By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
It is estimated that about one of every five American adults has experienced a mental health issue in the past year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Unfortunately, some who struggle with depression, anxiety or perhaps a more serious mental illness such as schizophrenia find themselves stigmatized by their faith communities. They might be told they don’t pray enough or fully place their faith in Jesus Christ.
One church in Zeeland is attempting to change that narrative. Waypoint Community Church, a congregation associated with the Free Methodist Church, in the spring launched an eight-week video series on Wednesday nights called the Sanctuary Course. About five or six people attended every week, said the Rev. Darren Anderson, Waypoint’s lead pastor.
“The whole basis of it is to help people understand how the church can interact with those suffering from mental illness and those who care for those who are suffering from mental illness,” Anderson said. “It’s an unmet need in our community in a lot of ways, outside of counseling and therapy.
“This is something that fits with my testimony and my calling. We’re excited to be able to launch this here in Zeeland.”
Anderson says the response he’s received from program participants so far has been positive.
“The people that are taking this course have been blown away by it,” he said. “They have been encouraged and challenged. A lot of them have opened up about their past experiences (with mental health) with the group. I think from a discipleship viewpoint, this has been probably the best thing I’ve ever done in ministry.”
Anderson says he decided to offer the series at Waypoint after having gone through a marriage where his former wife had serious mental health challenges that required hospitalization. He is now a single father to his two daughters. He sees this as an opportunity to reach out to the larger Zeeland community.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for us to minister and reach people,” Anderson said.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, which offers the Sanctuary Course, is based in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and London, England. According to the organization’s website (sanctuarymental health.org), its purpose is to equip the church to help support mental health and wellbeing.
“Our content is developed in collaboration with theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges,” a portion of the organization’s mission reads. “These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing.”
Anderson says he gets why people who have mental health challenges might want to avoid church on a Sunday.
“I think it’s one thing to go see a therapist somewhere where you can go in the backdoor … and you can kind of hide that way,” Anderson said. “It’s a lot harder to come out, especially in church, and say ‘hey, I have this struggle, I need help.’ I truly believe that if we’re going to see the body of Christ reach its full potential – (the church) is a place where hurt and pain and struggle are not only addressed, they’re welcomed.”
Anderson believes that having a faith community to support people who may have experienced a mental health episode may prevent them from experiencing a repeat episode.
“Having that community of believers around you, building a foundation on the message of Jesus, helps us to be able to keep a foundation at home that’s strong and maybe can help prevent some of the relapses and re-hospitalizations that are the norm in our society today,” he said.
Videos in the Sanctuary Course series address such issues as mental illness, stigma, recovery, companionship, self-care, caregiving and reflection, according to the organization website. The course has well-known supporters in the worldwide Christian community, including Grammy Award-winning recording artist Matt Maher, who serves as an ambassador for the course.
The Sanctuary Course isn’t the only way that Waypoint Church seeks to serve the mental health community. It supports the annual Love and Lean Walk/Run For Mental Health that is held every April, Anderson said.
Given the early response to the series from participants and the larger congregation, Anderson plans to keep the Sanctuary Course going.
“We’ll run it a couple of times a year. We’ll run it again in the fall. In between, we’ll have kind of a support group going for people to come in and talk about (their issues),” he said.
Anyone who is interested in being part of the fall Sanctuary Course can fill out a contact form at waypointcares.com or email waypointcares@gmail.com, Anderson said.
Zeeland Record
It is estimated that about one of every five American adults has experienced a mental health issue in the past year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Unfortunately, some who struggle with depression, anxiety or perhaps a more serious mental illness such as schizophrenia find themselves stigmatized by their faith communities. They might be told they don’t pray enough or fully place their faith in Jesus Christ.
One church in Zeeland is attempting to change that narrative. Waypoint Community Church, a congregation associated with the Free Methodist Church, in the spring launched an eight-week video series on Wednesday nights called the Sanctuary Course. About five or six people attended every week, said the Rev. Darren Anderson, Waypoint’s lead pastor.
“The whole basis of it is to help people understand how the church can interact with those suffering from mental illness and those who care for those who are suffering from mental illness,” Anderson said. “It’s an unmet need in our community in a lot of ways, outside of counseling and therapy.
“This is something that fits with my testimony and my calling. We’re excited to be able to launch this here in Zeeland.”
Anderson says the response he’s received from program participants so far has been positive.
“The people that are taking this course have been blown away by it,” he said. “They have been encouraged and challenged. A lot of them have opened up about their past experiences (with mental health) with the group. I think from a discipleship viewpoint, this has been probably the best thing I’ve ever done in ministry.”
Anderson says he decided to offer the series at Waypoint after having gone through a marriage where his former wife had serious mental health challenges that required hospitalization. He is now a single father to his two daughters. He sees this as an opportunity to reach out to the larger Zeeland community.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for us to minister and reach people,” Anderson said.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, which offers the Sanctuary Course, is based in Vancouver, B.C., Canada and London, England. According to the organization’s website (sanctuarymental health.org), its purpose is to equip the church to help support mental health and wellbeing.
“Our content is developed in collaboration with theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges,” a portion of the organization’s mission reads. “These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing.”
Anderson says he gets why people who have mental health challenges might want to avoid church on a Sunday.
“I think it’s one thing to go see a therapist somewhere where you can go in the backdoor … and you can kind of hide that way,” Anderson said. “It’s a lot harder to come out, especially in church, and say ‘hey, I have this struggle, I need help.’ I truly believe that if we’re going to see the body of Christ reach its full potential – (the church) is a place where hurt and pain and struggle are not only addressed, they’re welcomed.”
Anderson believes that having a faith community to support people who may have experienced a mental health episode may prevent them from experiencing a repeat episode.
“Having that community of believers around you, building a foundation on the message of Jesus, helps us to be able to keep a foundation at home that’s strong and maybe can help prevent some of the relapses and re-hospitalizations that are the norm in our society today,” he said.
Videos in the Sanctuary Course series address such issues as mental illness, stigma, recovery, companionship, self-care, caregiving and reflection, according to the organization website. The course has well-known supporters in the worldwide Christian community, including Grammy Award-winning recording artist Matt Maher, who serves as an ambassador for the course.
The Sanctuary Course isn’t the only way that Waypoint Church seeks to serve the mental health community. It supports the annual Love and Lean Walk/Run For Mental Health that is held every April, Anderson said.
Given the early response to the series from participants and the larger congregation, Anderson plans to keep the Sanctuary Course going.
“We’ll run it a couple of times a year. We’ll run it again in the fall. In between, we’ll have kind of a support group going for people to come in and talk about (their issues),” he said.
Anyone who is interested in being part of the fall Sanctuary Course can fill out a contact form at waypointcares.com or email waypointcares@gmail.com, Anderson said.
