A New Story of Addiction: Faith, Drugs & the Search for Healing

What if addiction is not only about what people need to stop—but also about what they are searching for?

Join the Center of Addiction & Faith for a national virtual conference exploring a different way of understanding addiction and recovery—one that brings together science, lived experience, and faith.

Featured speakers Timothy McMahan King, author of What Are Drugs For?; Jennifer Carlier, author of The Downstairs Church; and Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, author of The Lie That Kills Us: We All Have Elephants, will explore what drugs do for us, what may lie beneath addictive behavior, and what recovery communities can teach the church about honesty, grace, healing, and belonging.

Faith does not give us easy answers to addiction. But it can help us ask better questions: What are people seeking through substances? What roles do trauma, shame, connection, pleasure, and spiritual longing play? What does recovery actually require? And how can faith communities become places where people affected by addiction are understood, supported, and able to belong?

Along with three keynote conversations, the day will include practical breakout sessions, a panel featuring lived experience, and opportunities for conversation and Q&A. Breakouts will explore addiction and the brain, family systems and pastoral care, spirituality and human longing, and practical ways faith communities can respond to addiction and support recovery.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Clergy and faith leaders • People in recovery • Family members • Addiction and mental-health professionals • Recovery leaders • Congregational care teams • Anyone interested in the intersection of addiction, recovery, spirituality, and faith

REGISTRATION

Early Bird — $30 through September 30

Regular Registration — $50 beginning October 1

Congregational Team Registration — $149 Invite as many as you like to watch together!

Registration includes the full live conference, your choice of breakout sessions, conference resources, and access to session recordings after the event.

Cost should never prevent participation. A limited number of scholarships are available.

Register Here

THIS WEDNESDAY: Join Us for Our First Roundtable!

Zoom Link to Join Peer Learning Roundtable

Mental Health Connect will host monthly ambassador gatherings aimed at building relationships within our collaborative and offering faith communities the opportunity to share their questions and experiences in setting up and expanding their mental health ministries.

For questions, contact Kyle Soderberg at kyle@mhconnect.org.

Mental Health Connect member faith communities are working hard at reducing the stigma of mental illness through education and information in their respective settings. This presentation is designed to provide ideas, resources, and lessons learned from three MHC members that you might consider adopting for your own faith community.

• Appreciate the role empathy plays in fueling understanding, healing, support and faith-based accompaniment.

• Learn how one faith community established a focus on youth in its programming and activities.

• Become familiar with an interactive series of restorative practices which promote well-being.

• Hear about a Music Heals project and its positive impact on one faith community.

• Take home ideas for launching a Special Needs Worship Service of your own.

Presenters:

• DENNIS DEGENEFFE, Chair, Lumen Christi Catholic Community’s Mental Health and Well-Being Ministry, St. Paul and Acting Chair, Catholic Mental Health and Well-Being Coalition

• GAIL BERGSVEN, Mental Health and Wellness Team Member, Nativity Lutheran, St. Anthony

• RICK GRAFT, Chair, Mental Wellness Ministry and Substance Use Ministry, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata

To join via Zoom, click HERE.

Renowned author and speaker Ted Bowman, will present “Facing Shattered Dreams with Honest Hope.” No registration is necessary. Ted Bowman is an award-winning author, educator, and consultant who specializes in grief, change, and transition. Books will be available for purchase with cash or check. All are welcome.

Event Hosted by MHC Collaborative faith community Nativity Lutheran Church in partnership with Valora Senior Living

Caring for Ourselves and Our Communities

Open to All
Keynote Speaker – Norman Ornstein – “Turning Grief into Action”

There are so many ways to navigate a mental health journey. But no matter what, you don’t need to do it alone. If you or a loved one faces mental health challenges, it might feel hard to make space for your own learning and growth. So, you’re invited — nourish your mind, body, and soul at this warm, welcoming gathering designed by and for our community.

Register Here

October 9 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Featuring the works of Leah Yellowbird
Hosted by Mental Health Connect and Bethlehem’s Fine Arts Ministry

5:00 pm: View the gallery and listen to live music from Belvidere Oasis.
6:00 pm: Enjoy a presentation by sculptor John Bauer and an art therapist on how art supports healing and mental well-being.

