Articles from the Newsleter
Faith alone won’t fix anxiety and depression
It’s okay to love Jesus and have anxiety. Feeling depressed does not mean someone’s faith just isn’t as strong as it should be. Mental health issues are not a sign that an individual’s prayer life is weak or flawed. Many of the old stigmas surrounding mental health...
Why should you care about trauma-competent classrooms?
Why do some children sit in a classroom, listen attentively, and behave well, while others find it almost impossible to focus and lash out against the adults who are trying to teach them? For generations, the assumptions have been about how they were raised or how...
Suicide and your congregation
Death is inevitable and inescapable, and for many church leaders, it represents the most challenging part of ministering to congregations. Watching people grieve and contend with loss is difficult, even when their faith is strong and they know their loved one has...
What happens when you’re no longer capable of caring?
Bethann was the friend everyone wanted to have. Growing up, she was the one who was there for all her friends … and anyone else, for that matter. No matter the issue, people saw caring in her eyes and knew she’d listen thoughtfully and have the right answer. She even...
Leader’s lines: Take Courage
It takes great courage to lead a congregation … and perhaps even more to stand before that congregation and explore topics that are awkward, embarrassing, or challenging to discuss. Issues related to mental health are among the toughest subjects for church leaders to...
Trauma-informed classrooms and test scores
Teachers do amazing work every day. Students walk into their classrooms with a limited amount of knowledge, and after a semester or a year with the teacher, what they know is dramatically greater and they’re prepared to learn even more. That’s even more amazing when...
Healthy congregations need healthy leaders
The spiel you hear every time you fly includes a good lesson for church leaders. It’s when the flight attendant briefs you about the oxygen masks and says, “If you’re traveling with children or someone who needs assistance, be sure to put your own mask on first before...
Corporate goals and mental health
Today’s business owners and managers face a constant battle to achieve more. We’re often judged by factors such as employee productivity and turnover, so we’re constantly seeking strategies that can give them an edge and enhance their ability to meet goals. There’s...
Anxiety- and depression-busters for women
Feeling anxious? Feeling a bit blue? Nearly everyone deals with feelings of anxiety and depression from time to time. In some cases, those feelings can be so overwhelming that the best answer is sitting down with a professional counselor to get down to the cause and...
Making 2020 a great new year for your blended family
By this time of year most of us have given thought to what we’d like to accomplish. If you’re the parent of a recently blended family, I’m willing to bet that strengthening your relationships with your spouse and children are on that list -- and probably near the top...