What does it take to create a culture of mental health awareness?
What does it take to create a culture of mental health awareness in your church or organization?
The path may not be easy, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Jessica Cho Kim is a friend of Philadelphia Renewal Network and she helped her church (Grace Ministry NJ) participate in a mental health summit last year. Here she shares her church’s journey of learning to discuss and respond to mental health issues in their midst.
Their process:
1) Form a team of informed volunteers
2) Establish a support group
3) Create a local mental health directory
4) Support counseling for their members
5) Provide education and training
Does this fit your context?
At Phila Renewal Network, we’re standing by to talk more. But we can also get you in contact with Jessica! PRN member churches are often more than happy to share their struggles and victories with other churches and organizations.
Of Counseling and Rocket Boosters
My old mentor had an interesting illustration for the experience of receiving counseling: rocket boosters. You know, those two skinny rockets on either side of the shuttle that propel it out of the atmosphere before falling away, leaving the shuttle and crew to boldly go forward on their mission…
Friends of Philadelphia Renewal Network,
My old mentor had an interesting illustration for the experience of receiving counseling: rocket boosters. You know, those two skinny rockets on either side of the shuttle that propel it out of the atmosphere before falling away, leaving the shuttle and crew to boldly go forward on their mission.
Now, of course, in most ways counseling is nothing like a rocket. A therapist generally does not launch you to new heights within a few seconds, and the sessions are (hopefully) not explosive experiences. But. If your church is the shuttle and you are among the crew, a faithful counselor can come alongside to offer strategic support to help you on your mission.
At PRN, we love what we do—connecting individuals and church communities to affordable, Gospel-centered mental health services—but we’re not the local church. We’re here to hasten the Church’s mission by tending to the health of her crew, and we hope to get better at that all the time. In fact, that’s why PRN hired me.
Hi! If we haven’t met, I’m John Alexander (yes, around here they call me the other “John A”). I’m a longtime Philadelphia pastor who, in addition to being PRN’s newest therapist, serves as Ministry Development Director to make sure that we’re seeing and serving you. To that end, in addition to our virtual and in person counseling and psychiatric services that are always available, I’ve posted our 2024 seminar series that we will bring straight to you. We’d love to visit your church or organization soon.
In the meantime, check out our January 2024 newsletter!
Steady as she goes,
John Alexander, MDiv, MTh
Therapist & Ministry Development Director