Sep 19, 2016
Dan Fox is the senior pastor of a church just south of Baltimore, Maryland. He has been married to his wife, Paula, for 23 years and they have four kids. Dan is a gifted teacher of the Bible and a person in demand when it comes the subject of mental illness.
Dan Touched On
Dan shared the story of his son's battle with schizophrenia. This very personal story will give you insight into living with mental illness and maybe challenge your personal theology on the subject. His son's journey changed Dan's point of view on mental illness.
Resources
Dan spoke of one book and recommended another two. Here they are:
- Surviving Schizophrenia: A Family Manual, by E. Fuller Torrey
- Side by Side: Walking With Others in Wisdom and Love, by Edward T. Welch
- Schizophrenia: A Blueprint for Recovery, by Milt Greek
Dan also recommended the organization Christian Counseling & Education Foundation
Contact Info
You can email Pastor Dan Fox at pastordanfox@icloud.com
What We Learned
There are many things in this story that we can takeaway. I want to isolate three.
- Not all mental illness is the same. As pastors, we need to understand the general differences. More importantly, we need to understand our limitations. Most pastors are not qualified to treat many forms of mental illness. Pastors need to develop a referral list. This list should include trusted individuals who are qualified to deal with mental illness.
- The church needs to be a safe place where people can freely share their struggles with mental illness. The church is not a place where we shun or condemn the mentally ill. Rather it should be a place of grace.
- Finally, regardless of our qualifications, we can always give biblical counsel and we can always love those that are hurting.
Your Point of View
We would love to hear your viewpoint on mental illness. This can be a touchy subject with strong opinions on both sides. Please leave your insights below in the comment section.
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