Indiana ranks eighth worst in the nation for mental health, and 37.4% of adults who need care cannot access it due to cost. Faith leaders are often the first point of contact, with 25% of people seeking mental health support turning to clergy first. This makes it essential to equip these leaders with life coaching skills that promote resilience, emotional regulation, and proactive engagement.
The grant funded a series of 2-day bootcamps. This new initiative specifically targeted Christian leaders and volunteers who serve in ministries, churches, and faith-based nonprofits and extended beyond Crossroads Community Church to foster meaningful collaboration between organizations and communities. The goal is to equip faith-based leaders with life coaching skills to foster mental health resilience and engagement within their communities, while strengthening collaborative networks and cross-organizational partnerships between faith-based organizations.
To run the bootcamps, Crossroads Community Church partnered with the Kokomo Thriving Center run by Indiana Wesleyan University. The university is a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership. They have systems in place to communicate and facilitate the principles and skills that will be taught at these boot camps. Their expertise and knowledge will allow participants to experience university-level training in a condensed and accelerated environment.
