by Hope City Church on Jun 09, 2024
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound teachings of Matthew 6:25, where Jesus instructs us not to worry about our lives, what we will eat, drink, or wear, emphasizing that life is more than food and the body more than clothes. This scripture sets the stage for a deeper discussion on trusting God in every circumstance, even in the face of grief and loss. I shared a personal story about my grandmother's passing and the emotional journey that followed, highlighting the importance of finding contentment and strength in God's presence, even amidst tears and sorrow.
We also delved into the significance of mental health, particularly within the context of our church community. The conversation touched on the challenges of dealing with grief, trauma, and the importance of seeking help. We discussed the alarming statistics around mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and the need for more male therapists to address the unique struggles men face. The sermon emphasized the importance of empathy, cultural competency, and the role of the church in supporting mental health initiatives.
Furthermore, we explored the concept of generational trauma, using examples from the Holocaust and slavery, to illustrate how trauma can be passed down through generations. This led to a discussion on the importance of breaking cycles of dysfunction and creating a legacy of mental and emotional well-being. The sermon concluded with a call to action for the congregation to seek help, support one another, and prioritize mental health as a crucial aspect of their spiritual journey.
### Key Takeaways
1. **Trust in God's Provision**: Jesus teaches us not to worry about our basic needs, reminding us that life is more than food and the body more than clothes. This calls us to trust in God's provision and care, knowing that He values us more than the birds of the air, which He faithfully feeds. Trusting God in every circumstance allows us to find peace and contentment, even in times of uncertainty. [19:22]
2. **The Power of Empathy and Support**: Sharing personal stories of grief and loss can be a powerful way to connect with others and offer support. Empathy and genuine care are essential in helping others navigate their emotional journeys. By being present and offering a listening ear, we can provide comfort and strength to those who are hurting. [26:21]
3. **Breaking Generational Trauma**: Trauma can be passed down through generations, affecting not just those who directly experienced it but also their descendants. Recognizing this, we must be proactive in addressing and healing from past traumas to break cycles of dysfunction. This involves seeking help, being open about our struggles, and creating a legacy of mental and emotional well-being for future generations. [55:01]
4. **The Importance of Mental Health**: Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are prevalent and need to be addressed within the church community. Encouraging open conversations about mental health, providing resources, and supporting those in need are crucial steps in fostering a healthy and supportive environment. The church can play a significant role in promoting mental health awareness and offering practical help. [01:03:13]
5. **Creating a Legacy of Soundness of Mind**: While many focus on leaving a legacy of wealth and material possessions, it is equally important to leave a legacy of mental and emotional health. This involves addressing our own issues, setting a positive example, and ensuring that our children and future generations have the tools and support they need to maintain mental well-being. Prioritizing mental health can lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives for ourselves and our descendants. [01:21:28]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:22] - Trust in God's Provision
[20:22] - Personal Story of Grief
[25:33] - Supporting Family in Grief
[26:21] - The Power of Empathy and Support
[28:03] - First-Time Guests and Announcements
[29:53] - Mental Health Conference Recap
[32:18] - Community Support Initiatives
[34:03] - Father's Day Service Announcement
[34:57] - Gender Disparity in Therapy
[51:08] - Relating to Christopher's Story
[54:24] - Generational Trauma and PTSD
[55:01] - Breaking Generational Trauma
[56:18] - Counseling and Mental Health
[01:03:13] - Importance of Mental Health
[01:21:28] - Creating a Legacy of Soundness of Mind
[01:26:11] - Breaking Cycles of Dysfunction
[01:32:13] - Killing the Stigma of Asking for Help
[01:33:26] - Final Thoughts and Encouragement
### Bible Reading
1. **Matthew 6:25-26 (NIV)**: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
2. **Exodus 13:17-18 (NIV)**: "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea."
3. **Exodus 14:10-12 (NIV)**: "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'"
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus instruct us not to worry about in Matthew 6:25-26?
