Mental Health and the Church with James Ruark
Many people inside and outside of our churches experience severe mental health challenges. This class provides an overview of mental health issues and how the church can be a source of support for those who are suffering from them. It is designed to equip believers to be able to identify mental health problems, provide safe and beneficial interventions and collaborate with mental health professionals. The roles of counseling, medications, scripture, prayer and spiritual warfare are discussed, and we take a deep dive into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (fifth addition) to understand the difference between various disorders.
Course trailer coming soon!
Course Details
INSTRUCTOR: James Ruark
James likes to quote Augustine of Hippo– “Faith seeks to understand.” He has spent most of his life learning and teaching what Christians believe and why they believe it. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Calvin College and his master’s degree in Christian apologetics from Liberty University. He has worked as a middle school teacher and social worker. He also worked in a ministry to the homeless and vulnerable adults before taking his current position as Bereavement Coordinator at a hospice. He has been an elder at River of God Church in Byron Center, Michigan since 2005. He and his wife, Lori, have been married since 1992. They have four adult daughters and six grandchildren.
OBJECTIVES
This course is designed for students to…
- Students will develop an understanding of mental health disorders from a biblical perspective.
- Students will learn how to provide support for those who experience symptoms of psychiatric disorders or substance abuse.
- Students will know how to intervene when they encounter another person who is in psychiatric crisis.
- Students will know how to integrate prayer, scripture reading and deliverance into the help that they provide for others.
- Students will be able to help the churches of which they are a part to become a supportive community for those who experience mental health disorders.
COURSE FORMAT
This directed study format enables you to receive college level instruction while studying at home. (Note, AIM Institute does not offer accredited college credits.) Course elements include:
- Weekly video assignments
- Required textbook reading assignments
- Contact time with the instructor and classmates is provided in a weekly Zoom debrief classroom
- Study questions are for your personal benefit as well as preparation for the weekly debrief
- Approximate time commitment is one hour per week of preparation and a one hour per week Zoom debrief (total two hours).
- Course will be graded as pass or fail. Bear in mind time invested in weekly preparation will have a direct bearing on how much you gain from the course.
