As a Pastor, it is very important to be able to detect mental health needs of the members of your community and have ways to assist with challenges related to their emotional or psychological well being. For Pastor Denis Mwebaza, this was always a challenge because he lacked the necessary skill set to tackle traumatizing experiences. When a member of your congregation comes to tell you that he just tested HIV+, sometimes simply quoting for him Bible verses and joining hands in prayer is not enough.
In 2014, when UCSS introduced the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) Program, Pr. Denis was blessed to be among the participants. From this, he acquired helping skills and mental health knowledge. He was better able to deal with different emotional and psychological issues and this has made him a better pastor altogether.
Recently, a young lady lost a close family member in an accident. Pastor Denis found out that she was devastated and even considered self-harm. The pastor fully equipped with the gospel and his MHF skills went to visit her. After his meeting with her, she started improving and even had a balanced meal with the pastor. He is still in contact with her and her life has had a positive turn of events.
After MHF, it has been easier for the pastor to understand the emotional and psychological issues that the congregation and the entire community go through. The lessons changed his life for the better. He prays that everyone gets a chance to have these lessons to fully impact lives.
Our mental health trainings are so critical to making the communities self-sufficient, and Pastor Denis is a great example of the difference it’s making
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Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
Dr. Ronald Kaluya