As the reality of this COVID-19 pandemic settles in more and more, with no clear end in sight, the stress and strains on relationships and within our own minds will likely increase. Those of us who have been asked to shelter in place will be encountering a new wave of challenges. And we as church leaders need to do our best to be ready to face these challenges and find ways to help our churches deal with them. Two challenges in particular that we need to prepare our churches for are mental health issues and marriage and family conflicts. 

Mental Health Resources

The awareness of and acceptance of mental health issues within the church is finally getting some traction. Millions are affected by mental illness in the US each year. In fact, over 47.6 million American adults ( of the US adult population) experienced some form of mental illness in 2018. And 7.7 million youth () aged 6-17 experienced mental illness in the US in 2016. This is a huge issue for our generation and chances are, with all the stress and worry that comes from the Covid-19 virus spreading each day, along with the stay-at-home orders, these numbers for mental illness will only increase. We don’t want to minimize the care that they need, especially when professional intervention is needed, but as pastors, I do want to put this issue on our radar so that we can begin thinking about how we can minister to them more effectively. Chances are high that many will be experiencing degrees of mental illness in the days to come. Here's an excellent article by my colleague at Talbot, Kevin Van Lant, on What Every Pastor Needs to Know About Mental Health and the Church. We may not be experts on this issue, but as pastors, we can provide some basic steps to alleviate some of the mental strain. 

Prayer

God promises us that peace will be released in the hurried place of prayer. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be make known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) Continually encourage your flock to deepen their prayer lives and practice pouring out their hearts to Him in the secret place during this season.

Meditation