2. How does God provide for the birds of the air, according to Matthew 6:26?
3. What reason does God give for not leading the Israelites through the Philistine country in Exodus 13:17-18?
4. How did the Israelites react when they saw the Egyptians approaching in Exodus 14:10-12?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes that life is more than food and the body more than clothes in Matthew 6:25-26? How does this relate to trusting God in every circumstance? [19:22]
2. In what ways can the church community support individuals dealing with grief and loss, as discussed in the sermon? [26:21]
3. How can recognizing and addressing generational trauma help break cycles of dysfunction, according to the sermon? [55:01]
4. What role does empathy play in supporting those with mental health issues, and how can the church foster a culture of empathy? [01:03:13]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were worried about your basic needs. How did you see God's provision in that situation? How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in future times of worry? [19:22]
2. Think of someone in your life who is currently experiencing grief or loss. What specific actions can you take this week to offer them empathy and support? [26:21]
3. Are there any patterns of dysfunction or trauma in your family history that you recognize? What steps can you take to address and heal from these issues to create a healthier legacy for future generations? [55:01]
4. How can you contribute to breaking the stigma around mental health in your church community? What practical steps can you take to encourage open conversations about mental health? [01:03:13]
5. Consider the importance of leaving a legacy of mental and emotional well-being. What changes can you make in your own life to ensure that you are setting a positive example for future generations? [01:21:28]
6. How can you actively seek help and support for your own mental health needs? What resources are available to you within your church or community? [01:32:13]
7. Reflect on the concept of cultural competency in counseling. How can you educate yourself and others to better support diverse populations within your church community? [01:13:01]
Day 1: Trusting in God's Provision
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus teaches us not to worry about our basic needs, reminding us that life is more than food and the body more than clothes. This calls us to trust in God's provision and care, knowing that He values us more than the birds of the air, which He faithfully feeds. Trusting God in every circumstance allows us to find peace and contentment, even in times of uncertainty. When we place our trust in God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and His ability to provide for us in ways we may not even understand. This trust is not passive but active, requiring us to continually surrender our worries and anxieties to Him.
In our daily lives, this means letting go of the constant need to control every aspect of our existence and instead, resting in the assurance that God is in control. It involves a shift in focus from our immediate needs to the bigger picture of God's plan for our lives. By doing so, we can experience a deeper sense of peace and contentment, knowing that our Heavenly Father is always looking out for us. [19:22]
Matthew 6:31-32 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all."
Reflection: What is one specific worry you can surrender to God today, trusting in His provision and care for you?
Day 2: The Power of Empathy and Support
Sharing personal stories of grief and loss can be a powerful way to connect with others and offer support. Empathy and genuine care are essential in helping others navigate their emotional journeys. By being present and offering a listening ear, we can provide comfort and strength to those who are hurting. Empathy goes beyond mere sympathy; it involves putting ourselves in someone else's shoes and feeling their pain as if it were our own. This kind of support can be a lifeline for those who are struggling, reminding them that they are not alone.
In our church community, we can create a culture of empathy by being intentional about reaching out to those who are hurting. This might involve making a phone call, sending a message, or simply sitting with someone in their pain. By doing so, we reflect the love and compassion of Christ, who is always present with us in our suffering. [26:21]
Romans 12:15 (ESV): "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you offer them empathy and support today?
Day 3: Breaking Generational Trauma
Trauma can be passed down through generations, affecting not just those who directly experienced it but also their descendants. Recognizing this, we must be proactive in addressing and healing from past traumas to break cycles of dysfunction. This involves seeking help, being open about our struggles, and creating a legacy of mental and emotional well-being for future generations. Breaking generational trauma requires courage and intentionality, as it often involves confronting painful memories and experiences.
By addressing these issues, we can create a healthier environment for ourselves and our families. This might involve seeking professional counseling, engaging in honest conversations with loved ones, and committing to personal growth and healing. As we do this, we can break free from the patterns of the past and create a new legacy of hope and healing for future generations. [55:01]
Exodus 34:7 (ESV): "Keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to address and heal from past traumas in your life?
Day 4: The Importance of Mental Health
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are prevalent and need to be addressed within the church community. Encouraging open conversations about mental health, providing resources, and supporting those in need are crucial steps in fostering a healthy and supportive environment. The church can play a significant role in promoting mental health awareness and offering practical help. By doing so, we can create a safe space where individuals feel comfortable seeking help and support.
Addressing mental health within the church involves breaking the stigma associated with mental illness and recognizing that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It also means providing resources such as counseling services, support groups, and educational workshops to equip individuals with the tools they need to manage their mental health. By prioritizing mental health, we can create a more compassionate and supportive community. [01:03:13]
3 John 1:2 (ESV): "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a supportive environment for mental health within your church community?
Day 5: Creating a Legacy of Soundness of Mind
While many focus on leaving a legacy of wealth and material possessions, it is equally important to leave a legacy of mental and emotional health. This involves addressing our own issues, setting a positive example, and ensuring that our children and future generations have the tools and support they need to maintain mental well-being. Prioritizing mental health can lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives for ourselves and our descendants.
