August 3, 2021
Encouraging Mental Health
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Addressing mental health issues looks different for everyone. Laypeople and clergy alike have stepped up to share how seeking counseling has affected their lives.
“Your mental health is really important. It was one of the biggest decisions I’ve made in my life, to go to a professional,” says Rev. Chris Abel, pastor of First UMC in Blue Springs. “It’s made me a better pastor. It’s made me a better husband. It’s helped me be the leader that God is calling me to be.”
Others see the need for counseling from the other chair in the room: Christina McLewin, MA, LPC, is a preacher’s kid and grew up with four United Methodist pastors in her family. Her calling led her not to be a pastor but to be a counselor to pastors.
“Growing up in the church, I saw all of the good, the bad and the ugly,” she says. When she went into practice as a counselor, she decided to focus on helping pastors. McLewin says counseling can give people a rare opportunity to reflect on the whole trajectory of their life.
Read more, watch more counseling testimonies and learn about next steps →
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Upcoming Events
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Walk Justly Conference
Building on our rich Wesleyan heritage of social holiness, Manchester UMC will host Methodists from across the connection in a two-day conference dedicated to the topic of “Just Missions.” The Walk Justly Conference is a NEW annual gathering of Methodist pastors, ministry leaders and congregants who are dedicated to creating change in their local communities.
Learn more and sign up →
Other Upcoming Events
See the full events calendars at www.moumethodist.org/events
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Featured Resource
Free Small Group Study Options
Many of you are likely planning for your fall small group studies. Check out these free options from the Conference resource library:
More Resources
4 Types of Mental Health Support
There are several different types of trained mental health professionals. Each kind of provider has a different title and level of expertise. These providers offer psychotherapy, aka talk therapy, a method for helping you explore your feelings and behaviors and learning to cope.
One + One Handbook
One + One Partnership Handbook is a tool created by the North Texas Annual Conference that assists churches in building one on one relationships with children and families through local schools. The Partnership Handbook provides valuable information about how to start a partnership, engage volunteers and measure success. It also offers information regarding the dos and don’ts of forming a partnership.
Advent Worship Series Materials
Free materials for Advent 2021 are now available for download from the UMC Discipleship Ministries website.
