Health & Well-being

A church and health center collaborate to provide care for people with substance use disorder

The trust built by a church in Galveston, Texas, is translating into better access to treatment at a free clinic staffed by health care providers and housed in former Sunday school classrooms.

By Lindsay Peyton Journalist

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How some churches offer professional counseling to congregants, letting overextended pastors focus on spiritual guidance

After faith leaders said they didn’t have the resources to meet the growing need for mental health services, a charity offered a cost-effective way for churches to provide counseling to staff and members.

By Melissa Kuipers

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What do the roads look like in the kingdom of God? Why urban planning is a theological issue

Urban spaces are designed for cars, not people. But this focus deprives our citizens, especially the most vulnerable, of freedom and safety, writes a Nashville pastor who serves on a transportation advisory group.

By Robin L. Owen Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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Caught up in this summer’s relentless heat, we should remember that seasons exist beyond the weather

Like the calendar and the church year, our lives and work have seasons. We are best served by recognizing them and adjusting accordingly, writes the director of communications for Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.

By Emily Lund Director of Communications, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity

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How itinerancy taught me to give up the illusion I’m in charge

The United Methodist Church’s system of itinerancy means accepting that I don’t have control over my life. But after all, nobody does, writes the wife of a UMC pastor.

By Sarah Grace Thompson Writer, editor and chaplain

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Moy Mendez: A community center is fulfilling a need for fresh vegetables and healthy proteins

Hope Center in Blue Island, Illinois, has begun to focus on growing food and fish for their community and teaching them how healthy foods can make a positive impact.

Healing America’s broken heart, one neighborhood at a time

After a church member’s murder, a Massachusetts pastor developed a strategy to help communities deal with collective trauma. It can also be applied within our national landscape of division and anxiety.

By Liz Walker Founding Director, Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing

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When the river rises in the Hill Country: Memory, belonging and the work of repair

A writer who grew up in Kerrville, Texas, where recent floods have caused devastation, reflects on the meaning of place.

By Shannon Hopkins Co-founder & lead cultivator, RootedGood

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Belonging could remake the world

A new book of meditations from more than 20 contributors offers a pathway from crisis to hope through the promise of belonging.

By Erin Weber-Johnson Partner and senior consultant, Vandersall Collective

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An organization working with immigrants cultivates joy and hope while offering support services

Casa Chirilagua serves as a hub for programming, outreach and connection in northern Virginia.

By Marissa Martinez Journalist

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How do we live our lives while the world burns?

A mother considers the best way to respond to near-endless news stories about conflict. Is it OK to continue with daily life — weeding the garden, washing dishes and caring for children — while the world is on fire?

By Andrea Palpant Dilley Writer

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