by Peggy Rice
Just last week, my Fresh Hope Support Group co-facilitator and I had the privilege of hosting some staff from the Fresh Hope Leadership Team, visiting us – and working – here in Colorado. We had a wonderful time, showing them the sights of the mountains right out our front door, doing some shopping, worshipping together at church, and eating lots of good food.
But my favorite times were when we were in the car, or sitting on the couch before bedtime, or gathered around K’s kitchen table, and we prayed for each other. Quick but meaningful prayers. Like, “I have to make this call. Please pray for me.” And we did. Or, “I’m nervous about my meeting tomorrow. Please pray for me.” And we did.
I realized, as I was driving down a twisty road with the vehicle full of women passionate about Fresh Hope, that in just the few days we were together, we had bonded. Really connected. And I think that’s because a) we love Fresh Hope and b) we prayed together.
It became very clear to me that we need people like this in our lives. We all need folks who “get” us. Friends who will drop everything to pray for us. A tribe, if you will, of like-minded followers of Jesus, who have walked hard journeys and come out strong in the Lord.
That’s what Fresh Hope for Mental Health offers through Grupos de Apoyo – Fresh Hope, Refocusing Widows, Trauma Healing. These are all groups designed to support others in their journeys. As peers. As people who have walked the journey ahead of them, and are giving back by reaching back to those behind them on the same path.
This is what Fresh Hope for Mental Health offers through Hope Coaching – one-on-one with a peer, someone who will listen and ask hard questions and help the Hope Seeker begin to see a way forward from a place of hopelessness. Not because the Hope Coach has the answers – no! But because the Hope Coach is a peer – someone who has “been there.”
This peer-to-peer approach is what makes Fresh Hope unique in the world of Mental Health help. The Ministry is anchored in the hope we have in Christ, and is managed by people with lived experience who’ve been through the Fresh Hope training and want to offer a listening ear and an opportunity to give back.
I’m realizing as I grow older (I just turned 60 this year) that I need people in my life like this. People who are walking a similar journey. Or who have walked ahead of me on that path. I need people who will speak Truth into my situation, who will point me to Jesus, who will pray with me, who will empathize because they understand first-hand.
And I also need people on that path who are behind me. To whom I can offer encouragement and support. To whom I can extend empathy, because I understand first-hand.
If you’re looking for those kinds of relationships, I strongly encourage you to check out Fresh Hope for Mental Health Support Groups. We have them all over the world, and online. Folks can come and go in a group, but I’ll be honest with you – you’re more likely to get better, and feel better, when you’ve connected with the folks in your group. That takes a little time – you need to check it out, then go back, then go back again. That’s how relationships are formed – through time and repetition. And the power that comes when we pray together, or for each other, or both.
To learn more about Fresh Hope for Mental Health and the peer-to-peer services we provide, check out freshhope.us, and click the tab “I’m looking for.”
Peggy has been involved with Fresh Hope as a Group Facilitator for 5 years and as the Hope Coach trainer for 3. You can reach her at peggy@freshhope.us
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