Seminar helps turn the tide of anger

Nicole Wegscheider
Special to Spur Ottawa

Anger is often an indicator of unresolved matters of the heart. Some people express anger, while others absorb it. Regardless of how you deal with anger, it can have negative health impacts, both physically and emotionally.

“Holding anger can potentially lead to high blood pressure or heart issues,” says Edna Du Broy, who together with her husband Bob facilitates the Overcoming Anger seminar in Ottawa.

“The Lord works surprisingly quickly and efficiently in these seminars,” Bob adds. “This is a ministry to the heart.”

Overcoming Anger is a program designed by Family Foundations International, a Christian ministry based in Littleton, Colorado. Over the years of leading the seminars Bob noticed a pattern for the root of anger.

“The enemy’s strategy is often to use rejection during infancy or childhood to deposit an offence or unforgiveness into the heart,” he says.

“I did not realize that I was angry until the breakdown of my marriage. I felt angry towards my mother, my wife, and women.”

After growing up in an abusive household, Paolo Cesario struggled with anger for years.

“My mother was controlling and withheld her affection from me. I duplicated this behavior, learned from childhood, into my adult relationships,” he says. “I did not realize that I was angry until the breakdown of my marriage. I felt angry towards my mother, my wife, and women.”

Attending an Overcoming Anger seminar helped Cesario chart a new course.

“The seminar is a ministry in action. I felt free as God crushed the chains around my heart. Thanks to God, I notice changes in my life. I do not feel anger towards my wife. Now, I feel compassion towards her. Women treat me more gently and my brothers notice a peace and joy in me,” says Cesario.

Emily is another participant who was profoundly impacted in her struggle with anger. Spur Ottawa changed her name to protect her privacy.

“I had a lot of anger towards my ex-husband—actually wanting revenge because of his abuse, his unfaithfulness, and [because of his] letting me be the provider of the house for many years.”

“Today, I am pursuing my dreams and I am establishing healthy boundaries with others.”

Through the seminar she says she discovered the root of her anger. It stemmed from childhood sexual abuse she suffered from a family member.

“God freed the child in me. The seminar helped me to express my feelings, my hurts, and my needs. Today, I am pursuing my dreams and I am establishing healthy boundaries with others.”

Edna says there is increasing interest in resolving anger these days and they have seen more people attending the seminars. Each seminar includes a DVD teaching looking at how the Bible deals with anger, a time for sharing, and small-group prayer and ministry time.

Although anger is a serious topic, Bob says the seminars incorporate clips from movies to illustrate important points in an entertaining and humorous way. Their next seminar is scheduled for May 6, 2017. You can find more information on the events listing for Family Foundations Canada.