Date
6-17-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Brian Cambra
Keywords
Secondary trauma, secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, burnout, missionary, Christian missionaries, cross-cultural ministry, member care, missionary care, trauma-informed care, mission organizations, spiritual distress
Disciplines
Christianity
Recommended Citation
Baxter, Rebekah M. F., "Understanding Secondary Trauma in Cross Cultural Ministry Contexts" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8598.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8598
Abstract
Christian cross cultural missionary workers serving in cross cultural contexts frequently operate in emotionally and spiritually demanding environments characterized by poverty, violence, displacement, and systemic suffering. In these settings, ongoing exposure to trauma narratives and the distress of others may place ministry workers at risk for secondary traumatic stress (STS), a condition commonly studied in healthcare and counseling professions but under-explored in ministry contexts. STS can manifest in emotional, cognitive, and spiritual symptoms that affect both personal well-being and vocational sustainability. While existing literature acknowledges that missionary workers face unique risk factors, the lived experiences of Christian cross cultural missionary workers navigating secondary trauma have received limited empirical attention. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of cross cultural Christian missionary workers who have encountered secondary trauma in their ministry settings. Through in-depth interviews with participants who meet the inclusion criteria, the study seeks to understand how they perceive risk factors contributing to STS, how they interpret and navigate its emotional and psychological effects, and what coping strategies they utilize. Findings are expected to contribute to both scholarship and practice by informing trauma-informed member care models and offering insights for sending organizations, churches, and support networks that aim to promote resilience and retention among global ministry workers.
