Faith Radio Highlights Pure Heart’s Mental Health Programs and CDF Capital’s CAP-19 Program
CDF Capital’s Executive Director of Marketing and Business Development, Nathan Elson, and Pure Heart’s, Dan Steffen, shared with Faith Radio about Pure Heart’s Mental Health work and CDF Capital’s CAP-19 program. Pure Heart Church is one of 150 churches across the country who is part of the CDF Capital network, and eligible for the Church Assistance Program (CAP-19).
According to Mental Health of America (MHA), as the number of COVID-19 cases increases, so does the associated anxiety. 1 in 5 Americans currently have mental health conditions, and 1 in 2 people are at risk of developing mental health conditions during this pandemic. In the first two weeks of March, MHA saw a 12% increase in anxiety screenings. Studies also show that there is a strong correlation between spikes in unemployment and suicide rates.
Watch the entire interview here:
For churches like Pure Heart Church in Arizona, their support of those struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol/drug abuse has only increased since the onset of COVID-19. Pure Heart’s work with those struggling with mental health has been a part of their church work since 2005.
A woman who was helped by Pure Heart’s efforts shares, “I never imagined I could go onto a church property and find so much help for my childhood trauma and drug use. I was able to recover and heal in a safe and non-judgmental community—I was completely accepted for who I was—I didn't feel like I had to put on a church-face walking on this campus. I always felt judged at other churches, and this one welcomed me with open arms when I felt so much shame from my past. Through my healing I learned that it was more about my shame than what I thought how people were judging me. My children are able to go to a support group too, so they can heal from being raised in the home of an addict. We are repairing our relationships and that means everything to me. Praise God!" She is now a Christian woman who has been clean for 3 years.
For the past 15 years, Pure Heart Church has had a partnership with Crossroads, which is the largest private-bed recovery center in the country. Throughout the year, Pure Heart offers a full service counseling department specializing in whole-person & trauma counseling for individuals, children/adolescents, couples, and SMI (Seriously Mentally Ill). They also offer peer led support groups for addiction, grief, divorce, mental illness, veterans trauma, and more. Pastor Todd Chambers oversees the Sunday service and leads a weekly Bible study for those that would like to participate.
But in the wake of the pandemic, Dan Hake and the staff from Pure Heart Church are looking for creative ways to support those living with mental illness. Throughout the year, Pure Heart Church’s services are streamed to the campus on the weekend. In addition, over the last year-and-a-half, Pure Heart has baptized 112 men from their program. Pure Heart also offers classes to equip attendees how to find spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.
