The Church as a Safe Space

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dr murphy eljamah The Church as a Safe Space

by Cecily Bryant

July was designated National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and Southeast SDA did not miss the opportunity to shine a necessary light on anxiety, depression and grief-- critical issues that are especially plaguing the African-American community.

Dr. Elder Pamala El-Jamah, Elder Deborah Hill, MSSA, LISW, Dr. Nickol Calhoun, D.Min, Jocelyn Kaye Gilleylen, Elder Alisa Hood and Evangelist Brenda Shorts facilitated morning and evening presentations designed to increase awareness, initiate vital conversation and foster healing.

According to the Washington Post article, ‘Depression and Anxiety Spike after George Floyd Death (June 12, 2020)’ by Alyssa Fowers and William Wan, the African-American community is experiencing a disturbing increase in mental health problems. The article reports that, “Americans were already struggling with historic levels of mental health problems amid the corona virus pandemic then, came the video of George Floyds’ death at the hands of police. Within a week, anxiety and depression among African-Americans shot to higher rates than experienced by any other racial or ethnic group, with 41 percent screening positive for at least one of the symptoms, according to data from the Census Bureau.”

In her sermon entitled “Get Out of the Cave,’’ Dr. Pamala El-Jamah used a multi-faceted approach to discuss how the community is trying to survive the so-called “new normal,” reckon with cultural taboos surrounding mental health, develop trust in the church as a safe space and confront a major component of anxiety and depression—FEAR.

According to Dr. El-Jamah, African-Americans are now dealing with almost insurmountable life stressors attributed to living through a pandemic which has brought a flood of job loss, eviction threats, food insecurity and isolation. Very real and very tangible, these stressors produce depression and anxiety. Dr. El-Jamah stated that “historically African-Americans were taught to deal with depression by prayer.” Although prayer is necessary and it is vital to seek God’s counsel, Dr. El-Jamah went on to say that in the African-African community, “it was taboo to seek mental health help. We must erase the stigma of mental health [counseling].”

To illustrate the destructive and unhealthy behavior of running away from mental health crises, Dr. El-Jamah used the story of Elijah. Found in 1 Kings 18 and 1Kings 19:1-19, Elijah fled from Jezebel’s edict on his life without seeking counsel from God first, a practice he had long drawn on. He became afraid and allowed FEAR (FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL) to cloud his judgment and impair his senses. Elijah became so afraid that he became depressed and ended up in a cave, which Dr. El-Jamah described as the “sunken place.”

Dr. El-Jamah stated that “many of us are in a spiritual cave today. We need to change the garment of heaviness for the garment of praise. Praise is a weapon we need to use more often.” How do you get out of the cave? “Dr. El-Jamah stated that when Elijah, in the stillness and quiet listened and when he heard God’s small voice, he came out of the cave. Dr. El-Jamah admonished listeners “not go back into the cave; the cave is not for you. We will choose hope over fear. Our church is a safe space.”

--Cecily Bryant, Communications Department

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