May 1-7 is Mental Health Week. The Rapha Initiative seeks to promote awareness of mental health issues and to reduce the stigma of mental illness in and through the churches of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. The vision for this initiative is found in Jeremiah 30:17a – “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because you are called an outcast…”.
The Rapha Initiative is providing resources developed by Dr. Roger Cann to help our churches think through some of these issues:
- Mental Illness Workshop
- Article #1 by Dr. Roger Cann for Tidings magazine
- Article #2 by Dr. Roger Cann for Tidings magazine
- Article #3 by Dr. Roger Cann for Tidings magazine
- Article #4 by Dr. Roger Cann for Tidings magazine
Union Street Atlantic Baptist Church in St. Stephen, NB, has organized events for the church and community around Mental Health Week.
- Sunday (May 1) 11am – Rev. Marlene Knowles – Mental Health and Biblical Principles
- Monday (May 2) 7pm – Dr. Joseph Aicher (psychiatrist) – Depression
- Wednesday (May 4) 7pm – Sarah Joy (geriatric nurse) – Alzheimer’s Disease
- Thursday (May 5) 7pm – Rosslyn Allen and Beth Campbell – Anxiety in Youth
Senior Pastor Dr. Garth Williams comments: ““We are excited this year to be partnering with local professional groups to help our community become aware of some of the mental health issues that many of us struggle with, and to be aware of the resources that are available to us, our family and our friends.”