Creating a legacy of soundness of mind requires intentionality and commitment. It involves being proactive about our mental health, seeking help when needed, and modeling healthy behaviors for our children. By doing so, we can break cycles of dysfunction and create a positive legacy that will benefit future generations. This legacy is not just about what we leave behind, but also about how we live our lives today. [01:21:28]
Proverbs 13:22 (ESV): "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to create a legacy of mental and emotional health for future generations?
Every circumstance, I'm... I love what it says here in Matthew chapter 6, verse number 25.
He said, "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they?"
My cousin and I, we were up all night for about two hours speaking about the death of my aunt who had passed away about five years earlier. And we were just literally talking about... I asked her, "Give me details exactly how did she pass? What did things look like?" I knew she was there by herself when she passed away, but I never knew the full details of exactly what happened that day. And she filled me in on all those details.
And then we went into talking about my grandmother who had been suffering with Alzheimer's now for about four or five years. And over the past year, it became more intense to the point that she couldn't even remember anything. I mean, how to dress, how to even eat. For the past six months, she'd been fed through a tube.
And we literally said, literally, not figuratively, we literally said, "Grams is going to pass away when she forgets how to breathe." And you guys, two and a half, five hours later, I got a call from my auntie in Miami that said, "Grams just passed away." I looked at my cousin and said, "Grams forgot how to breathe."
We were grateful to God that He allowed us to experience the joy that she brought into our lives. So whether you're experiencing any kind of grief on today, I want you to be content in knowing that God...
So when I was leaving Jacksonville to get back home, of course, I was encouraging my family, strengthening them, taking care of my dad, who's now 70 years old. He just lost his mom. He's in the state as a baby, weeping over the loss of his mom. And so I'm encouraging him, holding him up and everyone else up.
And so, I'm good. I'm good. I'm straight. I'm good. I know I'm good. And then I'm leaving the house. And I stopped at a Chinese restaurant, you know, to grab me something to eat to go as I was driving. And I'm sitting there, y'all, just in the restaurant, ordering my food at the table.
And I just look at my phone. There was nothing there. But at that point, tears just began to fall out of my eyes there. Okay, okay, wipe that away. Get in the car, started driving, look at the light, and I'm starting to cry. And I'm trying to wipe it away. I'm about to... Thank you, man. What's wrong with him over there?
But the joy of the Lord, even in the midst of your tears, the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Give God one more hand clap of praise. That shout was just for you, first-time guests. That's our way of saying thank you for worshiping with us today here at Hope City Church.
We know there are many churches you're going to choose to worship with, but you chose to worship with us, and for that, we are very, very grateful. I pray, we pray that something will be said today, done today that will cause your life to run on all cylinders for God because we truly believe that the best is yet to come.
Can we give our first-time guests that shout one more time? Amen. And then right before you take your seat, level about two or three people and let them know you're glad to see them on today, and you can take your seats. Amen.
So if you're a first-time guest worshiping with us here today at Hope City, if you could just simply text HC connect to 94000. Again, if you're a first-time guest, text HC connect to 94000. In doing so, it will give us a record of your attendance on today, and it will also afford us the opportunity to send you some more information about who we are here at Hope City and maybe give you an opportunity to take some next steps as well.
I want to give just a couple quick announcements and then transition right into the final installment of our mental health conference. Have you been enjoying the conference and series from last month? It's been absolutely amazing.
Just a reminder, this is the reason why I don't do this. I thank God for Pastor David, but because I'm not speaking today, I call myself wanting to at least let y'all hear my voice a little bit before we go into the panel. But I suck at doing the announcements, and he does an absolutely amazing job.
I'm trying to figure out how does he make sense of this craziness that I'm looking at on the screen that doesn't make any sense at all. So thank you, sir, for who you are. You are gifted at looking at that screen. That's evil right now. That looks evil. I don't even want to look at it right now.
But the things I can't remember in my head. Thank you for your generosity. We can't do what we do here at Hope City Church without your giving. As always, there are four ways you can give here at Hope City Church. Over 97% of you guys give in the middle of the week online. So again, thank you for your faithfulness and your generosity.
Those that will be giving physically today, there are offering boxes on your way out of the auditorium. We want to encourage you. If you haven't made that next step yet into sowing and giving in what we do here at Hope City Church, I would love to make sure whatever insight you need, some resources and teachings on why we believe in tithing and giving.
We never pump you or prime you in that area. I do believe that when you get the revelation on what the Bible says about tithing and giving, you don't have to pump people up to give in that area. The Bible is very clear: God loves a cheerful giver.
