Where Would You Turn?
Hey everybody,
A couple of weeks ago, a friend contacted me with a crisis on their hands. Their younger sibling was going through a mental health crisis that was very difficult and confusing. I provided a listening ear, offered prayer, and suggested that if they thought the person might harm themselves to call the suicide and crisis lifeline at “988.” They were appreciative, but I would guess that they were also a little frustrated.
They wanted more than empathy; they wanted direction. They wanted resources. They wanted answers.
If someone came to you with a similar situation, what would you do?
On Tuesday, February 21st from 6 pm-8 pm, Hub 757 is hosting an event called “Love Yourself?” It’s designed to give direction and tools to help you if someone comes to you looking for assistance, or to offer you direction if you need some help. It’s all about learning to care for the mental health of yourself and others.
The Gathering room will be set up “conference style” with booths containing lots of information on where to go when facing a variety of mental health issues; those booths will be hosted by knowledgeable people from the medical world including doctors and nurses who have experience in this field as well people from the AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Here you can learn about prevention education, depression, anxiety signs and symptoms, how to have hard conversations with a loved one, coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression, where to seek help and primary care, and so much more.
While this is not a Believers Church event, a member of Believers is sponsoring it and we are grateful to have the opportunity to host this event which is open to the entire community.
I would encourage you to share this event with friends and family. Believers is committed to removing the stigma around mental health struggles, and one of the ways that we do that is to talk about it openly and grow in our understanding of how to come alongside those who are struggling.
A Facebook event has been created for this that you can check out here.
Pastor Rick and Kay Warren, who lost their son to suicide several years ago developed what they call “The Hope Circle” which offers five life-transforming Scriptural truths that combat a negative message that holds people back from moving toward hope. Maybe they will encourage you or someone you know:
- When someone says, “I don’t matter,” God says, You Have a Purpose!
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
- When someone says, “I don’t fit in,” God says, You Belong!
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4-5
- When someone says, “I want to give up,” God says, You Have a Choice!
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7
- When someone says, “I feel useless,” God says, You Are Needed!
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
- When someone says, “I hate myself,” God says, You Are Loved!
This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10
I hope this encourages you! Join us THIS Sunday for the continuation of our Re|Engage series. It’s going to be a powerful weekend that includes our first celebration of communion in 2023!
Many Blessings,
Pastor Jamey