THE OPEN DOOR – Faith in Someone greater than ourselves can bring us a sense of well-being that isn’t available elsewhere. Not with medication nor endless counselling. Faith can help us develop the following: A sense of hope A reason for living Strength to cope with hardships Confidence Relief from anxiety, stress, and fear Ability […]
Read More...INTRODUCING A NEW INTERFAITH MINISTRY Living Room’s Open Door is a faith-based peer ministry offering group support for individuals who share struggles with mental health challenges. The groups recognize the connection between spirituality and mental well-being and the two are addressed together as part of our meetings. Members of such groups have found great comfort […]
Read More...LIVING ROOM – Some thoughts for churches who wish to learn how to give support to individuals with lived experience in their communities: Learn what you can from the https://sanctuarymentalhealth.org/ They have valuable resources, designed to equip churches with the ins and outs of mental health—what they need to know about being there for individuals […]
Read More...ONE SUCH AS ME? finally brought to light. In 2011, an organization was founded in Vancouver that promised to equip churches and parishes to support mental health recovery within their community. They did this by providing online courses that explained the ins and outs of mental health. Churches were delighted to have information that improved […]
Read More...A MULTI-FAITH LIVING ROOM? – What good would spiritual mental health support be if it were only given to people of one faith? How unfair it would be if people needing support were to be excluded from the Living Room experience. Excluded from the knowledge of the unconditional love Jesus has for us. Both in […]
Read More...REVIVING LIVING ROOM Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Have you ever invented something that has never existed before? Perhaps even drawing it up on paper or making a prototype? But maybe you thought it would be impossible to make it a reality, though you did […]
Read More...REVIVAL – In February 2009, I emailed my pastor. I quoted some of it in my book, at one point telling him how I had talked with a couple of influential people about the future of Living Room: “We talked about Living Room’s similarities to how AA developed. I think there’s much we can learn […]
Read More...STIGMA – My book, ONE SUCH AS ME? describes how I spoke extensively to Christians about how individuals with mental health problems need the support of those who know God’s love. I helped them understand the importance of sharing his love with those who were being rejected by the world. The story I tell in […]
Read More...“FEED MY SHEEP” Think you have read this before? Yes, the first half you did, not too long ago. But read further down, about half way and you will find the real reason for my posting this. There’s something there that I believe some of you would find interesting – something that some of you […]
Read More...ONE SUCH AS ME? – In my book ONE SUCH AS ME? I quote Philip Yancey, one of my favorite authors, when he said, “For a writer, nothing really counts in life until you put it on paper.” And that’s so very true for me too. I also wrote, “There are very few things that […]
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