This is a tough article for me to write. And by the end of this article, I will be asking for your help. I really need it.
Let me give you a little visual that led to me sitting down to write this article right now. On Saturday nights, I normally take maybe two or three minutes, go into a couple of pastor Facebook groups to share my latest blog article on another of my site and then go on to other things in my life. I’m not spamming, I look for posts on the specific topic I blogged about.
The website is ChurchAndMentalHealth.com and the topic is sharing about a Christian Suicide Prevention Ministry. I do one search on suicide and 35 posts come up just for the last month. Smaller numbers in other groups, but each was more than I expected… That one caught me off guard.
The posts range from pastors who have been struggling with depression or having suicidal thoughts to community and congregation members who have successfully completed suicide. An hour later, after sharing several resources and pushing a few people to begin the dialogue immediately with individuals for support, I am sitting here writing this.
Why ChurchAndMentalHealth.com?
The purpose of that website is Church and mental health professionals have a common group of people. Counseling is specifically looking at how to help people work on their own concerns with data-driven psychology and professional care. The Church has been and will always be focused on sharing the Gospel, loving one another, and providing a hopeful community to the marginalized. As a former pastor and currently clinical counselor, I see the need rising and rising, but the Church is overall is still struggling.
The website was made out of my own desire to put these resources in churches and mental health professionals’ hands. Seeing these posts in the Facebook groups only validates this for me further. The page I am most proud of is the resources page. If your church needs resources on mental health, suicide prevention, or anything else, check out the Resources page.
And it honestly hurts my heart.
How Can You Help?
I can’t do this alone. I need your help.
I’m not asking you for money. I don’t need you to give me blog articles.
But there are a few things you could do to help.
I plan to have a lot more with the website, including resources to give to churches as well as helping counselors reach out to churches for support. In the meantime, if you would like to help with the ministry, here are three things you could do.
- Sign up for the newsletter. I don’t expect people to visit the website directly and I certainly do not see Facebook as an ally in getting out this message. The best way is to get on our mailing list. Plus, I plan to release a free devotional in February exclusively to the mailing list.
- Comment on or share a post you like. The best way to help people get these resources is not advertising or marketing, but word-of-mouth. You sharing the page on social media or commenting on it on the website and social media is where I see the strength.
- Tell me what kind of articles you would want to see. I’m always wanting to help people in ministry do more, better. So if you have unanswered questions, let me know and I will come up with some good articles for you.
Would you be willing to help?
Robert Carnes says
I know you said you aren’t asking for blog posts. But do you need blog posts? If so, you know how to reach me. Great work, Jeremy.
Jeremy Smith says
I don’t need articles, but for you Robert, I’d be very happy to take them. You still have my email?