A distinctive of the Well Community is that we offer holistic care for those dealing with severe mental health issues. Beyond addressing physical and emotional needs, we undergird all our programs to also tend to the spiritual needs of our members.
Recently we had several special opportunities to do so. For Ash Wednesday, with friends from Kessler Park United Methodist Church, we had a solemn time at our Thursday Night Life service to receive ashes to commemorate the start of Lent and remember that our lives are short but have lasting value.
On the Thursday before Easter, Cliff Temple Baptist Church led us in a time of foot washing, which is an ancient Church tradition to help us enter into the days of Easter with humility and a commitment to love and serve one another.
The week after Easter, we had our overnight spring retreat at Mt. Lebanon Retreat Center in Cedar Hill. Amid the fun activities, daily Bible studies were led by two of our members. Using the devotional Our Daily Bread, Sammy* shared thoughts from I Thessalonians 1:2-7 and talked about how, when our kindnesses are prompted by love, they have a lasting impact. Thomas read Matthew 17:24-27 and reminded us that God is our provider. Together we reflected on these questions: When have you experienced unlikely events in which you saw God’s hand at work? How does trusting Him free you to live in obedience?
These are just some of the opportunities we experienced to help us shore up our faith and reflect on God’s love. And these are just a few examples of why I love leading a faith-based organization like the Well Community.
Alice
*members’ names are pseudonymns