What I’d Like to Tell The Pastor About Living with Illness

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If you had the opportunity to sit down and really share about your pain, what would you tell the pastor of your church about your chronic illness and daily pain? Lisa Copen Living with chronic illness is lonely. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying health, happiness, and the ability to at least pursue their dreams. But many of us feel lonely, scared, and disappointed. We are faced with so many insecurities and we are living with an illness that we have not been able to pray away, cry away, or confess away. So we turn to our church for guidance, for acceptance, for unconditional support during the most difficult time in our life. But churches are made up of people—all of us imperfect. And our church does not always give us … [Read more...]

Survey for Pastors on Mental Illness By Christianity Today

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Christianity Today: Leadership Edition is doing some research for an upcoming feature in their newsletter on the topic of how churches encounter mental illness these days. Please pass this on to your pastor or anyone who is on staff at your church and ask them to take just 5 minutes to make a difference in creating more awareness of the needs or pastors, as well as those who are in the church body. Christianity Today says, “Whatever your experience, would you be willing to take a brief survey? If so, you will help us better understand what we’re dealing with. For your help we can offer a $20 discount on BuildingChurchLeaders.com. Click here to take the survey. “ On behalf of Rest Ministries, thank you too! ~ Lisa … [Read more...]

Is Your Church Building Safe?

Many times we are prevented from attending to church due to everything from new carpet that has chemicals in it to mold in the walls that is making our chronic illness or chemical sensitivities worse. This article by James Rogdgers, "Blind Spots: Why we sometimes can't see problems with our facility," is an excellent viewpoint from a pastor. It's published by Christianity Today. I realized changing the nursery was not just a facility issue, but really a ministry issue. . . . With a nursery that smelled musty & had mold marks on the walls, we were sending a terrible message to visitors: "Your babies may not be safe here, & we aren't doing anything about it." Why did I miss this clear message? I love my children. I look out for their … [Read more...]

Does the Internet Help or Hinder a Church?

A report done in 2000, Congregations Say the Internet Helps their Spiritual & Community Life by Pew Internet & American Life Project says: At a time when some worry that the Internet is isolating users & replacing traditional communities with virtual ones, a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project suggests that many churches & synagogues have found new energy & purpose through use of the Internet. Most of the 1,309 responding congregations say their Web sites & email use have helped the spiritual life of their faith communities & bound members closer together. 83% of those respondents say that their church's use of the Internet has helped congregational life 25% say it has helped a great deal 81% say the use … [Read more...]

HopeKeepers(R) Chronic Illness Groups in SC

Columbia First Baptist Church of Columbia Contact: Pastor Dennis Banks Church phone: 803-256-4251 Est. 11/04 Lexington Red Bank Baptist Church Contact: Jane Usher Church Phone: Ask for Melissa, 803-359-2681 Est 9/10, Verified 6/11 North Charleston Northwood Baptist Church Contact: Sharon Willis Church phone: 842-553-3281 … [Read more...]

HopeKeepers(R) Chronic Illness Groups in CA

Altadena New Heart Christian Fellowship Contact: Becki Royce Becki's Cell: 213-216-2671 (preference) Church phone: 626-791-3313 Camarillo Crossroads Community Church Contact: Brenda & Robert Turner Church phone: 805-484-8586 Castro Valley First Baptist Church Contact: Sue Dunnigan Church phone: 510-582-0515 Est 3/12 Carlsbad Kaiser Permanente Carlsbad - on hold Contact: Dawn Valley, 760-390-1777 & Barbara Murray Verified 6/11 Escondido Calvary Chapel of Escondido Contact: Jim Johnston and Pat Kerns Church phone: 760-489-6255 est 5/10, confirmed 6/11 Escondido Emmanuel Faith Community Church Contact: Lynne Bechard Church Phone: 858-487-5483 Est 2002, Verified 6/11 Fullerton First Evangelical Free … [Read more...]