If you or someone you know is in crisis,
call or text 988
The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
or visit them on the web
988lifeline.orgThis service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.
It is important to note that suicide is not a normal response to stress. Suicidal thoughts or actions are a sign of extreme distress and should not be ignored. If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
Needing help and living in North Dallas or Colin County area?
For those in North Dallas & Collin County area seeking local mental health counseling services, learn more
During my nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry, 33 of those as a senior pastor, I was regularly asked if people could see me for “spiritual counsel.” Often, someone in need would stop by the church office, hoping to speak with a pastor. While mental health was rarely the presenting issue,psychological struggles were frequently part of the conversation. It was not uncommon for individuals to be in crisis or facing an impending one, often involving mental health to a significant degree.
While I was grateful for my seminary education, the few lectures included in my pastoral counseling course were neither designed nor sufficient to equip me for the growing mental health needs of the churches and communities I was called to serve. As a recently retired pastor, one of the reasons I joined the Beacon of Light team is that this ministry provides pastors, church staff, and lay leaders with accessible, thoughtful, faith-based mental health resources—resources I wish had been available to me years ago.
To be clear, Beacon of Light Mental Health Ministry does not aim to equip church leaders to become professional counselors in “ten easy steps.” That said, I believe Beacon of Light offers effective, informative online courses and in-person tools rooted in Scripture and guided by clinical best practices that empower churches to respond with greater confidence and compassion when someone struggling with mental health challenges walks through their doors. Even more, the Beacon of Light team is ready to walk alongside any church that desires to be more proactive and effective in addressing the growing mental health needs within their community.
In my final years of pastoral ministry, I received dozens of emails and calls each week from para-church organizations offering programs or products designed to advance the mission of the local church. While many of these opportunities were worthwhile, I simply did not have the margin to take on one more “project.” As a result, 99% of those emails were deleted. In my view, Beacon of Light falls in the 1% category worth paying attention to. It is not another program to manage. It is a practical, accessible and much-needed resource that strengthens the church without adding to an already full plate. Instead, it adds compassionate, Christ-centered mental health tools to the church’s toolbox, equipping leaders to meet real needs in an increasingly challenging world.
If your church is seeking to respond more faithfully and effectively to mental health needs, we would be honored to come alongside you.
Yours in Christ,
Tom Palmer
Beacon of Light Church Relations Director
During my nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry, 33 of those as a senior pastor, I was regularly asked if people could see me for “spiritual counsel.” Often, someone in need would stop by the church office, hoping to speak with a pastor. While mental health was rarely the presenting issue,psychological struggles were frequently part of the conversation. It was not uncommon for individuals to be in crisis or facing an impending one, often involving mental health to a significant degree.
While I was grateful for my seminary education, the few lectures included in my pastoral counseling course were neither designed nor sufficient to equip me for the growing mental health needs of the churches and communities I was called to serve. As a recently retired pastor, one of the reasons I joined the Beacon of Light team is that this ministry provides pastors, church staff, and lay leaders with accessible, thoughtful, faith-based mental health resources—resources I wish had been available to me years ago.
To be clear, Beacon of Light Mental Health Ministry does not aim to equip church leaders to become professional counselors in “ten easy steps.” That said, I believe Beacon of Light offers effective, informative online courses and in-person tools rooted in Scripture and guided by clinical best practices that empower churches to respond with greater confidence and compassion when someone struggling with mental health challenges walks through their doors. Even more, the Beacon of Light team is ready to walk alongside any church that desires to be more proactive and effective in addressing the growing mental health needs within their community.
In my final years of pastoral ministry, I received dozens of emails and calls each week from para-church organizations offering programs or products designed to advance the mission of the local church. While many of these opportunities were worthwhile, I simply did not have the margin to take on one more “project.” As a result, 99% of those emails were deleted. In my view, Beacon of Light falls in the 1% category worth paying attention to. It is not another program to manage. It is a practical, accessible and much-needed resource that strengthens the church without adding to an already full plate. Instead, it adds compassionate, Christ-centered mental health tools to the church’s toolbox, equipping leaders to meet real needs in an increasingly challenging world.
If your church is seeking to respond more faithfully and effectively to mental health needs, we would be honored to come alongside you.
Yours in Christ,
Tom Palmer
Beacon of Light Church Relations Director
What I Wish I Had: A Pastor’s Reflection on Mental Health Ministry
A retired pastor reflects on growing mental health needs in churches and why Beacon of Light equips leaders.
During my nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry, 33 of those as a senior pastor, I was regularly asked if people could see me for “spiritual counsel.” Often, someone in need would stop by the church office, hoping to speak with a pastor. While mental health was rarely the presenting issue,psychological struggles were frequently part of the conversation. It was not uncommon for individuals to be in crisis or facing an impending one, often involving mental health to a significant degree.
While I was grateful for my seminary education, the few lectures included in my pastoral counseling course were neither designed nor sufficient to equip me for the growing mental health needs of the churches and communities I was called to serve. As a recently retired pastor, one of the reasons I joined the Beacon of Light team is that this ministry provides pastors, church staff, and lay leaders with accessible, thoughtful, faith-based mental health resources—resources I wish had been available to me years ago.
To be clear, Beacon of Light Mental Health Ministry does not aim to equip church leaders to become professional counselors in “ten easy steps.” That said, I believe Beacon of Light offers effective, informative online courses and in-person tools rooted in Scripture and guided by clinical best practices that empower churches to respond with greater confidence and compassion when someone struggling with mental health challenges walks through their doors. Even more, the Beacon of Light team is ready to walk alongside any church that desires to be more proactive and effective in addressing the growing mental health needs within their community.
In my final years of pastoral ministry, I received dozens of emails and calls each week from para-church organizations offering programs or products designed to advance the mission of the local church. While many of these opportunities were worthwhile, I simply did not have the margin to take on one more “project.” As a result, 99% of those emails were deleted. In my view, Beacon of Light falls in the 1% category worth paying attention to. It is not another program to manage. It is a practical, accessible and much-needed resource that strengthens the church without adding to an already full plate. Instead, it adds compassionate, Christ-centered mental health tools to the church’s toolbox, equipping leaders to meet real needs in an increasingly challenging world.
If your church is seeking to respond more faithfully and effectively to mental health needs, we would be honored to come alongside you.
Yours in Christ,
Tom Palmer
Beacon of Light Church Relations Director
Beacon of Light is a 501(c)3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible.
Federal ID #933723580.
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