What I like to do is just cast vision and just always share with you what God is doing here at Hope City. One of the things that we're doing, as you know, over the past few weeks, we announced we're launching our mental health space, which a lot of the therapy won't be in-house; it will be on the outside.
And if you're members of Hope City Church, you don't pay for that. That is something that we pay for as a member of Hope City Church. That's one of the many dozens of things that we do here at Hope City Church again because of the generosity of you that give here at Hope City Church.
I'm excited about the launch of the relaunch of our counseling center here at Hope City. It's going to be absolutely amazing. Many of you since the session on last week have already signed up for counseling, seeking help. So can we give everybody who's taking the next step in that area a hand clap just for doing that?
And so when I also say, because I've already been asked two or three times, you know, are we doing a backpack drive? For those who've been here long enough at Hope City, we did that probably the first one or two years as a church, but we will not be participating in a backpack giveaway.
If you're a member here at Hope City, you have kids, reach out to the church. We will give you whatever resources, backpacks you need to take care of the children here at Hope City Church. One thing that we do, we support school teachers.
One of the lines is, it's a lot of lines for giving away backpacks and things like that. We look for the lines that are short, that is in these and those school teachers. Oh Lord, they take out of their own pocket and they meet the needs of a lot of children in our community.
So we will be raising funds to go to various teachers in our community over the holiday season here. Those teachers that are part of Hope City Church, of course, will be taking care of you guys as well. I'm just excited about how God is using us here to make a difference.
Again, we always have... Last year, I forgot the exact number, but it was thousands of dollars we gave to outreach and a lot of stuff. Our name was not on it. I'm not caught up on Hope City's church name being on everything. Let's give the people the money. Let them make the difference.
I'm just grateful to God that we sow and we give the way that we can here and people who are gifted in that area. You know, as much as I like to counsel, I like to find people who got the gift of it and send them to y'all.
And so greatly appreciative of us just being totally out of the box and just doing things the way that God is calling us to do it here at Hope City Church. And with that being said, I'm not going to jump right into our men's weekend next weekend.
So we will be having the Father's Day service next Sunday. Listen, ladies, guys, ladies, now we're going to treat the men the same way we do y'all on Mother's Day. So don't come here talking about Chick-fil-A for lunch on next Sunday. You know Chick-fil-A is closed. Don't miss me with all that craziness.
Okay, okay, Chick-fil-A is closed next Sunday. Don't all these jokes on the fathers. Don't be joking with us. That's a couple of y'all giving away free Chick-fil-A dinners on Father's Day. Chick-fil-A ain't even open.
So y'all gonna honor us. Come on, somebody. I'm joking. I know y'all want to honor us. I'm not going to force y'all to honor us, but we appreciate your guys' desire to honor us.
With that being said, did you know that only seven out of ten therapists are women? We're going to talk more about that on today. Seven out of ten therapists are women. It's a reason why we don't have that many male therapists.
I'm looking forward to sharing that on today. But two videos that are very important to my heart for us all to watch together. I attempted just to explain one of them, but I don't think I can give it any justice.
I shared one of them last Sunday, going to share one more again today. And then after that video, it will be a short three to four minute testimony given by a guy named Chris in the mental health space.
And then after that, me and the panel will come back up and will lead us into our conversation on today. You know, I'm grateful for a church family that not only allows me to think outside the box.
I don't really consider it thinking outside the box. I think it's what the scriptures say, as well as the old folk would say, to serve this present age my calling to fulfill. And the way we serve other ages, sometimes you don't serve this current age that way.
The methods change, just the same spirit, same heart, same teaching. But the way we package it, the way we may do it is different in generations. And so I'm excited about the fact that you guys are open to a conversation like this on today to hear from some professionals who are, in most cases, believers.
Or you got one Jew headed in, my sister Jew friend. Come on, somebody. And so she came and they're like, "Man, y'all worshiping like this over here?" Yeah, this how we roll. And she was trying to figure out, "Well, what do I do?" I say, "Do you, boo?" Come on, somebody, do you?
You don't want to rush out, just be still and know. Come on, somebody. Yeah, I do you. You ain't got to try to act like us. Yeah, I ain't going nowhere trying to act like nobody. I don't care. What's that? Just be you. Welcome home. Amen.
So watch these two very important videos, listen to the information, and we'll get a chance to unpack some of that in the conversation that will take place here shortly.
Anybody can relate to Christopher? I think we all can be open and honest that a part of his story, a part of his life, somehow, some way, we can relate to it. Whether it was the point of him finding himself in that dark place or the point of finally saying, "Hey, my name is Cory, and I have a problem."