Join us for a special gallery showing celebrating life, legacy and intricate pointillism art of Leah Yellowbird. Leah began her artistic career as a skilled beadwork artist. She drew inspiration from traditional Native art forms while infusing the imagery with a modern voice, honoring the past while speaking to the present. She later used acrylic paint and tiny dots to create modern patterns inspired by nature. She described each dot as a moment and a prayer.

Leah passed away in the spring of 2025. This exhibit celebrates her enduring creative spirit, and is on display at both of Bethlehem’s campuses from Sep 20 through mid-November.

The evening will also include a brief presentation by John Bauer, a sculptor from Grand Rapids, Minn., as well as an art therapist who will explore the ways art can contribute to healing, reflection, connection and mental well-being.

Everyone is welcome. We hope you’ll join us for an inspiring evening of art, community and refreshments.

Are you curious about how challenging life experiences can shape your life or family? Join our Panel Discussion with Dr. Aimee Prasek, Dr. Lundquist, and Reverend Campbell Gustafson as they help us recognize how experiences touch our hearts, influence our relationships, and shape our daily lives. They will reflect on how stress, loss, betrayal, illness, and change show up in our behaviors — and how simply naming what we carry can open space to renew communication, strengthen connection, and grow the spirit.

Register Here

THIS WEDNESDAY: Join Us for Our First Roundtable!

Zoom Link to Join Peer Learning Roundtable

Mental Health Connect will host monthly ambassador gatherings aimed at building relationships within our collaborative and offering faith communities the opportunity to share their questions and experiences in setting up and expanding their mental health ministries.

For questions, contact Kyle Soderberg at kyle@mhconnect.org.

Join us for MHC’s September Collaborative Education Meeting! While chronic procrastination is not by definition a mental illness, it can result in high levels of stress, which in turn can exact a toll on one’s mental, as well as physical well-being – especially if it occurs over an extended period. It’s a pattern of behavior that can be changed and this program is designed to help chronic procrastinators do just that.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand when procrastinating behavior is helpful and when it's harmful. 

• Explore the consequences of procrastination and how it can negatively impact one’s well-being.

• Identify the reasons behind procrastinating behaviors so they can be more clearly understood and changed.

• Recognize the correlation between procrastination and perfectionism.

• Take home effective strategies to reduce procrastinating behaviors. 

Join via Zoom Here.

Presenter: Valerie Dean, LPC, Counselor, Advising and Counseling Department, Normandale Community College, Bloomington and Member of MHC’s Education Team

MHC ambassadors, staff, and board members are invited to our annual summer social celebration! Bring your favorite dish to share. Drinks will be provided. See familiar faces and make new connections at this fun summer event, which will take the place of our MHC Collaborative Education Meeting for July.

Please send RSVP to Heidi Peterson for the address: hpeterson@bethlehem-church.org. If you know what you are bringing, you can let us know. We look forward to seeing everyone!

June 9, 2026 | 7:00-8:30 pm | Bethlehem Lutheran Church and on Zoom. Join meeting HERE.

Description

How inclusive are our faith communities for those whose brains work differently than the “norm.” We are called upon by our faith to love and care for others, but that can be challenging if we don’t understand what might be behind certain behaviors that fall outside the realm of “normal”. This program is designed to enhance or develop your understanding of what it means to be neurodivergent and how you and others can help to create a more fully welcoming space in your faith community for neurodivergent persons.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what it means to be neurodivergent, the various terms associated with it, and how being neurodivergent can put people at risk for anxiety and depression.

• Appreciate the gifts those with different cognitive types and abilities can bring to enrich a faith community when their needs are accommodated.

• Explore how congregations can be more inclusive of neurodivergent people in worship through real life examples.

• Discuss the concept of “universal design” and make connections on how neuro-inclusive practices can help everyone in a faith community thrive.

• Become familiar with the grassroots-led neurodiversity movement and what you can do to improve the lives of others – including neurodivergent persons you care about and/or through a broadened understanding of humanity.

Presenters:

HANNAH CAMPBELL GUSTAFSON, Executive Director, Mental Health Connect and a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister. She holds an MSW degree.

CRAIG SIMENSON, Worshiping Community Program Manager of Gathered: Inclusive Church with Neurodivergent Children (ages 3-12), a project of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul and the Episcopal Church in Minnesota and an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) minister.

Hannah and Craig are spouses and theirs is a proudly neurodivergent home, with two family members who are Autistic and one who has ADHD.

One (1) CEU is available for this program for the in-person session only.

