Dec 9, 2025
The holiday season brings joy and tradition — but it can also carry pressure, loneliness, and grief. In this episode, Rev. Daniel Hawkins sits down with Rev. Dr. Velda Turnley, Pastor of Spiritual Growth and Discipleship at St. Luke Community UMC, and Pamela Mickens, a longtime leader in St. Luke’s Mental Health Ministry, for an honest conversation about staying mentally and spiritually well through the holidays.
Drawing from their work in launching and leading St. Luke’s Mental Health Ministry, Dr. Turnley and Pamela share how their congregation began addressing mental health long before it was common in churches — and how that work continues to create a safe, Spirit-led space for healing today. They speak candidly about boundaries, emotional honesty, shifting family traditions, and why so many people struggle more deeply during this season.
This episode offers a grounded, compassionate invitation to approach the holidays with clarity, healthy limits, and openness to the peace God longs to give.
https://slcumc.churchcenter.com/groups/connect-groups-luke-groups/mental-health-ministry
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