But before we jump deep into this conversation here today, I want to go ahead and just do another introduction of our panelists on today. Going to skip you, Nicole, because you're kind of new to everybody else today. And then we'll come back to you.
So we'll start here with you first, and then we'll go. She's like, "No way, Jeffrey." Whatever. So to be clear, I think Jeffrey has had some type of past traumatic event that requires him to stop at Buc-ee's every time that we take a trip anywhere.
The staff have to always stop at Buc-ee's. And I think it's the craziest thing ever. But if it's his therapy, it's his way of feeling grounded and rooted. I support your therapy, sir. Your mental health matters to me, okay?
Gotcha. Thank you. Can we give it up for... Actually, now, Nicole, I'm sorry. Thank you. Looking forward to getting more from you today. Can we give it up for our amazing panel here?
I shared, for those of you that were here with us last week, and we'll jump right into this here in just a second here, I shared last week what made... We're going to focus more on mental health in this conversation, but what really started my journey over the past few weeks in this area or this topic of trauma is when I was studying the Holocaust.
And when I found out, with the Holocaust, that the grandchildren of the Holocaust victims, there is proven research that they suffer, not the ones who've been through the Holocaust, their descendants suffer from PTSD. And that sent me on a journey of just other groups of people, whether it was slavery here in America, whether it was just going back to the children of Israel, 400 years of slavery, how they too suffered PTSD.
And I looked at Exodus chapter 13, and it says this: when Pharaoh let the people go, it says, "God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country." Watch this here now, the children of Israel, slavery, 400 years, being controlled, generation after generation.
It says, "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter." And I think about our dreams and goals and ambitions, and we have a shorter way to get to where we want to go.
And oftentimes, God does not allow us to take the shorter or the easy route because why? He sees something we don't see. And so it said, "For God said, if they face war, they might change their minds and want to return back to Egypt."
And I just think about people who've been in toxic relationships and things like this, how that we can get out of that situation and something can arise to make us want to go back in what was a bad situation.
And I just thought about that. And it said, "So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea." Here's another verse, Exodus 14, verse 10. It says, "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians marching after them."
Their problem, their trauma, if you would. It says, "They were terrified and cried out to the Lord." They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt, bringing us out of our problem, out of our circumstances?"
It said, "Didn't we say to you in Egypt, leave us alone? Let us serve the Egyptians." And I think about a lot of people I counseled before or who need counseling. They refuse to go to counseling. They want to stay in Egypt. They want to stay in the trauma, stay in the pain.
And when I thought about the Holocaust grandchildren, I think about children today, our great grandparents in slavery, whatever it may be, that trauma is real. It lives in the body and it can be transferred down into multiple generations.
And a lot of things that people are experiencing now may not have anything to do with what your mama and daddy did. It can go back even further generations than that. As we look at this guy here, Christopher, and he was talking about his anxieties and his depression.
Those are technically the top two things that most people experience on today. Could you lead us into a conversation getting back to the cross of mental health? How would you get us there?
Nicole, what's stopping a lot of people from dealing with their particular fruit in the bowl? We talked about in the first session today, and I kind of alluded to it earlier, that seven out of ten therapists are women.
So you basically have three men. What's the danger of that number of not having enough male therapists?
Yeah. So I've shared, as a matter of fact, this will be up on the screen as well. But I was looking at... It's a doctor by the name of Lisa Henderson. I was looking at the Forbes Health Magazine. And here's a few things they said here.
It says, "Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder are some of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting over 42.5 million people."
And so when you think about the therapists, when it comes to men, women tend to go much faster than guys would. 21 million U.S. adults are living with depression, while 3.7 million people ages 12 to 17 experience major depression.
And 2.5 million people ages 12 to 17 experience severe depression. And it may... I did a teaching on mental health, and I talked about a couple prophets of old, kings of the Bible, who were suffering with depression, like Elijah, who had just done some amazing things.
I mean, he just called fire from heaven. He did some amazing stuff. Then he got one bad email, one bad text, one bad message from a person called Jezebel that now made him want to kill himself.
And all of us at our jobs, our companies may get emails and texts or our marriage may be going through that puts people in positions to want to do whatever it is to their life.
And suicide, we talked about that in the first service. Suicide is not always physically... Well, suicide is real. But another form of taking the life of something is when you kill your vision, your dream, or your marriage too soon, whatever that thing may be.
