The Changing Landscape of Mental Health in Our Youth

by Ted Oden, Member of First Christian Church, Torrance

At our Regional Assembly last month, I asked Susan [Gonzales Dewey, Co-Regional Minister] if our region or even our entire national Disciples ministry had any, or supported any mental health programs. Her answer was that there may be local community activities, but no, there was nothing that she knew of at the regional or national level.

My interest came from participating in an ecumenical faith community panel where we were asked to provide input as to what we are doing to support and educate those affected, and address the skyrocketing rate of suicide in our culture's youth. 

The request came from the Volunteer Center in Torrance, a non-profit with access to funding and a mission to effectively meet the needs of our local community. 

During our session, we were told that in 2012 sociologists noticed that the teen suicide rate began increasing significantly. Also significant is the fact that although smart phones were introduced earlier, 2012 was the year that the United States became saturated with smart phones. This saturation includes our youth. 

Along with smart phone saturation came isolation, cyber bullying, and other historically anti-social behaviors. While there is no direct causality, there is a definite correlation between smart phone use and increased mental health problems such as suicide. 

According to Dr Jean Twenge, author of the book iGen, teens on average log 6 to 9 hours of non-education smart phone use PER DAY. She challenges parents to limit their children's non-educational smart phone use to one hour per day and to replace it with healthy alternatives such as family time outdoors, or reading a book. Of course in order to be effective, parents must be willing to limit their own smart phone use to one hour per day. 

So what can we do? Is there anything we can do together as regional Disciples? As national Disciples?

Here are a few possibilities:

1. Start small – Compile a list of local congregation resources across the Pacific Southwest Region.

2. Increase awareness – Educate our faith community and local families. 

3. Step out in faith – Embrace this situation as the opportunity that it is, to serve our local faith and secular communities in a very real and tangible way. 

Taking these steps can make us more relevant to our communities and that can only be good for the viability of our faith communities, and can help us reach more people with the good news of the love of God in Jesus Christ.

For further information, please check the following resources:
The Volunteer Center https://www.volcenter.org/youth-mental-health
The book iGen, by Dr. Jean Twenge CSUSD

 To express interest in forming or supporting a PSWR action group, please contact the PSWR Office at admin@disciplespswr.org.

Mile Marker #109: Hello-Goodbye

By Rev. Don Dewey and Rev. Susan Gonzales Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

Goodbye 2018. Hello 2019. Another year has past and a new one is before us. Like every year that goes by, 2018 was filled with lots of events that impacted our world. We were deeply saddened by another senseless shooting at Parkland school. Uncertainty and turmoil continued in our political world with White House departures, firings, and resignations, Robert Muller’s Russia investigation and the Brett Kavanaugh nomination. We also lost many significant persons in 2018: President George H. W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Aretha Franklin, John McCain, Stephen Hawkins and other notables.

This last year brought other events that raised our consciousness about important issues facing our communities. In March 2018 we saw the March for Our Lives, a student-led demonstration in support of stronger gun violence prevention measures. Scientists and others affirm the need for stronger climate controls. The detention of families and children at the border as well as the “Caravan” controversy reminded us the need for immigration reform.

These and other events were a part of 2018 that affected our nation and our world.

The Region also experienced changes that have impacted our ministry together. This past year we lost several faithful Disciple pastors who have gone on to glory: Ray Akin, Bill Cuzner, Ruth Ann Moran, Hallam Shorrock, Steve Willis and Byron Johnson. We also had congregations decide to close their visible ministries: Pasadena Christian Church and Wilshire Christian Church.

This past year, 2018, we also celebrate lots of new things for our Region’s ministry. We launched three new congregations: Beloved in San Diego, Life Ministries in Los Angeles and Missiongathering in Pasadena. We launched our new Acts 2 program to support, resource and empower new and transforming congregations and courageous leaders as they guide the Church into life-giving expressions of new ministry for this era of God's mission.  

In 2018 the Region purchased a Retreat Center in Fallbrook to support the growing retreat ministry of several of our Hispanic congregations and as a resource for District 8 congregations and the rest of the Region. We also were able to move into our new Regional Disciple Ministry Center in Fullerton and host one of our best Regional Assemblies!

This past year, the PSWR hosted several important events including the REVIVE Conference, Stewardship Training with Rev. Dr. Bruce Barkhauer and co-host the THRIVE Conference with Rev. Dr. Ruth Fletcher. We also hosted another delegation from the PROK (Presbyterians of the Republic of Korea), with whom we have a partnership. 

In addition, our youth and young adult ministry had a very active and productive year. Starting with their 2018 Unite conference, summer camps, a new Immigration Immersion program, Youth and Young Adult retreat, Global Service Projects in Hawaii, Mexico and Washington DC, as well as a trip to Israel-Palestine.

Yes, it was a full year of changes and exciting opportunities for our Regional ministry together. We anticipate that 2019 will be just as impactful with new changes and opportunities ahead of us.

As we settle into our Regions new Disciple Ministry Center, we are already experiencing exciting opportunities with our partners FCC Fullerton and Casa de Oracion Fullerton, as well as others who are finding our new space a great place to be. In the mean time, our Region’s Search Committee for a new Regional Minister has been hard at work as we prepare to step down after our 12-year term, which ends in October.