The Lowbrow Diner cares about the community and strives to help causes that benefit the greater good here in the Twin Cities. We're grateful to share that Lowbrow has chosen Mental Health Connect as one of their partner organizations for June's “Dine Out, Give Back” Monday. The Lowbrow will donate 10% of your bill that evening to MHC to help us continue our important work together! 

Open Streets MPLS™ will close Lyndale Avenue South to car traffic from West 22nd Street to West 42nd Street for Minneapolis residents to enjoy neighborhood businesses and safe biking, walking, and rolling. The free event is a hallmark of summer for many Minneapolis residents, highlighting small businesses while giving attendees a glimpse of streets as public spaces and the vibrancy of pedestrian-friendly boulevards. These family-friendly events are free to attend and a great way to engage with the rich diversity of Minneapolis and learn more about the local community.

Mental Health Connect will offer an all-ages build-your-own mental health care kit experience. Decorate your custom bag with inspirational stickers and any designs you'd like. Choose from several sensory items (including feel, touch, and taste) to take home, while learning how they all boost your mood or positively impact your mental health! We encourage you to also stop by Bethlehem Lutheran's activities in the same lot. The church will have a petting zoo, three food trucks, an egg roll stand, free cotton candy, and more! We hope to see you there!

Trinity will be hosting the Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness to speak on the role of family caregivers who support older adults and individuals with chronic conditions and changing brain health. Topics will focus on practices and resources to manage stress, burnout, and health issues for caregivers themselves through wellbeing practices and use of community resources such as support groups and respite services for support. Please join us and invite family and friends to this free event with no registration. Free parking in the West Ramp of Excelsior.

Get ready to feel inspired together! This year we lift up the collective practice of hope and the ways we build resilience in community.

Enjoy delightful music, savor a delicious breakfast, and mingle with fellow community members.

• Individual tickets: $25

• Tables (8 seats): $150

• Livestream & Recording: $10

Let’s come together to hold hope and support one other! Doors open at 7:00 for coffee and conversation.

Register today!

Questions? Please reach out to Rachel Henderson at leadnavigator@mhconnect.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sunday, April 26 | 2:00-3:00 pm

Nativity Lutheran Church | 3312 Silver Lake Rd., St. Anthony, MN

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of holding hope as a community! Rev. Seth Perry is an ELCA pastor who is committed to reducing mental health stigma within faith communities and helping congregations to address mental health and addiction issues with healthy conversations. As a recovering addict living with bipolar disorder, Seth openly shares his dual diagnosis to challenge stigma in faith communities.

This event is sponsored by Nativity’s Mental Health Connect. Enjoy music by Jeanne Cotter as well as refreshments at the event. There is no cost or registration to attend. All are welcome.

What does it mean to be fully alive? Learn about three life-changing events and five life practices. Realizing and living our true life is a sacred gift we all deserve. Explore what it means to live from the inside out - body, mind, and spirit, to feel more fully alive.

Presenter: Catherine Duncan, MA, BCC, Integrative Spiritual Consultant, Learning To Live, LLC, Minneapolis

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 7:00-8:30 pm

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. S. in Mpls and on Zoom. Join meeting HERE.

There is a growing body of research on how nature plays an important role in human health and well-being, including reducing symptoms of mental and physical health problems.

• Become familiar with some of the science behind how spending time in nature can help treat both the psychological and physical ailments of the human condition by reestablishing a connection with the natural world.

• Recognize the impact of modern environmental noise and diminished natural soundscapes on stress, attention, and nervous system regulation.

• Differentiate between being in nature and being with nature, and identify why intentional, relational engagement is essential to effective eco-healing.

Presenter: Tara Burns, MA, LPCC, Therapist with Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota, Saint Paul office.

The physical body holds trauma within it. What’s happened in Minnesota in recent months has been traumatizing to individuals as well as entire communities and we need to find effective ways to cope. This timely program will explore practical strategies you can use to address the trauma your body holds and improve your well-being.

• Become familiar with the trauma patterns of Victim, Bully, Bystander or Savior so that you can recognize your own response pattern to reduce the impacts of trauma on your body.

• Learn how to practice present moment awareness for yourself and to tell your body that it’s okay.

• Identify steps – even small ones – you can authentically take to build community and supportive connections.

• Know how to respond these challenging times with as many inner resources as possible.

