s ACEs score” and put them on a path to resilience and hope.
He explained that is the message of the Bible as well — to love one another. Through children with high ACEs scores who have endured because of someone who has taken the time to care for them, Staton sees a direct correlation to the teachings of Christ.
“The core values that we are trying to live our lives by, are paralleling what the ACEs studies are saying works in a child's life.”
The movement has expanded beyond just the churches who are a part of the Hope > Despair series. Other churches are using the ACEs study to spread hope and resilience. Many of area schools are working with connect BG as well.