What can we speak to people who are dealing with everyday anxieties that's not clinical maybe, but just life's wearing them down? What can we say to that today? Because I believe most people are dealing with that today.
You know, you mentioned how men, and I agree with you 150%, would probably prefer to speak with a male. I'm slightly opposite. I can speak to whoever has my answer.
And it's not just in the counseling arena. It's in the business world. Whatever my dreams and visions and goals are, whoever has my answer, I don't mind speaking to them.
I actually have a natural desire to, particularly knowing our history as a country where women were suppressed and depressed, have a natural desire to see women excel here in our country.
And so, I would talk... We are about... Me and you, I'm going to be on your couch real soon. My name is Corey, and this is my problem. Because you got to find somebody to talk about who you're able to relate to.
So, just because we only have three therapists out of ten cannot be the excuse that we stick with as men to not go seek that help. And so, Jeffrey, what do you want to say to that?
So, to answer your question, and that's almost true with anything, right? So, I mean, a person who's suffering with, let's say, homosexuality, I may never experience that, but how do we get on the same page to connect with them?
And so, is it showing empathy? I mean, how do we get on the same page to be able to say, "Hey, I may not have been to the military, but I can understand your problem." How do we get on the same page?
You know, and I get back to you. I know I deal with a whole lot of stuff. I'm in some wild conversations, period, every year, that a lot of it I've never experienced.
But I'm learning, or I learned that the gateway to the conversations is showing empathy. Of course, listening, showing that you genuinely care. And then, in my case, I always go back to study on that topic because I go back and study on everything.
Almost every subject matter, I force myself to get a decent understanding so I can know how to connect. And what would you add to what he just said?
So with that being said, let me start. I want to add to that. Good stuff, good stuff. So with that being said, can you discuss the importance of cultural competency in counseling, particularly when working with diverse populations?
Yeah. So, go ahead. So let's be specific real fast. So a big thing now, homosexuality in the church now. And, you know, I got my views on that. I know what I won't do.
That's right. We got our rules and standards on marriage and things like that. So whether it's that deep or intense or something more surfacy, what would you, as a professional, as a believer, because you are a spirit-filled, tongue-talking believer as well.
That's right. And you face a whole lot of the stuff that's in the bowl. I'm just curious to know, how do you handle that as a believer, as a woman of faith, but still trying to honor the person?
Because at the end of the day, whatever the issue is, these are human beings. These are people that we got to make sure at the end of the day is okay.
Let's stay here for a second here. What I'm dealing with personally right now is I have a growing church between three services of average about 800 people showing up here on a Sunday morning.
You got those who... And let's stick with the lifestyle of homosexuality, those who are in the lifestyle because they believe they were born that way.
Then you got those who are in the lifestyle because they were molested, they were abused, and they feel like they had no choice. My dilemma is to teach my belief according to the word of God.
But then you got one group, so the group who don't want to be in it, believe it's wrong, who is upset with the uncle or whoever it was for molesting them and not giving them a choice to really be who they thought they should be.
So now they're struggling. But then over here, you got a group that's teaching it's okay. How can I be true to the person who never wanted that and never had a chance to be a full man or a full woman because somebody touched them the wrong way when they were three, and now they've been confused all of their life?
That's a challenge. I forgot who it was, but one of you guys started the conversation about a baby that maybe could have been adopted and placed in a totally different environment in a nice environment with a nice family.
But can you go back to that? Never seen them before. Never seen them. Never met them. In a new environment.
So I find it interesting that it took us this long to accept the fact that our DNA has a lot to play in things. It's easy for us to say, me and my daughter here, she looks like her daddy.
And then my grandkids, and or, as a matter of fact, I look like my dad, and my dad looks like my grandmother and all that. If we can look like each other physically wise, why is it strange for us to believe that some of the DNA that was in our daddy or our grandmothers is in us as well?
So I made the jokingly comment last week. One of the reasons I don't pray to my ancestors is because I don't know everything they did.
That's... I may see big mama or my grandfather, what they showed me upfront wise, but I don't know what big mama and my grandfather was doing behind the scenes.
I'm praying for big daddy to come in. Oh, big daddy. And big daddy was nasty and evil behind the scenes and stuff like that.
And so it's important for us to accept the fact that everything I try to shun my daughter from or we try not to do in the house and didn't do in the house, some stuff she'll still pick up that had nothing to do with what we did or did not expose her to.
It could be generational. And I don't care how much we try to rebuke that and say, "I don't believe that" or "that ain't me." It could be biology. Biology doesn't lie.
