Thanks for responding Wendy. I know about communities first but I am unsure how far they enter into advocacy for US welfare issues, how they support local churches in its community development, how do they report to World Renew, and do they report to the Synod of CRCNA?
You are very several important questions that are part of the whole discussion. I have bee reminded that Communities First grew out of World Renew and they are by agreement the organization that carries out community development in North America. I need to learn more about this organization and how local churches can involved with them in community development.
Well said. Too bad that we humans cover up our mental illness like Adam and Eve covered up their nakedness. In the church we created the climate for this to happen. Would that we had more Pastor Phillips'.
My mental pain was described best by William Styron in his book Darkness Visible. " If the pain were readily describable most of the countless sufferers from this ancient affliction would have been able to confidently depict for their friends and loved ones (even their physicians) some of the actual dimensions of their torment, and perhaps elicit a comprehension that has been generally lacking; such incomprehension has usually been due not to failure of sympathy but to the basic inability of healthy people to imagine a form of torment so alien to everyday experience."
I tried to describe the pain I experienced from mental illness in my book, This Poison Called Depression.
Posted in: Why Does the CRC Encourage Congregations to Speak Up on Behalf of Undocumented Immigrants?
Thank you for this very informative article laying out the Christians role in caring for undocumented and documented immigrants.
Posted in: Grace and Truth Instead of Fear
Hi Mark,
Thank you very much for exposing this terrible media bias on mental illness which is done by people who should know better.
Your work is greatly appreciated.
Larry
Posted in: How Can a Church Unleash Its Deacons?
The deacons might check with most or all of the social agencies or ministries in the city or county to see how thy serve them.
Larry
Posted in: Nice Sentiment, but Not Quite True
Well said Paul! Well said.
Posted in: Should World Renew Engage in Community Development in North America?
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for responding Wendy. I know about communities first but I am unsure how far they enter into advocacy for US welfare issues, how they support local churches in its community development, how do they report to World Renew, and do they report to the Synod of CRCNA?
Larry
Posted in: Should World Renew Engage in Community Development in North America?
Hi Colin,
You are very several important questions that are part of the whole discussion. I have bee reminded that Communities First grew out of World Renew and they are by agreement the organization that carries out community development in North America. I need to learn more about this organization and how local churches can involved with them in community development.
Larry
Posted in: This Depression: How Could it Be?
Michele,
Well said. Too bad that we humans cover up our mental illness like Adam and Eve covered up their nakedness. In the church we created the climate for this to happen. Would that we had more Pastor Phillips'.
My mental pain was described best by William Styron in his book Darkness Visible. " If the pain were readily describable most of the countless sufferers from this ancient affliction would have been able to confidently depict for their friends and loved ones (even their physicians) some of the actual dimensions of their torment, and perhaps elicit a comprehension that has been generally lacking; such incomprehension has usually been due not to failure of sympathy but to the basic inability of healthy people to imagine a form of torment so alien to everyday experience."
I tried to describe the pain I experienced from mental illness in my book, This Poison Called Depression.
Pastor Larry Van Essen