Content Warning: This blog contains references to child abuse.Peace for cities is when everything works for everybody all the time, and no one is left out. Peace is God’s goal for our cities.H.P. SpeesOver ten years ago, I started the journey of becoming an ordained pastor. I read Pastor: The [...]Read More
Communal Mental Health and Healing: What We Can Learn From Spiderwebs
When I think of communal mental health, I think of how our individual mental health impacts and is impacted by the mental health of others. I see it almost like a spiderweb, with spider silk that interconnects each of us to each other. It is sticky and strong, attracting and catching not only other [...]Read More
Uvalde: 1 Year Later
by Christina Foor & Norma RuizRead Part 1 of this blog here.It’s been a year since the terrible mass shooting that happened in my hometown of Uvalde. Last year, I reflected on Mark 4 as a way to process the deep despair and hope I was feeling in that moment. This year, the story of the man with [...]Read More
The Church Can Play a Role in Healing Trauma
by Aminah Vargas, LSWLet's face it, trauma is a topic that's on everyone's lips. It's the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual's nervous system, disrupts their ability to cope, and causes feelings of helplessness. As a licensed social worker and [...]Read More
From Despair to Hope: My Journey Navigating Grief and Trauma Following a Car Accident
by Terence Lester, Ph.D.CW: car accident, trauma, depressionSaturday, May 14 was one of the hardest nights of my life.It was the day after I received the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from the National Urban League of Greater Atlanta. After celebrating this honor with a few friends, my wife and I [...]Read More
For People in Prison, a Listening Ear Can Make All the Difference
by Paige DeurMatthew grew up in a Christian family. At nineteen, he gave his life to Christ and began to see his life transform.Four years later, he found his life falling apart as he sunk into depression. “This was at the beginning of my marriage when I was supposed to be happy, but I wasn’t happy [...]Read More
Mental Health Resources for your Journey
Art by Morgan Harper NicholsIt’s hard not to read through the Bible and see the glaring impact of mental health: unresolved trauma, blatant violence, grief, suffering, sadness, longing for acceptance and belonging, oppression, infidelity… the list goes on and on. These actions can remind us of [...]Read More
5 Reasons to Prioritize Soul Care
When you step onto a plane and take your seat, you’re asked to listen to a simple set of safety precautions before takeoff. Flight attendants advise that you fasten your seat belt as the signs instruct, and in the case of an emergency, put on your oxygen mask before helping others.As a Christian [...]Read More