No, it is real. And biology, mostly all science, is a gift from God. And I think when the church begins to understand that and accept that, we don't have to teach this half truth or teach it because I'm just saying too much stuff in the church right now that made me saying, "Why, why, why, why, why?"
Yeah. And I think we leave out the biology aspect and the role we have to play. One last thing, I love the scripture where it says, "Guard your heart."
Yep. It says, "Guard your heart for out of it flows the issues of life." And every time I look at that verse, I think of us as a soldier who is standing outside of a fortified place and he's guarding it and protecting it from anything evil that's coming in and out.
And the same thing with our minds, that we don't protect our minds over generations being exposed to various things. It can impact us not just now, but in the future.
What can we say about leaving a legacy? Because we all want to leave a legacy. Everyone wants to leave a legacy of wealth and prosperity and money and houses and cars.
But we rarely talk about leaving a legacy of soundness of mind. That we have kids that are mentally healthy. Yes. A wife, children that are mentally healthy wise. Yes, yes, yes.
So, legacy. Mine too. It's a good feeling, right? It's a very good feeling. Stay right there. Don't go too fast.
Lead by example. Address your own issues. Yes. Not nobody else's issues yet. Nope. We're responsible for altering that DNA, not our children.
Yes. We are. And then if we do it, they'll end up doing their part and they'll do their part. That's okay.
So you got my mind going. And then I want to go to you, Jeffrey, on that word, "ACE."
Okay. So we talked about how the baby could be in an environment that's positive and healthy, that's great, but still have some bad things from his biology.
Let's look at that from the angle of, let's say somebody who was born in poverty. Let's say you got this one generation. This one her never owned a house. This generation never owned a house.
This generation. And so now, no one's owning houses and things like that. So whether it's houses or whatever, I mean, I can see some clear avenues why certain families would never achieve certain things that become a generational, not necessarily a curse, but influence, habits, patterns, and behaviors.
Can you speak to that? So, they have that reservation there. Yep. We can use that same word when it comes to our own spaces, our homes, and got our own rules and what we're not going to do in here or tell nobody.
It's a reservation. Yes. And that can be toxic and nobody knows what goes up in here, what happens in this house, stays in this house.
And yes, you don't go and tell all your business-wise. Absolutely. But when you think about people who are in dangerous, toxic environments, it creates this cycle where this family and that family or that cousin and now the cousin here and we got to break, we're going in circles and cycles and we have to break those.
Yes. Yes, right. The merry-go-round. We got to break those cycles and circles by what? Opening our mouth? Yes. Exposing ourselves? Exposure.
You know, my grandmother who just passed away when I was living in Jacksonville, so I have my mom's side and my dad's side. So I'm up on my mom's side. We had welfare and all that stuff.
You know, I saw abuse, poverty, and all that stuff. I love my grandmother, love my mom and all that, but I was exposed to a lot of negative stuff.
Then at about the age of 12, 13, I moved to Miami. Jacksonville here, now in Miami living with my dad and my grandmother, and I got exposed to Jamaica. I got exposed to nice stuff and it's here and I'm like, "Oh, this is how you can eat what you want to eat."
And I'm like, "Okay, I want this kind of lifestyle here." I saw that exposure of how they were living made me say, "I want this lifestyle here."
And so I agree with you. Exposure truly makes a difference. Exposing people, getting yourself exposed to different environments that can feed the thing you desire to do.
Jeffrey, we talked about... and we're short on time here, but we talked about ACE. Can you kind of break that down some?
I like... So good. Wait, wait, wait, wait. So stay down. I'm not saying... So, so, so, so, so.
Yeah. So you just said in the military these million-dollar planes that we have, none of that really matters at the end of the day if the men and women... Yep. Aren't good.
So now you got my mind thinking about that. We're not in the military, but we have our families and our homes, our careers, our dreams, our businesses, our nice mansions, if you would, our nice cars.
None of that's no good if the people who are living in it are not at peace, don't have the milk that they need. Yes.
And so I hope we're hearing this today that it's not about all the stuff that we acquire and achieve. Yes. If we're not mentally taking care of ourselves and our relationships, none of that stuff really... I don't care how much money you should take to build it.
If this ain't right, if the relationship ain't right, none of that stuff don't even matter at the end of the day. So basically, our value needs to be redirected to the right things.
Yes. I think our value is being misappropriated in the wrong things. Thanks for saying that, sir.
Okay. So ACE. So kill the stigma. So kill the stigma of asking, okay? Because many believe... many do believe if I ask, I may open that door.
