Recent Posts - page 2
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – When People Feel Ashamed of Their Struggles: Creating a Safe Place in the Church (Part 1 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. Some of them hide this pain because they’ve been made to feel ashamed—told (directly or indirectly) that their struggle is a sign of weak faith, not enough prayer, or even sin.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Neurodivergence in the Church: Welcoming People Who Are Wired Differently (Part 12 of 14)
Many people in the church are neurodivergent—such as having autism, ADHD, dyslexia, NVLD, or other conditions that affect how they think, learn, communicate, and experience the world. They often feel misunderstood, struggle in typical church settings, and stumble over social expectations. Instead of feeling welcomed, they may feel like they’re “not doing church right” or that they’re too much trouble.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Strength for the Weary: How the Word and Prayer Help Us Carry the Load (14 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 feels like a weight they cannot lift. They may feel like they must perform faith perfectly, or they worry that their struggle means they don’t have enough faith. But the means of grace—preaching, prayer, fellowship, the sacraments, and pastoral presence—are not tools we use to prove our faith. They are gifts God gives to sustain us when we are weak, weary, and unable to carry everything alone.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Supporting Family Caregivers: Caring for the Ones Who Hold Everything Together (Part 11 of 14)
Family caregivers often carry the heaviest emotional load in a mental health struggle, yet they are easy to overlook. A church that cares well for the person in crisis should also care for the spouse, parent, sibling, or child who is trying to hold everything together.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – A Church Policy That Makes Compassion Easier to Practice (Part 13 of 14)
When someone is in crisis, church leaders often feel unsure what to do. They may worry about doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, or even hurting someone by accident. A good church policy for mental health care should make compassion easier to practice, not harder. When leaders have clear guidance, they can respond consistently and with confidence, rather than guessing or avoiding the situation.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Responding to Trauma and Abuse with Presence and Care (Part 8 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 comes from abuse—physical, sexual, emotional, or spiritual—that happened in their family, in their community, or even in a church setting. The church should be the place where they are protected, supported, and helped to find safety.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Caring Well: Knowing When the Church Can Help—and When to Seek Additional Support (Part 4 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. When that happens, people often look first to the church, and that is a good thing. The church should be a place of prayer, presence, encouragement, and wise help.
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Four Seasons of Young Adult and Family Life: How the Church Can Walk Alongside Them (Part 10 of 14)
October 1, 2026
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Understanding Trauma and Its Possible Effects on Well-Being
August 22, 2026
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Gentle Guides for Learning How to Carry Each Other’s Burdens
June 11, 2026
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Walking with People Who Are Struggling: A 14-Part Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church
June 7, 2026
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – When Addiction and Emotional Struggle Meet: Helping Our Church Care for the Person, Not Just the Problem (Part 9 of 14)
June 7, 2026
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – When Faith and Struggle Meet: How Christian Faith Can Help People Who Are Suffering Inside (Part 2 of 14)
May 27, 2026
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A Guide to Becoming a More Compassionate Church – Why Hidden Pain Matters in the Church: Learning to Care for People Bearing Heavy Burdens (Part 3 of 14)
May 27, 2026
