Pastors

Pastors often find themselves on the front lines of mental health crises. While seminary equips ministers to preach, disciple, and shepherd, many receive little formal training on recognizing and responding to someone who may be considering suicide. Yet the reality is that church members often reach out to their pastor before they contact a counselor, physician, or crisis service.

[Read more…] about Every Pastor Should Be Prepared: A Review of a Free Suicide Prevention Training

Ministry has always been demanding, but today’s pastors are navigating unique and intense pressures that affect not only their congregations and communities, but also their own well-being, mental health, and sustainability in ministry. Recent research from Lifeway Research and Barna Group paints a complex picture of where pastors stand in 2026. Fewer pastors are considering leaving ministry than during the height of the pandemic, yet trust challenges and burnout remain significant concerns.

[Read more…] about How Are Pastors Really Doing? Wellness and Ministry in 2026

As pastors and church leaders, you’ve likely walked alongside couples who describe a familiar, unsettling sensation: “Things just feel off.” It’s not a sharp conflict. There’s no big fight. Instead, there’s a quiet drift. Words feel heavier, silences longer, empathy feels faded, and both partners wonder where the connection went.

Or maybe the person who was always so outgoing has become more reserved. Maybe your volunteer who always steps up seems to be busy. And then you find out something deeper is happening. It’s as much about them as it is about their marriage.

[Read more…] about A Pastoral Counselor’s Guide to Asking the Questions that Matter

I’m a pastor’s kid and so I’ve grown up in the Church. I thought I had seen it all: playing tag and hide-n-seek with other kids when service was over, a deep revival of church leaders where I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, a sermon that landed strongly, yet nothing came of it, and the smallest prayer or song that moved a church to do radical things. It’s a place to hear about Jesus, find restoration, grow in community, and worship God. But when I went into ministry as a young adult, I started to hear about “church hurt.” Never experienced it, directly or indirectly, but have since discovered a whole world within the Church where sin still thrives amongst professing Christians.

[Read more…] about When the Church Hurts: Responding with Grace, Leading with Integrity

Does this sound familiar? As pastors, we tend the spiritual well-being of our congregations—but often, we carry our own unseen burdens of anxiety, grief, or burnout. You may feel deeply committed to God and your church, yet hesitate to express your struggles for fear of being misunderstood or labeled spiritually weak.

This Faith & Feelings Conference, taking place online on September 10, 2025, offers a sanctuary for leaders like you, a safe, affirming space to bring your whole self: both your faith and your feelings. And the best news? It’s completely free to register.

[Read more…] about Faith and Feelings Conference

Churches are called to be places of refuge — where the hurting find healing, and the hungry are fed, both spiritually and emotionally. Yet when someone enters our church experiencing a mental health crisis, how we respond determines whether we fulfill that calling or fall short of it.

Today, more pastors and church leaders are becoming aware of the need for church security and compassion. My own church has a group of both paid and volunteer security members across our four campuses, with specific intentions of preventing any kind of disaster and mitigating any disruption. Yet, not every church security incident involves criminal intent—many involve individuals in distress: someone in a manic episode, a person overwhelmed by psychosis, or a member triggered by unresolved trauma.

As someone who has personally provided de-escalation and trauma-informed training to churches, I’ve seen how equipping security teams, greeters, and pastoral staff with these tools can transform fear into compassionate confidence. Last month, I was able to sit down and not only present education about mental illness that hopefully allows individuals to be more trauma-informed with their interactions but also reduces stigma. The conversation did not dissuade the need for security, regularly prompting that most incidents will have nothing to do with mental health. Still, when they do, the security team can reach out to the mental health ministry to step in and help when necessary. Below are some of the key pieces of the training I used in working with our security team.

Understanding De-escalation Skills

De-escalation is the intentional use of verbal and non-verbal techniques to calm a situation, reduce agitation, and prevent violence. One trusted resource for de-escalation training is the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). CPI offers evidence-based strategies that align well with the compassionate response churches desire. Specifically, I used their free 10 De-escalation Tips PDF that you can download. Their training emphasizes:

• Non-violent crisis intervention that focuses on understanding the individual’s needs, rather than just controlling behavior.
• Active listening and empathy, helping the person feel heard and understood.
• Maintaining personal space and non-threatening body language to avoid escalating tension.
• Recognizing early warning signs so interventions happen before situations peak.

Church security teams trained in these methods are better equipped to respond with wisdom, protecting both the individual in crisis and others nearby.

Trauma-Informed Training for Church Security Teams

In addition to general de-escalation, Christian mental health counselors can play a critical role in equipping churches through trauma-informed training. Trauma-informed care recognizes that past trauma—such as abuse, violence, or neglect—shapes how individuals respond to stress and authority figures. Church security teams, greeters, and pastors alike should understand these principles, including:

• The impact of trauma on brain function and behavior.
• The importance of avoiding aggressive confrontation, which can re-trigger traumatic memories.
• Strategies to calm individuals using a tone of voice, choice of words, and posture that communicates safety rather than threat.

Christian counselors can offer tailored workshops to church leaders and security teams, weaving together clinical best practices and biblical wisdom. These trainings can empower churches to become safe havens, even in moments of crisis.

Biblical Foundations for Compassionate Response

As followers of Christ, our ultimate goal is not just safety—it’s redemption and restoration. Our security teams should reflect the love of the Good Shepherd, who seeks the lost and tends to the brokenhearted. Here are three Scriptures that can guide our approach to mental health and de-escalation:

1. James 1:19 — “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
   This reminds us that listening and understanding the root of distress is more valuable than quick correction.
2. Proverbs 15:1 — “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
   Gentleness, even in tense situations, can defuse hostility and open the door to peace.
3. Matthew 5:9 — “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
   Church security is a form of peacemaking—standing between chaos and safety, while embodying God’s love.

Building a Culture of Preparedness and Grace

Ultimately, churches need to embrace both preparedness and grace. Preparedness means having policies, training, and clear procedures for responding to mental health crises. Grace means viewing each individual, no matter how distressed, as a person made in the image of God—worthy of dignity and care.

Through partnerships with Christian mental health professionals, resources like the Crisis Prevention Institute, and a commitment to embodying biblical compassion, churches can create sanctuaries of safety and healing. In doing so, we bear witness to the truth that God’s peace extends even into the most difficult moments.

In today’s world, trauma affects countless individuals, families, and communities. From personal crises to widespread disasters, the need for compassionate and effective trauma care has never been greater. Christian counselors, pastors, and church leaders are uniquely positioned to be agents of God’s healing in these moments. One invaluable partner in this mission is the Trauma Healing Institute, a Christian non-profit dedicated to equipping churches and ministries with biblical resources for trauma healing.

[Read more…] about Trauma Healing Institute Free Church Resources