Review of Trauma and Renewal: Toward Spiritual, Communal, and Holistic Transformation. By Aizaiah G. Yong

Amidst a cultural climate of division and judgment, Aizaiah Yong's Trauma and Renewal invites readers to consider an intercultural, psychospiritual, and communal perspective for transforming trauma in communities, families, and the self.As a practical theologian, Yong intersects experience, culture, psychology, various spiritualities, and biblical texts to underscore the importance of compassionate relationships in healing from trauma.Pentecostals will appreciate how Yong draws on Acts 1 and 2 in developing his three main sections: Witness, Visions, and Liberative Community."Witness" centers on seeing and testifying to trauma and the resulting suffering.Yong tells of his initial traumatic incident, a motorcycle accident, while also noting that every trauma is beyond our willpower and control.No amount of merit can protect one from trauma's full force, as it rips through one's titles and rankings, leaving one vulnerable and exposed.As such, issues of trust become one of the most monumental posttraumatic hurdles that a survivor of trauma confronts.In response to others' trauma, Yong advocates for our bearing witness, which he calls with-ness-ing.Contrary to Pentecostalism's idea of witnessing-telling others about Jesus-with-ness-ing is less about speaking and convincing the other and more about listening and being present to the other.With-ness-ing transpires when "the focus of the witness is on being with another in the fullness of their experience and demonstrating unconditional positive regard for the person in trauma and their experience" (52).Withness-ing recognizes that healing from trauma lacks an all-inclusive, step-by-step solution.It helps fill the isolation that trauma produces and can give voice to victims amid the wordlessness of suffering.With-ness-ing offers a supportive, empathic presence by focusing on who, the person who has experienced trauma, rather than how, the pragmatic actions to take to fix trauma's impact."Visions" describes Yong's encounters with Jesus, a section that undoubtedly will resonate with Pentecostals.Yong's visions affirm that mystical experiences play a part in healing from trauma.These visions portrayed a Jesus who practiced with-ness-ing, one who, at times, was less about doing and more about being.Yong experienced Jesus's healing presence in profound ways through his visions, yet his leg was not miraculously, completely healed.This reminds us not to underestimate the power and healing nature of presence while acknowledging that healing may appear in ways beyond our expectations."Liberative Community" stresses Yong's experience of how healing flows through relationships.By highlighting "strangers, neighbors, and family," three spheres of communities who attended to him, Yong illustrates how others' presence and help are