Airforce Chaplain, Captain Jennifer Ray
As a proud USAF chaplain, I am afforded the privilege to serve my God, my family, and my country, in many different ways and all in one fell swoop. On a daily basis, I offer myself as a professional military officer, preacher, teacher, pastor, confidant, counselor, community liaison, crisis responder, mentor, neighbor, friend, advisor, or whatever is needed of me from those whom I serve, at any given time. Military chaplaincy is not merely a profession, but a calling that does not clock out at the end of the workday. A calling that I am grateful to be chosen for, and one that I am honored to answer and operate in each day.
One of the many hats that a military chaplain will don, is that of a counselor to victims of sexual assault. Sexual assault involves any sexual gesture or contact that is forced upon another individual, against that person’s will. Initially, a victim of sexual assault may appear broken, and stuck in between the pain and anxiety of their past, and the horrible fear of the past somehow repeating itself. According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), “Every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.” Sexual assault is an issue that affects many and is all too common, just within the United States alone. At varied levels, many victims seem to express emotions of embarrassment, shame, guilt, anger, hurt, and sadness. However, just beyond the pain, is an ordinary person, searching for a trusting ear, perhaps a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, or a voice to comfort and reassure them that they are not the problem, their feelings are valid, and that the sexual assault was not their fault.
Every day, I trust The Lord to give me the tongue of the learned, that I may have words of love, truth, healing, and comfort to share with the broken hearted. For victims of sexual assault, the path to healing may be slow, and should cater to the specific needs of the individual. A strong support network is imperative for the healing process to move along steadily.
The victim will also need to be patient with the process and patient with themselves. One on one clinical therapy, speaking with a chaplain or licensed mental health professional, and becoming a part of a local support group, can often prove to be helpful methods to assist the victim in recovering. In addition, a victim of sexual assault should consider intentionally seeking out activities that bring them personal peace and comfort, such as reading, writing, exercising, singing, praying, meditating, painting, etc…finding ways to decompress on a regular basis, may help to greatly reduce anxiety that may be associated with the sexual assault. If you, or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, support can be accessed by contacting the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
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