Author Archives
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Responding to Psychosis with Clarity and Compassion: Staying Present When Someone Is in Crisis (7 of 14)
Many people in the church carry hidden pain: anxiety that keeps them awake, depression that makes every day feel heavy, or trauma that flares up in quiet moments. For some, that pain becomes so overwhelming that they lose contact with reality in ways that are frightening for them and for those around them. This is what we call psychosis. When someone is experiencing psychosis, the church’s first job is not to fix everything. It is to stay calm and stay present.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – When Someone Talks About Suicide, We Must Respond with Care, Not Judgment (6 of 14)
Suicide and self-harm are not signs of weak faith. They are signs of deep pain. People who are struggling with suicide often feel like they have no way out, no hope, and no one who understands. Our job is to help them feel that they are not alone, that their pain matters, and that there is help.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – When Someone Needs Urgent Help: How the Church Can Respond with Calm and Presence (5 of 14)
A crisis is not simply “someone having a hard week.” It is a situation where a person may be in immediate danger, has lost significant contact with reality, or cannot reliably keep themselves safe. Mental health crises can include suicidal thoughts, self-harm, psychosis, severe agitation, or a person becoming unable to care for themselves safely. When someone is in crisis, the church’s first job is not to fix everything. It is to stay calm and stay present.
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What Does the Bible Say About Mental Health?
The lives of David, Job, Jeremiah, Elijah, Hannah, Jonah, Paul, and Jesus show us that emotional suffering is neither new nor shameful. God met each of them in their anguish…and through their stories, we learn how to care for others when they are suffering emotional and spiritual distress.
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10 Best Practices for Overcoming Mental Health Stigma and Misconceptions in the Church
Helpful practices for overcoming mental health stigma and misconceptions in the church include education and awareness, open dialogue, using respectful language, challenging discrimination and many more.
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Retirement Recap Video: Dan & Beth Sonnenberg 10 Years Training Pastors & Leaders in Latin America with Timothy Two Project International
See photos of over 600 pastors and ministry leaders from 43 workshop groups in 14 countries throughout Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean as well as 18 National Missionary Partners
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Common Mental Health Stigmas (Negative, Unfair Beliefs, Misconceptions and Myths) in the Church and Community
In both church and community, mental health is often seen as a spiritual failure, a personal weakness, or something shameful and dangerous, rather than as a real health issue that can affect anyone and often needs both spiritual and professional care.
