A Conversation for Those Standing at the Intersection of Faith and Mental Health |
|
|
Growing up in the church, there was a common refrain I heard from some of my fellow Christians. The critique was that the government was trying to replace the church. Through taxes and social programs, the government was taking over the church’s task of caring for the poor and marginalized. The idea was that if the government would just step out of the way, the church would have an opportunity to carry out its God-given responsibility.
As I’ve gotten older, this critique of government hasn’t gone away, but it has been accompanied by another critique of government coming from a different direction. At a recent workshop I gave for a church on how to support people with mental health struggles, I heard a critique that the government hasn’t done too much but too little. One workshop participant expressed concern that amidst increasing homelessness, there aren’t sufficient governmental resources to meet the need. For this person, the church was doing a lot but needed more governmental resources to address the homeless epidemic.
So which critique is correct? Is the government doing too much, or is the government doing too little? Do churches need government to get out of the way, or do they need government to provide more resources? To adequately address these questions, we would need much more space than we have here to reflect on issues of economic systems, political theology, and community development. However, no matter how you answer these questions, people of faith should be able to agree that we are responsible not only to critique our government but to answer our own calling. Whether the government does too much or too little, our calling doesn’t change. At all times, we are called to heed the wisdom of Proverbs 29:7 that states, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” And regardless of what the government does or doesn’t do, we are called to respond to James 2:14-16 that says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
At Intersect, we are working to bring together the people of faith to answer their own calling and lead the way in responding to the needs of the homeless in our region. To that end, we are partnering with the Housing and Homeless Division of Access Services to host a series of gatherings over the coming months that will mobilize faith communities to fill gaps in care for the unhoused. The title of our series is Answering the Call: Creating Solutions to Homelessness. While questions of civic collaboration and legal injustice will be addressed, special attention is being given to what each congregation can uniquely contribute to this growing challenge. Our desire is that every faith community in our region would consider having one representative join us for these gatherings. By working together to answer our calling, we will have an opportunity to meet the needs of those made in God’s image as well as tangibly embody the love of their Creator
|
Dave Eckert, Senior Director of Intersect |
|
|
|
Answering the Call: Homelessness
As homelessness rises and service coordination gaps persist, faith leaders and community connectors are eager to act but need tools to do so effectively. Through its Housing & Homeless Services and Intersect divisions, Access Services leaders would like to host a conversation with community and faith leaders to help amplify efforts and drive systems-level change for the unhoused. By empowering faith communities as catalysts for change, we hope to strengthen local capacity for coordinated, community-driven action!
Cost: Free Friday, July 25th, 2025 1:00PM - 3:00 PM Where: Community Partners Center for Health and Human Services, Terrence Walton Room
2506 N. Broad Street
Colmar, PA 18915 |
We will be hosting more events in this series during the coming months. You can access information on those as well as resources for assisting our unhoused neighbors below. |
|
|
|
YIGBY Solutions to the Housing Crisis
Hosted by Bucks-Mont Collaborative, Interagency Council of Norristown, and Tri-County Network, join this online event to hear from Daniel Pryfogle, the Co-Founder and CEO of Sympara, a national nonprofit helping communities reimagine underutilized religious properties for social impact!
Afterwards, hear from two faith communities engaged in Yes in God's Backyard (YIGBY) initiatives in the Montgomery County region. These projects represent innovative, mission-driven responses to the critical shortage of affordable housing - rooted in the use of faith-owned land for the common good.
Learn how congregations are stepping up to be part of the solution, explore opportunities to support or replicate these efforts, and be part of a growing movement to put faith into action for housing justice. All are welcome!
Cost: Free
Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM Where: Online via Zoom |
|
|
|
Church and Mental Health Summit 2025 The Church Mental Health Summit returns for its sixth year on October 10, 2025 (World
Mental Health Day), bringing together church leaders, mental health professionals, and
passionate advocates from around the globe for a FREE, one-day virtual event.
Hosted by Hope Made Strong, the summit will feature over 50 diverse voices across clinical,
pastoral, and lived-experience perspectives—offering practical faith-informed strategies,
including tools, language, and understanding to help you care with compassion and
confidence.
Cost: Free (24-Hour Access) / The Summit Circle all-access pass available ($19USD/month) Friday, Oct 10th, 2025 Where: Online |
|
|
|
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself |
Many faith community members have found this book to be a valuable resource in aiding them to effectively serve the poor. In addition to looking at ways we have failed to do this well, practical strategies are offered for how to empower people through the practices of relief, rehabilitation and development |
|
|
Looking for a way to help those in your community? |
|
|
| Intersect Care Portal
The Intersect Care Portal recognizes the need that all individuals have to be, and feel, safe and secure. For a hearty quality of life, sometimes it is an item that brings safety or comfort. Over the past year, the Intersect Care Portal has been able to connect those we serve with a wheelchair, mattress, bike, kitchen chairs, loveseat, dresser, hanging rack with hangers for clothes, and a Bible to name a few. Most often, these items are donated by someone who wants their gently-used item to go to good use.
Driver's Needed!
While it is often possible to match the need with an available item, the challenge we often face is transporting the item from the donor to the recipient! If you or someone you know has a truck or a van and a little time, we would love to add you to a list of volunteers willing to help with loading and transporting donations.
Please contact Juli Apple at intersectneeds@accessservices.org if this is a way you would like to support the Intersect Care Portal!
Join the Care Portal to learn more about the needs of the people we serve at Access! |
|
|
|
Intersect Donation Page Intersect now has their own donation page on the Access Services website. Any donations can be designated to specific aspects of Intersect. Funds will be used to: - Offer consultation to ministry leaders and mental health professionals
-
Empower faith communities and mental health providers with trainings on faith and mental health
- Provide spiritual support and collaboration between faith communities and human service providers
|
|
|
- As a faith leader, who in your congregation is passionate about the issue of homelessness and can represent you at our Answering the Call series of events?
-
As a member of a faith community, what step can you take to begin a conversation about homelessness within your congregation?
- As a social service provider, what more can you be doing to reach out to faith communities for collaboration opportunities?
|
|
|
Do you have something to contribute or a question to ask? |
|
|
|
| Intersect is brought to you by: |
| |
|
|
