A good friend of mine, James E. Leary, has recently written "Shepherding Minds: Rebuilding the Church’s Response to Mental Health". I have provided a small taste for your reflection... I believe this book would be of great value to your ministry.
"As ministry leaders, counselors, caregivers, and church members, our role is not to rush people past their pain or fix their sorrow with platitudes. It’s to stand with them in it. To hold space for both tears and trust. To remind them that their sorrow is not the whole story, and that real joy—God’s joy—is still possible right there in the midst of the struggle. That’s where the strength is found: not in getting over it, but in walking through it with God beside us. That is where true healing begins.
So, how do we bring this into our churches in a way that’s not just inspiring in the short term but truly sustainable over time? Here are practical ways to cultivate this kind of culture in a lasting way.
✔️ Use Scripture in All Care Training Every time you train a care team, whether for grief support, crisis response, mental health ministry, or hospital visitation, anchor that training in God’s Word. Scripture provides the framework that keeps our care grounded in God’s redemptive story rather than merely human compassion.
✔️ Introduce Reflection and Lament in Worship. Not every worship event needs to be high-energy and celebratory. In fact, for many who are suffering silently, those kinds of services can feel alienating. Create occasions where honesty is welcomed. Plan occasional evening worship events on reflection, lament, and quiet trust. These can include songs that express longing and waiting, readings from the Psalms, moments of silence, journaling stations, and opportunities for prayer.
✔️ Include Scripture in Care Conversations When you’re sitting with someone in pain, Scripture should neither be forced nor forgotten. The goal is not to “fix” their problems with a verse but to remind them they’re not alone. For example, you can create a gentle entry point by asking, “Would it be okay if I shared a verse that’s helped me?” A quiet reading of Psalm 23 or Isaiah 41:10 can often speak more deeply than lengthy advice. Let the Word act as a balm, not a bandage.
✔️ Equip Your Worship Leaders. Worship leaders are not just musicians; they are spiritual shepherds. The songs they select and the atmosphere they shape on Sundays profoundly influence how people experience God. Encourage them to choose songs that reflect the full arc of the gospel story: creation, fall, longing, redemption, and hope. Urge them to build in moments of pause and silence, recognizing that someone in the room is carrying sorrow. Worship that honors this emotional reality creates a sanctuary where healing can begin." (chapter 8, The Word and Worship)
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
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