You're saying it is okay to ask. It is a bad stigma to believe because you asked that question now you may create a path for them to go down. Love it, love it.
Can we give it up for these amazing individuals here? So this is how we'll close it. Let's close about what is your... What is your... How would you want to... If this is the drop the mic moment, if it's something you want to leave them with, leave us with, what would it be?
Your core values is really who you are. And if my core values are not properly defined and aligned to who I say I am, I need to... I'll see you next week. My name is Cory, and I have a problem.
Okay. Love it, love it. Moral compass. Come on, give me a little bit more. I need my moral compass. Take me back to my core, my core values.
Find your moral compass. Find your north star, if you would, and it can lead you back to your core, what matters the most. Thank you. Powerful.
Did it? So all do what... I mean, like what... You know, if these microphones did not cost us a whole lot of money, I'd say all y'all drop the mic. But don't drop those microphones. Those microphones cost money.
I appreciate you guys. I honor you guys. I celebrate you. Thank you for your time, your investment. I think we are the better because of your presence with us on today. Can we give it up for these amazing individuals on today?
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The joy of the Lord, even in the midst of your tears, the Lord taketh. Bless it. Be the name of the Lord. Give God one more hand cup of praise." [26:21](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We truly believe that the best is yet to come. Can we give our first-time? Guess that shot one more time. Amen. And then right before you take your seat level about two or three people and let them know you're glad to see them on today and you can take your seats." [28:03](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We always have you what we've last year. I forgot the exact number but it was thousands of dollars. We gave to outreach and a lot of stuff. Our name was not on. I'm not called up on Hope City's church name being on. Everything. Let's give the people the money. Let them make the difference. I'm just grateful to God that we so and we give the way that we can here and people who are gifted in that area." [33:10](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I love the scripture where it says guard your heart. It says guard your heart for out of it flows the issues of life. And every time I look at that verse, I think of us a soldier who is standing outside of a fortified place and he's guarding it and protecting it from anything evil that's coming in and out. And the same thing with our minds that we don't protect our minds over generations being exposed to various things." [01:21:10](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So kill the stigma of asking okay because many believe many do believe if I ask I may open that door you're saying it is okay to ask it is a bad stigma to believe because you asked that question now you may create a path for them to go down love it love it can we give it up for these amazing individuals here." [01:32:13](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I want to go ahead and just do another introduction of our panelists on today. Going to skip you, Nicole, because you're kind of new to everybody else today. And then we'll come back to you. So we'll start here with you first, and then we'll go. She's like, no way. Jeffrey. Whatever. So to be clear, I think Jeffrey has had some type of past traumatic event that requires him to stop at Buc-ee's every time that we take a trip anywhere. The staff have to always stop at Buc-ee's. And I think it's the craziest thing ever. But if it's his therapy, it's his way of feeling grounded and rooted, I support your therapy, sir." [53:15](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I was looking at the Forbes Health Magazine. And here's a few things they said here. It says, anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder are some of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions. And the U.S. is affecting over 42.5 million people. And so when you think about the therapists, when it comes to men, women tend to go much faster than guys would. 21 million U.S. adults are living with depression while 3.7 million people ages 12 to 17 experience major depression. And 2.5 million people ages 12 to 17 experience severe depression." [01:03:13](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I talked about a couple prophets of old, kings of the Bible, who were suffering with depression, like Elijah, who had just did some amazing things. I mean, he just caught fire from heaven. He did some amazing stuff. Then he got one bad email, one bad text, one bad message from a person called Jezebel that now made him want to kill himself. And all of us at our jobs, our companies may get emails and texts or our marriage may be going through that puts people in positions to want to do whatever it is to their life." [01:03:50](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I think about a lot of people I counseled before or who needs counseling. They refuse to go to counseling. They wanna stay in Egypt. They wanna stay in the trauma, stay in the pain. And when I thought about the Holocaust grandchildren, I think about children today, our great grandparents in slavery, whatever it may be, that trauma is real. It lives in the body and it can be transferred down into multiple generations. And a lot of things that people are experiencing now may not have anything to do with what your mama and daddy did. It can go back even further generations than that." [56:45](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I don't care how much we try to rebuke that and say, I don't believe that or that ain't me. I don't, it, biology doesn't lie. No. It is, it is real. And biology, mostly all science, is a gift from God. And I think when the church begins to understand that and accept that, we don't have to teach this, this, this half truth or teaching it because I'm just saying too much stuff in the church right now that made me saying why, why, why, why, why? Yeah. And I think we leave out the biology aspect and the role we have to play." [01:20:41](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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