The trip will mark the fifth continent to which Chaddock has provided training and consultative services to children and professionals, and is another way Chaddock is bringing their connectional ministry full circle by offering vital support to another mission of the church.

 

The estimated cost to send the Chaddock team is $16,000 and donates are being accepted at www.chaddock.org or contact Jeff VanCamp, Chaddock’s director of development for details at 1-888-242-3625.  The website also contains a short video about the trip. Chaddock is donating the staff time for these experts and to make it possible to cover their responsibilities while they are overseas. Donations will be applied to the expenses of the trip only.

 

The trip is coordinated through the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church. The group will travel to Monrovia, Gbarnga and Ganta. According to Dr. Cherian Thomas, M.D., assistant general secretary for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Health Global Ministries in New York, Chaddock’s mission team may be the first of its type sent by The United Methodist Church. While there have been mission teams who have worked with adults who have experienced trauma, this may be the first to train the professionals who work with the child victims of such abuse.

 

Many children in Liberia have witnessed atrocities or have been personally victimized during the recent civil wars. The Chaddock team will work directly with child care and metnal health professionals, acting as teachers and consultants, bringing the Chaddock treatment model to a population badly in need of hope and healing. The techniques taught will be used with the children and provide comfort long after the team returns home.

 

The trip is one more example of how Chaddock is extending their reach globally, and fulfilling their mission of “offering hope and healing to children and families.”