Dealing with Depression
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| Almost every family includes a loved one who suffers from
depression. In the course of life, most people will have an episode
or season of depression. It accompanies many inevitable life
experiences. For some the occasion is the birth of a child, the end
of a relationship or a financial setback or a serious illness, or
the death of a loved one. Some day, some where … depression ceases
to be a stranger. When this unwelcome guest shows up, it needs to be
understood for what it is and its visit needs to be managed.
Religious souls have a particular vulnerability to this
"demon." If misinterpreted, depression erodes their peace
and dismantles their trust in God's attention to their lives.
Religious souls also have potent resources for coping with
depression. This class will consider depression as a physical,
emotional, intellectual and spiritual event. Ways of managing one's
own depression and caring for others who suffer depression will be
featured. The role of healthy personal faith will be explored. |
About the Teacher
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Dr. Arvin Engelson No pastor has
served longer at Saratoga Federated Church than Arvin — 27 years
to date. He is gifted in his mastery of the scriptures and skilled
at guiding souls into a deeper understanding of God, themselves, and
those around them. His first career was as a counselor at public and
private colleges. He has also taught graduate courses for Fuller
Seminary. Trained in philosophy at Westmont College, and then in
pastoral counseling and history of religion at Gordon Conwell, he
went on to doctoral work at Princeton where he studied (in
particular) formative and transformative life experiences from an
interdisciplinary perspective. The integration of spiritual truths
with the nitty-gritty of life is his expertise. |
| "When I teach, my chief motivation is to offer
perspectives and tools that equip people to live hopeful and useful
lives. I am drawn to topics with practical, quality-of-life
application. Healthy faith begets healthy persons, who leave others
better off than they find them." |
| Greg Davis Greg
is Pastor of Discipleship and Missions at Saratoga Federated. Before
joining the Pastoral staff at SFC Greg was involved in business
ownership and management here in the valley for 15 years. He has
spent time in the mission field in South America, and is currently
in the Master of Divinity program at Fuller Theological Seminary in
Menlo Park. Greg has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Multnomah Bible
College in Portland, Oregon. He brings a unique blend of theological
understanding, real-world experience and spiritual passion to his
teaching. |
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