Resources
Webinar: Fe, Comunidad y Salud Mental
Webinar
Fe, Comunidad y Salud Mental
As part of our Mental Health and Wellness Initiative to reach more of our Hispanic brothers and sisters, this webinar was hosted in Spanish. Below, you will find the panelists biographies in Spanish and English. Note: This webinar was hosted in Spanish. Resources below are in both Spanish and English.
La situación económica y sociopolítica en los Estados Unidos continúa impactando adversamente la salud mental y el bienestar de nuestro pueblo Hispano. Como Iglesia y seguidores de Jesús, estamos llamados a vivir, predicar y encarnar un Evangelio de Vida Abundante. Nunca debemos olvidar como iglesia y gente de fe no somos inmunes a los desafíos de las enfermedades mentales.
¿Cual es el rol de la iglesia como agente de vida, ante los desafíos de las enfermedades mentales? ¿Cómo podemos responder eficazmente centrados en misericordia y amor?
En este “weminario” exploraremos lo que es la Salud Mental, lo que son las Enfermedades mentales y además exploraremos algunas estrategias practicas que cualquier Pastor y/o congregación pueda poner en practicas.
En esta presentación educativa en vivo usted como espectador pueden participar escribiendo preguntas y comentarios.
The economic and socio-political situation in the United States is negatively impacting the mental health of our Hispanic people. As the Church and followers of Jesus, we are called to live, preach and incarnate a Gospel of Abundant Life. We must never forget that, as a church and people of faith, we are called to provide hope and at the same time, we are not immune to the challenges in our Mental Health.
What can be the role of the church as an agent of life, given the challenges of mental illness? How can we respond effectively focused on mercy and love?
In this webinar we explored what is Mental Health, what are Mental Illnesses and we will also explore some practical strategies that any Pastor and / or congregation can put into practice.
Webinar Panelists
Rev. Héctor Hernández, NBA Connect Coordinator/Coordinador de Enlaces en la Asociación Nacional de Benevolencia
El Rev. Héctor J. Hernández sirve como Coordinador de Enlaces en la Asociación Nacional de Benevolencia. En este rol, Héctor sirve en relación con la Gerente de la Iniciativa de Salud Mental adaptando, implementando y evaluando el diseño de la Iniciativa de Salud Mental dentro y en relación con las comunidades Hispanas Discípulos de Cristo en toda la iglesia. Esto incluye el desarrollo de relaciones de colaboración con la Oficina Pastoral Central de Ministerios Hispanos (Obra Hispana), las Convenciones Hispanas, regiones dentro de la Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo), otros ministerios generales, congregaciones, contactos ecuménicos y otras áreas del programa de la NBA relacionadas con salud mental.
Rev. