A Conversation for Those Standing at the
Intersection of Faith and Mental Health |
|
|
So That We All Have Access to Care and Community |
|
|
Not long ago, I was sitting with a friend who was asking me about the vision of Intersect. In response, I recounted our mission, that Intersect is a division of Access Services that supports people at the intersection of faith and mental health through consultation, training, and fostering collaboration between faith communities and human service providers. The person appreciated the response but wanted me to go deeper. “That’s what you do”, he said, “but why do you do it?” He wanted to know the point of this mission and what we envisioned happening as a result of our efforts.
I knew immediately that the answer to his question was both painfully complex and incredibly simple. Anyone working at the intersection of faith and mental health knows the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities that this space holds for people with mental health conditions, their families, mental health professionals, and clergy. At the same time, the point of our work has always been the same. At Intersect, we’re seeking a world in which all people have access to care and community. By connecting people with mental health struggles to faith communities, we’re investing daily in a future in which all those with mental health conditions can choose relationships over isolation. And by building bridges between people of faith and service providers, we’re laying the groundwork for a society in which all those in our congregations have access to whatever mental healthcare they may need.
Given the rocky history of this intersection, our vision may sound daunting. But it is not impossible. While we do recognize that no one individual or institution can turn the tide, we’ve seen firsthand how partnerships with those who share our passion can have a dramatic effect. Just yesterday, Intersect connected a young man from a partnering church to a psych rehab service that can help him find mental wellness and employment. And just this morning, Intersect coached someone living in a residential program in how to develop new relationships in a local church.
If this sort of life change sounds exciting to you, we’d like to invite you to become a missional partner of Intersect. As a spiritually-infused service, Intersect cannot rely on public funding but needs the support of those who share our vision. Please consider checking out the description below of the opportunities and benefits of being a missional partner of Intersect. We’d love for you to join us in building a world in which all people have access to the care and community they so desperately need.
|
|
|
Dave Eckert, MDiv., Senior Director of Intersect |
|
|
| The Multi-Faith Coalition, in partnership with the One America Movement, brings a facilitated group discussion on immigration and gun control. These topics will be discussed in a safe space to ask questions and encourage open dialogue. Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 10 am - 1 p.m. Location:
Healthspark Community Event Venue
2506 N. Broad Street
Colmar, PA 18915 |
|
|
|
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 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!
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 9 am - 12 p.m. Location:
Community Partners Center for Health and Human Services, Terrence Walton Room
2506 N. Broad Street
Colmar, PA 18915 |
|
|
|
Churches are often eager to engage local needs but struggle to know where to focus or how to partner effectively. This interactive workshop introduces a practical framework to help church and care leaders identify real gaps, engage community partners wisely, and move forward with clarity. You’ll Learn How To:
- Identify community gaps and existing assets
- Engage partners across sectors without duplication or burnout
- Take a clear, context-specific next step toward collaboration Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. |
|
|
| Join us in-person as church leaders, mental health professionals, and local agencies come together to explore how faith and community can partner for greater impact. Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 p.m. Location:
Zion Church
114 Zion Road
Clarion, PA 16214 |
|
|
|
We need collections of toiletry kits, blankets, reusable water bottles, car scrapers, protein bars or flashlights and batteries. Contact Juli Apple at 484-229-4215 or message intersectneeds@accessservices.org |
|
|
Intersect Missional Partnership |
|
|
|
I am writing to personally invite your church to consider partnering with Intersect. Every day, we encounter people who struggle silently with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges. Many of these people are participating in congregations while carrying burdens they do not or cannot name. Intersect exists to provide them with spiritual support, connection to resources and greater integration into a local church.
Intersect is sustained through the generosity and partnership of churches who recognize that caring for those with mental health conditions is a vital part of the Church’s calling. Your support directly enables us to serve those who might otherwise go without care, and we would be honored to explore how your church might collaborate with us.
Contact Dave Eckert 215-816-9608 deckert@accessservices.org to discuss partnership opportunities or make an immediate donation below. |
|
|
| Intersect is brought to you by: |
| |
|
|
