Pastor Lou

Jesus said: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b)

THE CHURCH AND MENTAL HEALTH

After Easter, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hosted here in Klamath Falls a community training event for clergy and faith leaders, mental health professionals and community advocates. This event was called “Collaborating in Care: Ministry and Mental Health.”

I thought that it was well attended. The group was assigned to separate tables. The table that I was placed at had a job employment person, a farm worker advocate, and someone helping people with housing. There were both presentations and table discussions.

One of the presentations was about “strategies to recognize distress and prevent suicide”. The presentation claimed that there were three different levels in suicide prevention. One area of prevention was about those actively seeking to commit suicide; the next area was those who are planning suicide. Most in the room did not normally deal routinely with these two areas.  But everyone in the room and at my table dealt with the third area of prevention: how to create an environment of positive mental health that does not lead a person to consider suicide. In general terms, it was about those areas of positive mental health.

So, what helps with mental health? This training identified the following areas:

Identity

Community

Relationships

Meaning and purpose

Resilience

Spiritual practices

At my table discussion, even though those around the table really did not identify themselves as religious, each of them recognized that a church could (and does) help with this whole list! What a pleasant surprise!

A congregation like ours reminds us that we are the beloved children of God (identity). We gather together to worship, listen, encourage and support one another (community). We help to build positive connections with one another along with encouraging couples, family and our social connections (relationships). We each have a God given calling and reason to be – to love God and our neighbors as ourselves (meaning and purpose). We have hope and Divine power in the face of obstacles and tough times (resilience). We worship, read the Bible, spend time in prayer, help others, participate and are involved in our church (spiritual practices). No wonder churches like Hope Lutheran are recognized as places that encourage good mental health! And of course, we can always improve … with God’s help!

Yet, sometimes it is easy to overlook the good things we have. It was good for me to remember once again how important our community of faith is. My prayer is that our congregation will be a place where each of us will experience these blessings of God.

May you have life, and have it abundantly, in Jesus’ name!

Pastor Lou