This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine …
While many of us have friends and family members who suffer with mental illness, it is also true that mental illness is something that is often kept hidden and secret. That this is so, is unfortunate, as it cuts people off from receiving the help they need and the support of a community willing to extend love and hospitality – a fact fully recognized by the “Shining Light on Mental Health” committee at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Two-and-a-half years ago, Jane Poe reached out to her minister for guidance and counsel when a close family member was diagnosed with depression after battling a physical illness. At the same time Jane learned there were many families in the church who were struggling with mental illness, but that the pastor was unable to disclose who these families were or the details of their suffering. While congregants often readily share the diagnosis of physical illness such as cancer, and church members rally around them with food, prayers, and visits, there is often a notable silence when the illness is mental. And so this question began to resonate with Jane: “Why are our churches so quiet about mental health?”
Made keenly aware that so many families were suffering in silence, Jane, with the assistance of a few other church members – including a social worker, a doctor and his wife, and another family experiencing a mental health crisis – created a committee to address mental health needs in the congregation.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I’m gonna let it shine.
As the group first met in the fall of 2015, it was clear that one of the greatest obstacles they and their loved ones faced was the stigma around mental illness. It was not uncommon to hear hurtful labels such as “crazy” or “nuts” applied to those who were suffering, and some churchgoers bought into the belief that mental illness is the result of a lack of faith or insufficient prayer. The committee understood stigma to be an often dark and lonely space. And so, with this image in mind, they decided to name their committee “Shining Light on Mental Health.” This name has guided their work since.
The Shining Light committee wanted to find ways to bring education, comfort, and support, both to church members and the community at large. They launched these efforts with an evening event in October 2015 during which one couple opened up about their family’s journey through mental illness; over 200 people attended. Through continued mental health educational gatherings, the committee has provided monthly seminars on such topics as Bipolar Disorder, Teen and Substance Abuse, Children and Anxiety, A Family’s Journey with Mental Illness, Supporting Caregivers, and many more. In January of this year, they offered a free four-week course on Mental Health First Aid for Youth; attendees included a diverse mix of church and community members from ten different organizations.
All around the neighborhood, I’m gonna let it shine.
All around the neighborhood, I’m gonna let it shine.
As the Shining Light committee reflected on and expanded their work through participation in the Reimagining Health Collaborative, Jane noted that one of the biggest transformations for their group was learning to think differently about Christian hospitality. They’ve become more intentional about planning events and programs, and imagining how an individual might experience his or her time at Centenary UMC. This includes having team members welcoming attendees, as well as providing special touches at each gathering, such as music, prayer, and food. Where mental illness so often leaves sufferers feeling shunned, the Shining Light on Mental Health committee is working to offer open arms of love and comfort at each turn.
The group has been successful at bringing various providers, area ministers, and community members together to grow in their understanding of mental health. The theme for this year’s programs has been “Sharing Our Stories: Voices of Hope.” They are providing a platform for loved ones to share their struggles and are quickly becoming a beacon of light in the Winston-Salem community for those seeking support for their mental health challenges.
When we spoke about the journey of the Shining Light committee, Jane described an early awareness of needing to “live with your question mark.” For her, and for this committee, that question mark has targeted the need to reduce stigma around mental illness and provide support for those living with mental health challenges. The answer, at each step, has been to “do ordinary things with extraordinary love.”
Let it shine ‘til Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine ‘til Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine.
The Reimagining Health Collaborative (RHC) convenes churches and Christian communities in North Carolina and across the nation to engage more fully in God’s healing and restoring work through innovative and faithful practices of health and health care.