We are honored and blessed to serve as Regional Pastors these past few years and look forward to one more year ministering together with each of you. We know God has great things in store for this Region, not only for 2019 but for many, many years ahead. Thank you for the privilege to partner in ministry with you and may God grant you many blessings in this coming year!

Together on the journey,

Don and Susan
Your Co-Regional Ministers

Mile Marker #108: Advent Reflections

by Rev. Don Dewey and Rev. Susan Gonzales Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

In 1980, writer, poet, and worship liturgist Ann Weems wrote a book titled “Kneeling in Bethlehem,” reflecting on the mystery of the Christmas season. Reflecting on all that is going on in our world today as we prepare again for this Advent/Christmas season, we found so many of her poems poignant and relevant for such a time as this. One particular jumped out to us, and we want to share it for our Advent reflections. It’s titled “THE REFUGEES.”

Into the wild and painful cold of the starless winter night

came the refugees,

slowly making their way to the border.

The man, stooped from age or anxiety,

hurried his small family through the wind.

Bearded and dark, his skin rough and cracked from the cold,

his frame looming large in spite of the slumped shoulders:

He looked like a man who could take care of whatever

came at them

from the dark.

Unless, of course, there were too many of them.

One man he could handle…two, even…,

but a border patrol…

they wouldn’t have a chance.

His eyes, black and alert,

darted from side to side, then over his shoulder,

Had they been seen?

Had they been heard?

Every rustle of wind, every sigh from the child,

sent terror through his chest.

Was this the way?

Even the stars had been unkind –

had hidden themselves in the ink of night

so that the man could not read their way.

Only the wind…was it enough?

Only the wind and his innate sense of direction…

What kind of cruel judgment would that be,

to wander in circles through the night?

Or to safely make their way to the border

only to find the authorities waiting for them?

He glanced at the young woman, his bride.

No more than a child herself,

she nuzzled their newborn, kissing his neck.

She looked up, caught his eye, and smiled.

Oh, how the homelessness had taken its toll on her.

Her eyes were red, her young face lined,

her lovely hair matted from inattention,

her clothes stained from milk and baby,

her hands chapped from the raw wind of winter.

She’d hardly had time to recover from childbirth

when word had come that they were hunted,

and they fled with only a little bread,

the remaining wine,

and a very small portion of cheese.

Suddenly, the child began to make small noises.

The man drew his breath in sharply;

the woman quietly put the child to breast.

Fear…long dread-filled moments…

Huddled, the family stood still in the long silence.

At last the man breathed deeply again,

Reassured they had not been heard.

and into the night continued

Mary and Joseph and the Babe.

This Season, Rev. Terri Hord Owens, Disciples GMP, invites Disciples:

"In Advent & Epiphany, we recall the journeys of the Holy Family seeking space to be together and remain safe from the threat of dangers.

As we remember, may we connect with migrants in ways that match the integrity of our personal faith's call--because the bodies and souls of migrant families area made by the Creator who is One and same on each side of all types of borders." 

Here's How You Can "Be the Light!":

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/This-Advent--Seek-Light---Protection-for-Asylum-Seekers-.html?soid=1101210808414&aid=yZzuL1xLfWw

As we prepare this Advent/Christmas season to again welcome the Christ Child, we pray that we will be mindful not only of the refugees at our border but all those alone, frightened, marginalized and hungry in our world today. May we find ways to heal the brokenness, restore peace, and end injustice.

Wishing you the promises of hope, peace, joy and love this season.

Together on the journey,

Don and Susan
Co-Regional Ministers, PSWR

When? A Poem by Dwight T. Messenger, member of Church in Society

When the Titans are gathered in Valhalla,

Silence will sing a soulful song.

When the grain fields and battlefields lie fallow,

a Nightingale will hum a mournful tune.

When earth’s grime and pollution foul the senses,

a scent of Hope will waft on the air.

When Crime, Cruelty and Injustice

infiltrate society and personal space,

Compassionate Resistance will rise from

the rich soil of Humanity and Dignity.

When Villains and Demagogues debunk fair play,

Heroes will demonstrate a kinder, gentler, wholesome way.

When?

Why not now?

Hatchery LA Update

Hi everyone!  We have so much to share!  But we will keep this short and sweet! 

Early September, leading up to the start of our fall cohort, we launched a series of conversations called Future and Faith.  This series consisted of three conversations: A theologian, a practitioner and some of our own spiritual entrepreneurs.  Everyone is having conversations about the future of faith.  We are having them, we know you’re having them and we wanted to have them together. 

We are launching our next series on Future and Faith November 13th.  It is a FREE ONLINE event.  All you have to do is sign up!  You will receive a link to the first conversation an hour before it drops on November 13th.  The same will happen over the next two days with the other two conversations.  Theologian and Philosopher John Caputo will be our first conversation.  We are so excited and honored to be doing this with him! 

Our second conversation will be with our friends over at the CenterForm incubator, John and Kathryn Heinz.  These conversations are going to be amazing and we would love for you to join us!  Click here to sign up for free! 

You can also get linked to our earlier Future and Faith event and re-watch our conversations with Peter Rollins, our theologian and Sue Phillips from the How We Gather incubator.  We have created a page just for the PSWR so you will be able to sign up for Future and Faith but also find out about what else we are up to. 

In other news we had a great Regional Assembly!  We absolutely loved connecting with so many of you and hearing about what you are currently doing in your ministries and in your lives! 

Looking forward to talking with you all again soon! 
Maria French and the Hatchery LA Team