Presenter: Cara L. Carlson, Ph.D., MSW, LICSW, RYT-200, EMDR Certified, Director, Anam Cara Therapies, Minneapolis

The Mount Olivet Lutheran Church’s Mental Health Task Force presents this community awareness event. Please register by March 12.

Join us for this informational morning with Steph Page, Co-Founder and visionary behind Stories Foundation and Storyteller Cafe. During this informational session, you’ll gain knowledge and learn tips and talking points for you to have with your children about safe and healthy boundaries, internet safety, and tips and resources for social media.

Steph comes to nonprofit work with a background in food service, event planning, speaking, community engagement and strategic leadership. She passionately believes in using business for good and in the necessity of holding each other’s stories, the good and the hard.

When someone is overdosing on an opioid, time is of the essence. You don’t have to be a licensed health care professional to administer this safe and effective lifesaving medication when witnessing this type of an emergency. This program is designed to equip laypersons with the knowledge and skills necessary to save a life.

• Learn how to recognize an opioid overdose.

• Understand what naloxone/Narcan is and how it works.

• Know how to properly administer naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose.

• Become familiar with Steve’s Law/MN’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Law.

Presenter: Meghan Walsh, Overdose Prevention Specialist, Steve Rummler HOPE Network, St. Paul

***A free naloxone/Narcan kit will be provided at the live and in-person program. To ensure enough kits are available on-site, please send an email to Heidi Simpson Tjeltveit(an MHC education team member) hstjeltveit@yahoo.com by Tuesday, March 3 indicating you plan to attend in-person.

Arrangements will be made after the program to get a free kit to individuals participating via Zoom and after the program ends.

* One CEU is available for the in-person program only.

In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., called loneliness a public health epidemic: “Loneliness is a normal part of the human experience… But prolonged loneliness and disconnection can be harmful to our health. It's time we address this issue to improve our well-being.” This program will explore strategies for improving our wellbeing while minimizing feelings of loneliness.

Presenter: Facilitator to be announced.

This event is part of the “Building Hope & Healing in Uncertain Times” series offered by the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community and Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities. Each evening’s schedule starts with a light supper at 6:00 pm, followed by the educational program from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, which includes question-and-answer time . A small donation of $5 is suggested to go towards the cost of the meal. Pre-registration is requested. Register Here.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is via Zoom only.

In the midst of today’s public mental health crisis—and with many communities facing reduced access to traditional supports—sharing simple, accessible mind-body coping skills is an act of community care. Strengthen your ability to support mental well-being in your community using practical, science-backed mind-body strategies. Join Zoom meeting HERE.

• Explore the neuroscience and physiology behind mind-body practices and why they effectively support nervous system regulation.

• Understand how breathing techniques, gentle stretching, and relaxation practices reduce stress, release tension, and support emotional balance.

• Practice simple, accessible strategies to use throughout the day to manage stress and promote mental health.

• Know how to develop an action plan for sharing mind-body skills that will improve the mental well-being of yourself, your family, and others.

Presenter: Chrissy Mignogna, Director of Education and Lead Trainer, movemindfully, St. Paul and Owner, Winged Heart Yoga, St. Paul

Tuesday, January 20 | 6:00-8:00 pm

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community

With a focus on the science of depression and addiction as well as the role of the nervous system, this interactive program will explore how building community and the sense of belonging we derive from that can help us shed our addictions and climb out of our depression.

Presenter: Jason Mayer BS, MS., LPCC, Anam Cara Therapies, Minneapolis

This event is part of the “Building Hope & Healing in Uncertain Times” series offered by the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community and Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities. Each evening’s schedule starts with a light supper at 6:00 pm, followed by the educational program from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, which includes question-and-answer time . A small donation of $5 is suggested to go towards the cost of the meal. Pre-registration is requested. Please RSVP to JP Fitzgibbons HERE.

Please Note: This session will be via Zoom only.

It seems like today’s news is full of traumatic events - school shootings, natural disasters, destroyed homeless encampments, ICE raids, domestic abuse, car accidents, evictions, etc., etc. But what about the individuals who experience those events and the toll they take on one’s mental health? This program will explore trauma and what a layperson needs to know to be a caring other to someone with a trauma disorder. Join Zoom meeting HERE.

• Understand how trauma is defined by mental health professionals, how widespread the disorder is among the general population and its most common causes besides traumatic events.

