Local Authors Sponsor One-Day Seminar on Mental Illness
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Steve and Robyn Bloem, residents of Grand Rapids and authors of Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You'reLosing It, will hold a one-day seminar and discussion on the Christian and mental illness.
Mental illness is a disease that begs for community and it is often more subtle and much more prevalent than most people imagine. Through their seminar titled Whispers in the Foyer, Steve and Robyn seek to offer a safe environment, a listening ear, and practical help for treatment. In four sessions, they will provide an overview of major mental illnesses; discuss the personal trauma of mental illness; analyze whether mental illness is spiritual, emotional, or biological; and offer advice on how to start a mental illness support group.
The event will take place at Rockford Baptist Church on Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Doors open for registration at 9:00am. Juice, coffee, and refreshments will be served.
Whispers in the Foyer is sponsored by CAMI (Christians Afflicted with Mental Illness), which is an organization of Heartfelt Counseling Ministries. Through CAMI, Steve and Robyn conduct seminars; provide counseling; and advocate for the evangelical, biblical, and clinical treatment of persons suffering from mental illness.
The one-day event costs $60.00 per person; discounts apply for CAMI members and students:
Gold members: $40.00
Silver members: $45.00 Bronze members: $50.00 Students: $50.00
The price of the event includes a free copy of the book Broken Minds (978-0-8254-2118-1, $13.99, paper), published by Kregel Publications. The book is a deeply personal, yet practical resource for Christians who are clinically depressed or have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Broken Minds takes Steve's story of major depression and weaves it with Robyn's insights and Steve's professional knowledge. The result is a tapestry of practical information, including definitions, treatment options, government services available, and deep compassion for those who feel their world is falling apart.
About the Book
About the book
Abou
t the Book Broken Minds
Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It
by Steve and Robyn Bloem
978-0-8254-2118-1
$13.99 / paper / 304 pages
Aout the Book The link below is to Steve's personal blog.
You don't want to miss his practical, pithy
statements about mental illness and grief.
Use below for bulletin insert
Whispers in the Foyer, An Honest Look at
the Christian and Mental Illness.
See review below
Saturday, October 15, 2011.
Steve and Robyn will be conducting a one-day seminar, Whispers in the Foyer...an Honest Look at the Christian and Mental Illness in Rockford, Michigan. It will be Saturday, October 15, 2011 Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the seminar will end at 4:30 p.m. WITF is a prerequisite for becoming a CAMI (Christians Afflicted with Mental Illness) group leader.
The Cost is $60.00 per person. This includes a free copy of Broken Minds,
Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It
and one copy of seminar notes.
We offer church group rates as well as discounts for CAMI Members.
Prices: As stated above the cost is $60.00 per person. If you have a CAMI Gold Membership, your discounted cost is $40.00, Silver Members pay $45.00 and Bronze Members pay $50.00. Church and student rates are also available. If you cannot afford payment, there are some scholarship funds available from Heartfelt Ministries. Contact us in regards to your particular situation.
If you wish to pay by credit card please click on the Donate Now button below to enter the amount you are eligible to pay for the seminar. You may also pay by check or credit card over the phone by calling 616.447.9064. See our mailing address above. Please email us at camimovement@yahoo.com
Donate by clicking on the button, you will be prompted.
After you press the donate now button, what do you put in the payment box? You must put the amount of money, which matches the cost of the seminar that you owe.
For example, if you are a CAMI Gold Member, the cost would be $40.00.
If you pay the regular amount, you would put in $60.00.
If you are a couple and one of you is a CAMI Member, you would put in your CAMI rate (either Gold,Silver, or Bronze) + $30.00.
If you want to know more about CAMI membership, please go to CAMI Membership .
You can also pay by check. Make it out to Heartfelt Counseling Ministries and send it to Heartfelt Ministries, Suite 241, 1345 Monroe N.W., Grand Rapids, Mi 49505
If you have any questions, please call Heartfelt Ministries at 616.447-9064.
You can also email us at camimovement@yahoo.com
Whispers in the Foyer Review
By Pastor & Licensed Therapist, Nathan Wagner
Whispers in the Foyer is a much needed fresh voice to a controversial dialogue.
Steve and Robyn Bloem have literally “written the book” on how to survive and thrive in the midst of the chaos of mental illness. Their honesty, candor, authenticity, and thoroughness of thought offer us a unique perspective at a critical time for the church in the US. Rather than hiding or running from their own struggles with Steve’s mental illness, they have faced them head on with incredible courage and a profound faith. Their book Broken Minds and now this resulting workshop seem to flow from a deep resolve to help shift the old paradigms that so many of us in evangelical circles are still working from when it comes to the issue of mental illness.
With rare candid honesty, Steve and Robyn presented a detailed description of mental illness itself, a Biblical lens through which to engage it, and an inspirational story of struggle and triumph. Woven through Steve’s presentation are several types of mental illness and a solid Biblical discussion on its validity and implications, Robyn shared a story of intense struggle as they battled Steve’s depression early on in their marriage, the loss of their daughter and unborn grandchild to a tragic car accident, and ongoing journey as they continue to navigate the chaos and uncertainty defining mental illness.
As a pastor and counselor, I believe “Whispers in the Foyer” offers a refreshingly open appeal to rethink our intolerant and ignorant views on this issue. It also helps frame the dialogue in a more accessible way for so many of us in churches who want to help but are paralyzed by misunderstandings and fear. I want to thank the Bloems for their investment in writing an incredibly helpful and encouraging book, for crafting a workshop to open eyes and hearts to God’s perspective and heart for those impacted by this kind of brokenness, and for sharing their inspirational story of tragedy, despair, and ultimately hope. I believe many will be blessed, instructed, and encouraged because of their ongoing investment of time and energy by the profound faith they’ve displayed for so many years, as well as the celebration of God’s goodness in the midst of such a difficult journey.