Introducing The Wellbeing Journey
The Wellbeing Journey is a new series to help churches and communities address the challenges of our times. Following the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, local churches are in a unique place to lead communities on this holistic journey to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
HOPE Together and KingsGate Church, Peterborough, are working to develop a video journey drawing on Kingsgate’s Wellbeing sermon series and a new book by their lead pastor Dr Dave Smith, published by Waverley Abbey. The videos will be presented by Simon Thomas (ex Sky Sports/ Blue Peter) and Joanna Abeyinka (CBeebies), with contributions from leading experts in different fields.
The eight video sessions are:
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Week one: Introduction
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Week two: A wellbeing mindset
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Week three: Physical wellbeing
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Week four: Emotional wellbeing
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Week five: Spiritual wellbeing
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Week six: Relational wellbeing
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Week seven: Financial wellbeing
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Week eight: Vocational wellbeing
Full details of the video series will be available soon at www.wellbeingjourney.org.
We have also created a Youth Wellbeing Journey by young people for young people, to run in tandem with the adult video series. This is filmed from the perspective of young people going on their own journey to discover more of God's plan for their wellbeing.
As well as the two video series there is a book published by Waverley Abbey Resources. ‘God’s Plan for Your Wellbeing’ by Dave Smith offers a 50-day devotional – fuel for the journey. The book cost £8.99 or £5 a copy for orders of 20 or more. Find out more here.
Endorsing the book, Dr Roger Bretherton Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor in Psychology, University of Lincoln (UK), says, ‘Dave Smith has learned the lessons of wellbeing the hard way, by asking tough personal questions and finding answers that can help us all. To my mind this is one of the best wellbeing resources available to Christians. It distils biblical, psychological, and medical expertise into bite-sized meditations covering all aspects of wellbeing, and most importantly, offers practical steps we can all take towards living life to the full. This book is a repository of wisdom and a gift to the church. It isn’t even out yet and I’ve been recommending it furiously.’
Christmas launch
HOPE Together will provide posters, invitations and social media posts for publicity as well as sermon ideas for a Christmas launch, based on Isaiah 9 – The Message translates verse 6: His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.’ HOPE Together will be leading one of the Church of England’s online services in December on this theme.
Wellbeing is the subject of the moment and Dave Smith’s book expertly tackles it from God’s perspective. We trust that this timely new resource will help churches and their communities as we hold seeker-friendly Christmas services and invite people to join us on The Wellbeing Journey in the new year.
We’re encouraging churches up and down the country to run The Wellbeing Journey online or in person from January, inviting all those who attend their Christmas services, both virtually and physically, to join them on this journey. The series can be used to run as a centralised group (Alpha-style) or in small groups or Sunday services, whether online or physically. The material is suitable for interested non-Christians and would make a great introduction to your church. |
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