• Learn how to identify the symptoms of trauma and how they are similar to or different from other forms of mental illness.

• Become familiar with the treatment forms practiced by mental health professionals and which ones are showing promise.

• Take away resources as well as ideas for what you as a caring person can do to help.

Presenter: Sydney Pierce, MA, LPCC, Outpatient Therapist, Minnesota Mental Health Clinics, Eagan

Tuesday's Holiday Gathering Canceled!

Dear MHC Ambassadors, because we're concerned about your mental well-being as well as your physical safety, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow evening’s MHC Collaborative-Wide Holiday Celebration (December 9 from 7 – 8:30 pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church).

There are winter weather advisories being issued for most of the counties around the Twin Cities that include 2-4 inches of snow from early afternoon to early evening and winds gusts up to 31 miles/hour. We thought it best to err on the side of caution and look to reschedule a social gathering for another time when weather conditions are more conducive to travel.

As for those of you who had planned on bringing items for the NAMI-Minnesota Holiday Gift Drive, you can drop them off with Heidi Simpson Tjeltveit at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Boulevard, Minneapolis, between 9:00-11:30 am on Saturday, December 13. Please come in the door from the parking lot, take an immediate left around the corner and go to a small alcove near the Welcome Desk and drop them off with her. She’ll see that they are given to Kay King from NAMI-Minnesota.

If you are unable to drop off the gifts on December 13, please contact either Heidi Peterson (hpeterson@bethlehem-church.org) or Heidi Simpson Tjeltveit (hstjeltveit@yahoo.com) ASAP to make other arrangements. All donations are due by December 15 so that NAMI-Minnesota can get them prepared to be distributed. Thank you!

Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy your “gift of time” tomorrow evening, everyone!

Organized by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), the Faith & OCD Conference Sponsored by Stick with the Ick began out of the recognition that many people living with OCD initially seek assistance from a faith leader before a mental health provider.

This unique, online event was specifically created to address the needs of a diverse community — spanning all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We’ll provide education about effective treatment and ways to support those in the faith community living with OCD.

Join us for this collaborative conversation between faith leaders, mental health providers, and the OCD community!

Register HERE

This is Session #3 in the 2025-2026 Building Hope and Healing in Uncertain Times program series sponsored by Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community.

Meetings begin at 6:00 pm with a light supper provided. Program begins at 6:30 pm and ends at 8:00 pm. This event is free to attend, a free-will offering will be accepted for supper. Please register in advance. (Link available soon.)

In a world filled with rapid change and uncertainty, taking care of our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing has never been more crucial. This presentation aims to provide practical tools, insights, and strategies to help you navigate challenges with resilience, balance, and self-care.

Presenter: Monica Kramer McConkey, LPC, Rural Behavioral Health Counselor & Consultant, Detroit Lakes

Register today for MHC’s 2025 Connecting the Dots – a “family” gathering of Mental Health’s collaborative members. All faith leaders, ambassadors, members of faith community mental health ministry teams, navigators, and staff are cordially invited to attend this in-person only event.

Gain valuable insights on how Mental Health Connect supports your faith community and members in need of mental health services. Take home practical ideas, programs and resources that you can use in your setting to educate and inform others about mental well-being and reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. Build connections to other attendees who share your commitment to improving the lives of persons with mental illness and to the Mental Health Connect organization also devoted to this important cause. 

Register Here

In a world that often feels fast paced and overwhelming, gratitude can be a grounding and transformative practice. This program will explore the science and psychology of gratitude, highlighting how it can improve mental health, strengthen relationships, and cultivate resilience. Participants will leave with practical tools to integrate gratitude into their daily lives in meaningful and sustainable ways.

We’ll enjoy the event as a live watch party via Zoom (with popcorn!) at Bethlehem’s Minneapolis campus. Please register in advance to ensure a spot.

Sponsored by: Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities’ Mental Health and Addiction Ministry Team

Presenter: Dr. Christina Costa is a psychologist, educator, and speaker whose work bridges research and real- world applications in mental health and well-being. She teaches psychology at Wayne State University and is passionate about helping individuals and communities thrive through evidence- based practices. Dr. Costa’s research and teaching highlight the power of resilience, and gratitude in transforming lives. Dr. Costa’s “How Gratitude Wires Your Brain” presentation has been viewed over 8 billion times on the TEDx YouTube channel as of April 2025.