The Church, A Safe Place to Be

I heard this week at Rotary that one of the big struggles for seniors is loneliness. The guest speaker cited a report from Interior Health where 31 percent of the people in Nelson, BC struggled with some sort of mental illness or depression. That is a staggering statistic. Mental health is becoming the number one issue in our western culture. Whether it is loneliness, anxiety, addictions, feelings of isolation, a growing list of phobias, we have become pill popping, drug consuming, and self-help connoisseurs all in the hope of surviving just another day.

Interestingly, as church attendance has dropped over the years, mental health issues have increased. Is their a correlation?

Perhaps. Here is what science knows. People need to belong, feel validated, and have missions greater than themselves to be emotionally healthy and psychologically well adjusted. We used to find it in church. When I was a child, everybody (ok not “everybody” but it seemed like it.) went to church in my hometown. You knew where you belonged, what purpose you had in society, and that there was a God in heaven that loved you.

A Church congregation is an interesting study. We have people from all socio-economic places, different ethnicities, diverse cultures, genders, (yes even transgender) and all ages gathering together to worship Jesus. Jesus accepts us into his arms, and as we rest there, a collective individual transformation of becoming like Him begins to take place.

Where is there a safe place to go these days? It is with Jesus, as the old hymn says, we are “Safe in the arms of Jesus”. Do not give up on the vehicle God created to bring emotional health to us – the church.  Granted, not every church is good. And some have had a bad experience in church. This is regrettable and should never happen. If this is your experience, we empathize and offer prayer and counselling. Most importantly  as the old proverbs says, ‘don’t let one bad apple stop you from enjoying apples.’ There are many great churches out there. We at KCF are trying hard to be followers of Jesus. At KCF Jesus is welcome, his presence is felt, and everyone can experiencea safe place to find the health, spiritual connection, and purpose in life that we all long for and require.

This Sunday, I will be enlarging on this theme, the Church as a safe place. Why not check it out and see what you think. We will be also having Lisa Benner with us, who just returned from serving on the Mercy Ship, a medical ship serving off the coast of Africa.

Jim Reimer, Pastor