Multiplying Hope

Theresa and Don

Every year, fifteen thousand young Nepali girls are sold into sex slavery in India. Hilltop of Hope ministry rescues such women and their children. They connect with them in the red-light district, share the gospel, and make disciples. As the women are set free, they join a healing community with other women. They work through their trauma and learn a skill that provides an income.

Don and Theresa Waybright just returned from a visit to Nepal, where they gathered former sex workers, team members and movement catalysts for trauma-informed discipleship training. Everyone was a participant as we all have trauma in our lives.

The purpose of the training is to bring healing to the hurt in a way that promotes discipleship and authentic Christian community.

They read stories from Scripture and retold them in creative ways, such as songs and drama.

They walked through the story of Joseph in Genesis 37–47. They identified with Joseph and the trauma that he experienced— sold to slavery by his family, falsely accused of rape, the injustices of prison, his rescue and promotion, his forgiveness of his brothers, and all the lessons he learned. The most important being: What others meant for evil, God used for good.

There are other passages, like the woman with an issue of blood. Finally these women found themselves in the garden of Gethsemane with Jesus who laid down his life for them. They brought their trauma and shame to the Cross. They were set free by the Word and the Spirit in the context of community.

Following the training they gathered 100 people in groups and took them on the same journey. It’s a movement resulting in disciples and churches to the glory of God.

For more: multiplyinghope.org

The interview with Don Waybright: 362-Movements around the World