Healing For The Wounded
How one of our Archdeacons is sharing the healing power of the gospel with others who, like him, have been wounded and abused.
The Wounded Healers Ministry was founded by Ven. Ron Corcoran and his wife, Deirdre, to help others begin the journey of life-long healing. Ven. Ron is the ANiC Archdeacon for Vancouver Island.
After an extremely abusive childhood, Ron stumbled into an adulthood filled with failed relationships. Years later, he rediscovered the compassion and acceptance of Jesus and shed layers of anger and resentment.
Wounded Healers was founded with the belief that absolutely anyone can have a new start in life. It offers multi-day conferences that enable people to find divine healing from deep hurts as a result of physical, emotional, sexual, verbal and spiritual abuse.
We caught up with Archdeacon Ron to ask him a little more about this unique ministry.
How did Wounded Healers begin? What sparked the vision for it?
The Wounded Healers Ministry officially began in October of 2016 when my wife and I were commissioned by the Diocese to do this work, following the publication of my book, Deliver Us From Evil: The Remarkable True Story of a Child’s Abuse, Spiritual Deception and Ultimate Redemption.
Our work is based on the belief that we are all wounded people. Henri Nouwen said: “Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. The main question is not, ‘How can we hide our wounds?’ so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but ‘How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?’ When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.”
After publication I began receiving invitations to speak on the book. This provided an opportunity to help others who have suffered and sought freedom and redemption.
What's been one of the biggest challenges for the ministry?
Parish leaders are not sure that this ministry fits their parish ministries. After six conferences we have discovered there are many people burdened by secrets and lives have been transformed.
For a more detailed response I invite you to go to our website at https://www.woundedhealers.ca/pastor-feedback/.
What are some of the impacts you have you seen from the ministry?
People have been free to share their secrets with Prayer Ministers who help pray them through trauma and other events that are holding them hostage in life. It is wonderful to see generational sin being addressed and people who have been carrying unforgiveness for years being set free. See https://www.woundedhealers.ca/participant-feedback/.
What’s your hope for the future of this ministry?
We will go anywhere we are invited to do this work for and see where the Lord takes it. Wounded Healers is blessed to have a number of monthly donors and so the ‘costs’ to a Parish are minimal and in fact, the Conference pays for itself. Fees for each conference can be negotiated with each Parish and no-one is ever turned away because of fees.
How can we pray for you?
Pray for open doors and that pastors and leaders would be willing to at least have a conversation with those that have held a conference or with our team to find out what is involved.
What would your advice be to any churches or leaders thinking of beginning a similar type of ministry?
I would advise any church leaders who are considering this or similar ministries to contact Wounded Healers and have a representative visit them and explain the details of what is involved. I believe Wounded Healers ministry transforms individuals and churches but training is absolutely necessary. Feel free to contact us through our website.
Are you part of an ANiC parish doing a unique project or ministry that might make for a good story? Email us about it!