For all my friends who battle anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder; for all of us who have friends and family members who struggle with these illnesses: don't miss the new 24 Hours of Hope event, hosted by Rick and Kay Warren of Saddleback Community Church, online this Friday, October 10.
As you may know, the Warrens' son, Matthew, lost his lifelong battle with depression at age 27, and the Warrens have since made it their mission to break one of the last taboos in the church: the shame and silence that surrounds mental illness of all kinds.
Their first event was this past May, and you can find a number of those sessions on YouTube, just by searching for "Saddleback Mental Health Conference." (That's where the above video came from.)
Here's the blurb from Saddleback. Spread the good word on social media and get watching this Friday!
Sometimes, the pain in your brain is the worst kind of pain.
When your mind get sick, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with painful thoughts like panic or anxiety or rage or compulsive ideas that you can’t get out of your mind. Mental pain can lead to despair and even thoughts of ending your life.
THE GOOD NEWS IS
YOU’RE NOT ALONE & THERE IS HOPE!
That’s why I urge you to join me this Friday, October 10, for 24 HOURS OF HOPE, A FREE, GLOBAL ONLINE SIMULCAST.
Because “mental” illness is so misunderstands, it is often stigmatized as strange or different or shameful. So we hide our hurt and suffer in silence, thinking we are “odd” or “not normal.” But the truth is, illnesses of the brain are as common as illnesses of any other organs.
Today one out of four adults in America is affected by a mental illness at some point in their lives. That means you know and love family, friends, and co-workers who are struggling with some type of mental illness. You may be struggling too.
BECAUSE...
- Jesus calls us to always help those who hurt in any way ...
- Over 400 million struggle with mental illness around the world...
- Kay and I, and our family, saw Matthew lose his battle with this illness...
- Saddleback is committed to leading the way for other churches...
Saddleback Church has made Mental Health one of our 7 “Signature Ministries.”
That means our church will do everything we can to support those who hurt, and to equip families and churches to minister in this area where most of us have felt helpless and hopeless to offer assistance.
Last May, Saddleback co-sponsored the groundbreaking Gathering on Mental Health and The Church featuring some of the best experts, teachers, and testimonies in the nation. For many, that conference was life-changing. For others, it was literally life-saving. That conference was so helpful we knew that the content needed to be shared with the whole world.
SO THIS FRIDAY, which is WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY Kay and I are hosting a free online simulcast to let those suffering know that WE CARE!
24 HOURS OF HOPE will feature practical teaching, encouraging testimonies, and helpful interviews from 30 speakers, including Kay and me. The 9 hours of programming will be repeated several times so people in every time zone around the world can participate. You can join us anytime, beginning at midnight on Thursday.
Will you help me get the word out? Please give a thumbs up to this post and link to it (http://on.fb.me/1a6s3p3) on your social media accounts. You have no idea who you might help or whose life you might save. Thanks!
THEN JOIN US ONLINE THIS FRIDAY atwww.mentalhealthandthechurch.com for 24 HOURS OF HOPE. Bless you! Rick Warren