Equipping For Mental Health Ministry

Statistics show that those suffering from mental illness will often turn to the church even before seeking advice from medical professionals. That’s why Saddleback Church has taken steps to train our own members, as well as other church leaders, to create a pathway to hope for those who are hurting.

From October 23–25, Saddleback’s Hope for Mental Health Team hosted REACH, a 3-day mental health training for pastors. Held at Saddleback’s Rancho Capistrano Retreat Center, the event equipped leaders with tools to build Mental Health Ministries within the context of their own churches.

In attendance were leaders from 46 churches, two nonprofits, and one hospital in Orange County. Guest speakers included Kay Warren, Professor John Swinton, and others who shared best practices and a theological framework for starting a mental health ministry. Leaders were given practical solutions in caring for people impacted by mental illness, and expanding their reach in their churches and communities. 

“This ministry field is ripe,” says David Mandani, Saddleback’s Pastor of Mental Health. “Few churches have a plan in place for a robust response to those suffering from mental illness. This training gave them a framework to launch a Mental Health Ministry no matter where they’re at in growth and size, from churches of large influence, to churches that are young or small.”

Opening the event was Kay Warren who shared a special message on “What the Church Can Do,” followed by a session with Professor John Swinton on “Removing the Stigma.” Other highlights included discussions on launching support groups, implementing a framework for care teams, developing a counseling ministry, mobilizing volunteers, and starting a Celebrate Recovery ministry.

Attendees were trained on the four levels of Hope for Mental Health Ministry, ranging from “crawl” for churches that are entirely volunteer-run with no funding, to “run” for churches with a significant budget and multiple staff. Each level is customized to the needs of that specific church, so that no matter the size, launching a mental health ministry is obtainable.

“The feedback was excellent,” says Pastor David. “Some people said it was like drinking through a fire hose with all the incredible insight. But the main takeaway was that everyone left with renewed energy and vision to start a mental health ministry.”

Equipping churches didn’t end at the REACH event, however. Participants have exclusive access to online discussion forums, web based training, and coaching support from Saddleback staff.

After the success of REACH, the Hope for Mental Health Team is considering making this an annual training event. “This is all pioneer work,” says David. “No single church has ever provided other churches and organizations with a concrete model for launching a mental health ministry. There is such a need for this across our churches, especially now. As we continue building a pathway to hope, we elicit your prayers.”

To learn more about upcoming Hope for Mental Health events, visit http://hope4mentalhealth.com/.