Some topics are hard to discuss. Whether with our own family members and fellow church members, or neighbors and co-workers, at times we struggle to have heartfelt, gracious, yet productive conversations around emotionally charged topics. In today’s culture, it often seems avoidance or contentious arguments become the easier path.
So, over the next few months, we want to thoughtfully and biblically engage a few of these challenging topics. Each month we will invite guest speakers with expertise in their respective fields to help us consider how we interact and communicate with some of “the others” in our lives with Christ-like compassion and honesty.
Sex, Culture & God
helping ADULTS & youth navigate sexuality from a biblical perspective
Facilitated by Winning at Home
February 5 & 19 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Providence Church
Winning at Home created Sex, Culture & God to come alongside adults and youth who are facing increasingly challenging situations about these issues. Our pastors and counselors will provide some expertise on topics such as:
God’s design for sexuality
God’s invitation to find our identity and relationship in Him
God’s call to process tough questions in community with grace and humility
From these events, you will learn how to:
Identify ways to walk in grace, wisdom and courage when it comes to contentious issues
Understand how to help your family engage with people who have differing views on sexuality
Create an environment where you can talk to your kids about sensitive topics
February 5
Introduction
Adults and students will join together for a short introduction and welcome before heading into breakout sessions.
breakout sessions
Adults- Join Dr. Steve Norman to discuss what the Bible says about sexuality and identity, as well as how parents can become the first, best and ongoing sources of information for spiritual truth on sensitive topics. There will be a time of Q&A during this session.
High School Students - Join Brad Klaver, Director of Coaching, as he facilitates a discussion on belonging and identity, and how to pay attention to the cultural influences in our lives and navigate them in light of the Gospel.
Middle School Students - Join Sarah Dekker MA, LLPC as she talks with students about questions surrounding core personal identity and worth and how this impacts our relationship with God and with others.
February 19
INTRODUCTION
Everyone who attended the first session (and those who couldn’t make it) are invited to come back to have conversation about what we learned during that time together.
breakout sessions
We will again break into separate groups (adults, high schoolers, middle schoolers) to continue the discussion at age-appropriate levels.
Here are some topics we plan to cover:
If you are a parent, how do you start this conversation?
What do you do if you are working through this with a family member?
What are some ways that the church can engage this issue?
What does the Bible have to say about gender identity?
We will then close our time together with a Q&A session.
Companionship Training
having healthy friendships with those in distress
Facilitated by Movement West Michigan
March 5 | 2:00 - 5:30 PM at Providence Church
Overview
Learn how to support the individuals in your community who live with mental illness, insecure housing, or chemical dependency and move from a transactional exchange to relational engagement, enabling substantive change with Companionship: A 3.5 hour course that provides an effective approach to the practice of mental health ministry through which any caring human being can reach out and help another who is in distress.
Participants will learn:
The five practices of Companionship
Skills to listen consciously and with openness
Skills to maintain an awareness of limits and boundaries
Skills to ease the isolation these difficulties often bring
Hosts
Providence Church
Doors of Hope
Movement West Michigan
Facilitator
Rev. Mark Stephenson
Mark Stephenson loves helping people grow in relationship with one another. Ordained in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), he served two congregations, then served over 15 years as the Director of Disability Concerns for the CRC. In that role, he led workshops and conferences, created resources, and consulted with faith communities to help them build relationships and reduce stigma about disabilities and mental health challenges. He has received two units of Clinical Pastoral Education, and currently serves as the Board President of Pathways to Promise, the parent organization of the Companionship Movement.
Who should take a companionship course?
Any secular and faith-based communities who are engaged with and support those who are disadvantaged using the practice of Companionship, through ministries of hospitality and outreach.
Cost
There is a registration fee of $20 for this event to cover materials.*
*Scholarships are available as needed.
*Providence Church will be covering the cost for anyone from Providence that registers. Please contact Karin Gabrielse if you are from Providence and would like to attend.
Questions?
Contact Laura Jonker
Companionship is managed, operated, and disseminated by: Pathways to Promise & The Mental Health Chaplaincy.
For more information on Companionship, visit thecompanionshipmovement.org.
Toxic Division
Dealing with the effects of divisiveness in our culture
April | At Providence Church; Date & Time TBD
In April, we will wrestle with the effects of divisiveness in our culture.
More information on this topic will be coming soon.