By Randy C. Davis
President & Executive Director, TBMB
Confronting mental health; hearing the words spoken together was jarring, and I tried every way I could to advocate for a softer tone. After all, some in Baptist life these days seemingly believe confrontation is a spiritual gift. In the end, I did not get my way. Now I’m glad I didn’t.
Data collected from Tennessee Baptists during 2023 highlighted widespread concern about an intensifying mental health crisis in our state. The Acts 2:17 Task Force reviewed these findings and identified key ministry priorities that were adopted by Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers at the 2024 Summit. The Task Force assigned the name “Confronting Mental Health” to this initiative, sparking a discussion around the use of the term “confronting.”
The objective is to build a collaborative network of spiritually healthy churches among Tennessee Baptists and using the word confronting seemed opposed to collaboration. However, “confronting” is absolutely the right call given the circumstances in which Tennesseans find themselves.
Randy Davis
Let’s look at our reality. According to Mental Health America’s 2023 rankings, Tennessee ranked 42nd out of 50 overall for mental health, indicating higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care. Worse, we rank 46th regarding youth-specific findings.
We have higher than the national average depression and suicide rates, and 46% of all Gen Zers (age 18-25) report diagnosis of a mental health condition.
Mental health is a real, identifiable crisis in every community.
The great news? Statistics show there is a massive opportunity for Tennessee Baptists and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB) to serve the people of our state. Consider:
- Among those ages 18-29, 38% who regularly attend religious services report lower levels of anxiety, compared to 53% of non-attenders.
- Among all Americans, 62% who attend religious services at least monthly reported “excellent” or “good” mental health, compared to 51% of those who attend less frequently.
- Those age 13-25 who have a trusted adult at their religious congregation are 60% more likely to report positive mental health.
For Tennessee Baptists to have identify “confronting mental health” as a ministry initiative, it shows we are “fishing in the right pond,” as the expression goes. You and your church can make a difference through its gospel ministry.
However, there is still too much stigma attached to the issue, and too many people are dealing with it in secret — many of them not well. One minister confided he did not feel safe sharing his battle with depression with anyone in his church. Thank God this brother received excellent care and has recovered well.
More need this. We’ve lost five pastors to suicide during my tenure as executive director. Who knows how many more contemplate it. Enough! The idea that “getting one’s heart right” is the prescription for a healthy mind is ludicrous. The battle for the mind is spiritual warfare. That’s why minister wellness is part of the TBMB’s priority to strengthen gospel leaders. Joe Sorah leads that initiative.
Let’s help people get mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. God expresses a desire concerning optimum mental health: “And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23); “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2); “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:16); “For the mindset on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life in peace” (Romans 8:6).
The TBMB has identified initial steps toward building a strong path toward improved mental health:
Shepherd Care provides a network of Christian counselors across the state, available to pastors, ministers, and their families:
Project HELP, an initiative of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, is collaborating with churches and associations to offer Mental Health First Aid training events and Mental Health and The Church Conferences to help mobilize the church for healing.
Over the next several months, we will have a team of Christian counselors helping design a “Coffee Cup Counseling” ministry model for local churches. This approach offers informal counseling in comfortable settings, making mental health conversations more accessible to congregation members.
And then there is the stalwart of our faith: discipleship. Fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ have an ever-developing mind of Christ aimed at helping others on this journey toward good mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
We must be vigilant. Mental health is a pressing problem. Confronting it is a critical need. Jesus Christ is the Great Healer. Together, Tennessee Baptists can make a difference by reducing the stigma, providing resources, and creating safe spaces for healing and spiritual growth.
These are important days of ministry, and I’m thankful to be serving with you on this journey ahead.
