Frequently Asked Questions
About MTS Ministries
What is Mending the Soul Ministries About?
Mending the Soul Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that was founded in 2003 by Steve and Celestia Tracy for the purpose of equipping church leaders and empowering communities for ministry to those impacted by abuse. Foundational to their vision was the provision of a systemic curriculum that both integrated scientific/social research on abuse and trauma with biblical and theological truth. This includes a book, workbook, healing art handbook, and a facilitator’s guide which includes all of the documentation, screenings, and forms needed to begin Mending the Soul small groups in your area. The MTS workbook has now been translated into French and Swahili and is being used in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
We believe that it is our responsibility as civic and church leaders to be equipped to respond to the abuse in our communities. Abuse lies at the heart of many of our most pressing social, economic, and moral needs including: poverty, world hunger, illiteracy, violent crime, prostitution, homelessness, substance abuse, divorce, and sexual promiscuity. Abuse requires our response.
MTS offers domestic support to leaders and organizations that desire to begin or strengthen ministry to the countless men, women, and children who struggle with the wounds of abuse. We are available to facilitate seminars for church, para-church, and community organizations.
“He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted.” Isaiah 61:1
About MTS Small Support Groups
How do I find a MTS small support group to join?
Mending the Soul small support groups are typically run through local churches. We have a list of supporting churches available on our website. We recommend, if you are desiring to connect with a local MTS small support group, that you visit that website page to find the churches in your area that offer groups. Since the groups are set up and run through the supporting churches, we do not have information regarding actual group times. Therefore, we suggest you call a few of the churches in your area to obtain that information. If the church you call is not currently offering groups or they are already full, please ask to be placed on their waiting list for the next scheduled group. It is a good idea to contact a few churches and also to be willing to drive outside your immediate area if a supporting church is not located near you. Please note walk-ins are not permitted in MTS small support groups as there is an intake form that is required prior to entry into a group. Entry to groups are closed after the first meeting.
Always remember that the Lord’s timing is always perfect and He has your group already chosen for you. The start of your group may or may not fit into your time table but it will definitely be exactly where He has designed for you to be.
What if there is no supporting church in my city or state?
Since this is a growing ministry, we continually find that there are locations where MTS small support groups run by trained facilitators are not available. In these cases we recommend that the “pioneers” who have a heart to start this ministry take the following steps. First, we encourage you to connect with the leadership of your church for support as you take this journey. It is important for them to understand what the ministry is about and support you in your healing journey. A good place for church leaders to start is by reading Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse and/or look over the MTS website for information on the ministry. Second, we suggest you find at least one other person to work through the MTS small group materials with. All persons in the “group” should be the same gender and need to be willing to take their own personal healing journey. This will be your MTS small support group. The answers to the questions below and our Facilitator Guide (available in our MTS Store) can assist with facilitation preparation and the small group process.
What are MTS Support Groups?
Mending the Soul support groups are small groups for either men or women who wish to receive support and help with recovery from their experiences of abuse whether sexual, physical, verbal, neglect or spiritual. The group works through the Mending the Soul Workbook which is a complement to the book Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuseby Steven Tracy. In the group the nature and effects of abuse are discussed but the group also provides a Christ-centered, Biblically based model for support towards healing and recovery from abuse.
MTS support groups offer women and men impacted by abuse a safe place where they can support and encourage each other, and connect with other women and men who have had similar experiences and feelings. As participants go through the material in the group they learn to start trusting others, to share their experiences and to feel their emotions in a safe environment, and to understand who they are as a child of God created in His image.
How long is the group?
The group lasts 12-14 weeks. The first meeting is to discuss what happens in the group, explain the expectations, the rules and the operation of the group. It is a time to meet the other participants and share stories (as much as people are comfortable with at this point). For the next 10 weeks the participants read a chapter from the book and work through the questions for the corresponding chapter in the workbook. The final evening is a celebration – an opportunity to reflect back on what God has done in each person’s life during the preceding 11-12 weeks.
How many people are there in a group?
Often the groups are small with 4-5 women or men in addition to the facilitators. Typically a group has two co-facilitators. Groups can also have more than 4 or 5 participants but the bigger the group the harder it is to get enough time for each participant to share in the group. Due the nature of the support group men and women meet separately but it may be possible to have a group for married couples.
How long does each meeting last?
A typical group meeting lasts two hours. The group commits to start on time and finish on time.
Where do MTS support groups meet?
MTS support groups can meet at the home of the facilitator, a church, community center or organization. The important thing is the place of meeting should be private and free from any interruptions or distractions.
What will a person need as they participate in a MTS support group?
Each participant of the group will need a copy of the book Mending the Soul: Understanding and Healing Abuse by Steven Tracy and the Mending the Soul workbook by Celestia Tracy in order to participate. The Mending the Soulbook looks at the nature and effects of abuse and provides a Biblically based healing model for recovery from abuse. The workbook complements the book and helps the participant through the use of questions, art and journaling to learn tools to help in the recovery and healing process.
How will a potential group member know if they should do a MTS support group?
A person may be thinking it is time to participate in a MTS small group. She/he may feel uncertain but she/he keeps thinking that it is time to face the pain and experiences of their past. She/he may have done some counseling with a professional counselor or a church counseling pastor and think they are ready to meet other men and women who have had similar experiences and feel the same. She/he feels they are ready to move on but they are scared and the idea of joining a group seems very daunting.
If you are in this place of uncertainty, talk to a small group facilitator who can explain to you what the group is about and who can help you assess whether the time is right for you to join a group. If you do not a small group facilitator, go to our list of hub churches and find one close to you. They can put you in contact with a facilitator who can talk to you about MTS small groups and whether you are ready to join a group.
How do I become a Mending the Soul Lay Facilitator?
The first step to becoming a MTS lay facilitator is to do your own work by going through your own MTS small support group as a participant. This not only provides understanding of the group process and how it works, but it allows you to experience healing from the distortions of your own original design and therefore understand what future participants will experience themselves.
After you have completed your MTS small support group and feel you are ready to take the next step, we encourage you to speak to your church pastor about their support of this ministry at your church. You may have taken this step earlier which is wonderful. We just want to reiterate that it is very important that the church recognizes and supports you in this role. There is a facilitator application we encourage the church to use to interview and screen potential MTS small support group lay facilitators.
Finally you will need to either attend a live weekend training (usually held once per year) or watch the MTS Facilitator Training DVD’s (forthcoming Summer/Fall 2011). After completing these steps you are technically ready to facilitate a group. We do have a facilitator guide available in our MTS Store that provides questions to ask yourself to see if you are ready to facilitate, group forms, and additional information about facilitation of a MTS small support group. We recommend all MTS lay facilitators have a copy of this resource.
Are there Mending the Soul Professional Small Groups?
Yes, we do have professional counselors who offer professional groups through their offices. There is a per session fee charged by the professional counselor for this service.
To see how professional groups differ from lay facilitator led small support groups click and download the pdf below.
Lay facilitator vs. professional groups
MTS Speakers and Training
Mending the Soul Ministries has a team of experienced speakers and trainers. MTS Ministries also has a list of modules and teachings that can be selected for training events and conferences (e.g.: small support group facilitator training) that are available. We are happy to work with you to select the modules and presentations that best suit your needs. If you are interested in one of speakers or trainers for your event or conference or you wish to have a specific training event, see the information below.
How can I book a speaker from MTS Ministries for our event or conference?
How can my church organize a training event for MTS group facilitators?
Will MTS Ministries help me with planning a training event?
Please call MTS Ministries at 866-535-5044 and we will be able help you with the above questions. You may also email us or submit a request through our contact page.