Stephen Grcevich - Mental Health and the Church: A Ministry Handbook for Including Children and Adults with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Other Common Mental Health Conditions

In this thoughtful, compassionate, and practical book, Stephen Grcevich provides a great resource destined to facilitate careful and thoughtful reflection on key issues and a faithful pastoral response that is relevant for every Christian community. Dr. Grcevich has done a real service for church.

DR. JOHN SWINTON, Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen

Dr. Grcevich does not ask us to be perfect, but he does ask us to do what we can. And for most of us, there is much more we can do to welcome people who struggle to find their place among us. This book outlines a realistic, practical approach to inclusion, informed by expert knowledge and experience. Its a must-read for every church leader.

AMY SIMPSON, author of Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Churchs Mission

Dr. Steve Grcevich offers the perfect blend of a psychiatrists perspective with a ministry leaders heart for the ministry of hope to those with mental health challenges. Not only does he identify the barriers within the church culture for those with mental health issues, but he also provides achievable strategies that empower the church to include those with mental health challenges.

PASTOR BRAD HOEFS, founder of Fresh Hope for Mental Health

This book is a rare find. Dr. Grcevich expertly combines medical information, research, and practical solutions to create a clear path to understanding and inclusion. I predict that well-worn, dog-eared copies will be on the desks of pastors, elders, and Christian educators everywhere. The church will grow in strength and beauty as a result.

KATIE WETHERBEE, learning specialist, Notre Dame College

Mental Health and the Church is an eminently readable and informative book on a topic the church has ignored for far too long. Dr. Grcevich uses his expertise as a child psychiatrist to replace our misconceptions about mental illness and sin with truth. This book holds a place of prominence on my bookshelf, and I will recommend it often in the future.

JOLENE PHILO, author of Does My Child Have PTSD? and coauthor of Every Child Welcome: A Ministry Handbook for Including Kids with Special Needs.

Too many people with mental illness have been sitting in the back pews of churches, if they are even there at all, for far too long. Mental Health and the Church shines a light on a topic that has largely been in the dark. Its educational, biblical, and, thankfully, practical. This book is an answer to prayer.

GILLIAN MARCHENKO, author of Still Life: A Memoir of Living Fully with Depression

When I think of people who help churches become safe places for children and adolescents with special needs and hidden disabilities, Dr. Grcevich is the first person who comes to mind. I dont know of anyone in the landscape of todays church who is pioneering these kinds of initiatives and innovative programs. Mental Health and the Church will help teachers, counselors, pastors, and caregivers think deeply and biblically about caring for the least of those among us.

JONATHAN HOLMES, pastor of counseling, Parkside Church, and executive director, Fieldstone Counseling

Im deeply grateful for Dr. Grcevich and his passion for the church to minister well to people impacted by mental illness. There are few trials as painful and few topics as misunderstood. Dr. Grcevich helps crack the code, casting a biblical vision for the body of Christ to minister to people struggling with mental health challenges and to the families who love them.

KELLY ROSATI, vice president, Advocacy for Children, Focus on the Family

This book is long overdue as a truly fresh perspective on an ancient problem. I believe this book will become an industry standard in helping churches minister more compassionately and effectively to children and their families. This is a must-read for all who care about seeing the church meet the needs of many who are hurting and need the gospel.

JAMIE RASMUSSEN, senior pastor, Scottsdale Bible Church

ZONDERVAN

Mental Health and the Church

Copyright 2018 by Stephen Grcevich

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition January 2018: ISBN 978-0-310-53482-2

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

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Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals who appear in some of the stories included in this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

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Cover design: RAMCreative

Cover photos: iStockphoto, Pexels

Interior design: Kait Lamphere

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Please note that footnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

To my fatherfor grounding our family in a knowledge of Jesus and for living a life that served as an example to me, my wife, and countless others of someone truly led by the Spirit of God.

To my wife, Denise, and girls, Leah and Mirafor their patience and forgiveness during the times when I failed to prioritize them over my work or ministry passions.

To Bay Presbyterian Churchfor empowering the people of the church for the awesome privilege of ministry and for bestowing their blessing, wisdom, and resources upon a very young elder with a vision for a ministry no one else was doing.

To the board and staff of Key Ministry, past and presentthis book is the product of our collective work and experience.

All of you had a part.

Im grateful that God provided me the opportunity to serve alongside each of you.