LIVING ROOM – MY STORY

We called the group “Living Room,” a name coined by Dr. John Toews, a proponent of better church support who inspired its organization.

The founding of Living Room became an outreach project in partnership with the Mood Disorders Association of BC (MDA), who trained us how to facilitate. We advertised in their newsletter as well as the local community newspapers. We were surprised at how well the small announcements in the papers were noticed. The calls trickled in at a steady pace. “What do you mean by faith-based mental health support?” I think some thought it was too good to be true.

One person who did not appear to be a believer asked me to describe how we did things. He said that the way I talked about how important faith is to me didn’t turn him off. He’d like to come and explore it.

Christians who had been hurt at church wanted to talk. The people who came to Living Room were hurting, not only from the symptoms of their mental illness, but more so from the way they had been treated. Here they were welcomed to a spiritual home that accepted them, despite their mental health difficulties. Their faith and mental health were addressed together. Living Room became their church.

Living Room and the light it gradually brought to Christian understanding was much needed. The message of Jesus Christ and his care for the outcast brought comfort and emotional strength to individuals who had been hungry for spiritual care.

The founding group, facilitated by myself and cofacilitated by Janice K, met at Brentwood Park Alliance Church (BPAC) two afternoons a month with lunch provided. A second group started a month later, meeting two evenings a month at New Life Community Church in Burnaby. This group was facilitated by Mark J and cofacilitated by Graham H.

At BPAC, we met in a large, cavernous hall in the basement, not the most cozy meeting place. What helped was putting a table in the center of the hall, covered with a colorful tablecloth. A centerpiece was in the middle and for a few years there were dishes of chocolates. Boxes of Kleenex completed the setting.

As the group grew, the table grew. We put several long tables together until it became huge, enough for the twenty who were often in attendance. Gathering around one single table was a must for me. It spelled togetherness—easier to talk with each other and more comfortable for having lunch and coffee.

My group was an outreach ministry, drawing people from the community. They came from far and wide. Members came as they felt the need, so we never knew how many would come. It was always a surprise. Almost always one or two new people came. Many came by word of mouth. The day before the meeting, we always called to encourage everybody to come. It helped them feel connected.

The introductions were conducted much like AA. Going around the table, each person gave their first name, and if they wished, what their diagnosis is. Doing so helped them feel there’s nothing to be ashamed of. After prayer, we went into a devotional time. It was an interactive devotional where the facilitator introduced a theme and everyone was given a chance to have input.

Before going into sharing groups, we prayed, asking God to fill us with his love and to help us share that love with each other. I believe that prayer had an impact on the way the sharing time went. There was a lot of love in the group.

Living Room is important to the people who come. Some of them have been hurt by misunderstanding friends. All of us at Living Room, including the leaders, understand what it’s like to live with mood disorders and so we know how to support each other. By sharing our stories, we find out we’re not alone.

marja