Ministering to people with mental illness

[Native American Faith | Ministering to People with Mental Illness] Native American Faith | Ministering to People with Mental Illness | [View online]( [ChristianityToday.org]( [Local Church Outreach Newsletter]( Wednesday, October 25, 2017 The Under-Resourced Church Do you ever find yourself dreaming of what you could do if your church had a bigger budget or more volunteers or a larger building? It's a normal temptation for leaders of small churches or church plants to imagine what things would be like with more resources. Deep down, we all know that God is not a God who is limited by our lack of resources. Off the top of our heads, we can rattle off countless times when God worked his will through the poorest, the youngest, the smallest, the least. We know that what God values is often the exact opposite of what the world values, but pursuing what the world values so often seems to make more sense. We might know that our total dependence is on God, but we behave as if "God helps those who help themselves" is the unwritten rule of life. Faith flies in the face of our illusion of self-sufficiency. If you can serve so many people as a small church, how could you not serve even more as a large church? Large churches of course have their place, but just because your church is not large does not mean that you are failing or falling short. Sometimes small is exactly where God wants you. After all, his strength is most powerfully put on display when it responds to our weakness. Keep reaching out, [Editor] [Jonathan Sprowl](mailto:outreach@christianitytoday.com) Editor Local Mission Our Church Was Bigger, We Could …]( There's not a single command to the church that cannot be accomplished by two or three people who love Jesus, each other, and the community they're called to reach. Karl Vaters Pastoring a small church can be frustrating. We look around at our big church counterparts and it's easy to wonder what it would be like if our church had all those resources. [Click to continue]( Culture & Politics Creative Alternatives to Trunk-or-Treat]( Don't be scared of Halloween. Seize the (holi) day! Sabrena Klausman It's that time of year again. Ghosts and goblins are starting to appear on neighborhood lawns. Soon giggling children will don disguises and go door-to-door searching for candy. For most, Halloween is a fun, light-hearted affair. But sometimes Christians feel conflicted about how to handle this holiday. Does participating in Halloween mean that we are celebrating Halloween? [Click to continue]( Global Mission on Mended Wings]( How reclaiming the tribal Jesus plants new life in Native youth … and the Western Church. Corey Greaves, interviewed by Paul Pastor I hope you enjoy this conversation with new friend Corey Greaves, a Blackfeet Indian pastor working with youth on the Yakama nation. Corey is one of a rising generation of sharp Native American leaders who are working to heal historical wounds and bring indigenous theology to its rightful, honored place in Christian dialogue. [Click to continue]( Work & Vocation Freedom of Simple]( And vocations beyond 'ministries.' Skye Jethani Ordering a coffee used to mean answering two questions: "Regular or decaf?" and "Black or cream and sugar?" Today Starbucks offers over 87,000 different drink combinations. For decades marketing gurus have said people want choices because customization empowers the individual, but when facing a menu with thousands of drink choices some feel overwhelmed rather than empowered. [Click to continue]( Justice & Compassion Your Church Healthy for People with Mental Illness?]( 3 ways your congregation can embrace those with mental disorders. Michael R. Lyles My office is crowded with parishioners who are afraid to disclose their struggles with mental trauma to anyone in their local congregations. For the most part, they fear some sort of rejection or judgement if they are authentic in describing their struggles. [Click to continue]( Practical Training [Building a Culture of Discipleship]( Some people think that 'discipleship' is a track for elite Christians. More from CT Pastors [Why Domestic Violence in the Home Endangers Your Church]( Step one: acknowledge that it happens. Ruth Moon [Beat Imposter Syndrome]( How to stand firm in who God says you are when you feel like a phony Stephanie O'Brien [Setting Staff Salaries]( Churches often fail to count the hidden costs of poor salaries. Wayne Pohl Related Free eNewsletters Each weekly issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. [Sign Up Now]( Inspire life-changing community innovative training resources, Bible-based curriculum, and practical articles. [Sign Up Now]( [Local Church Outreach]( Delivered via email to subscribers weekly. 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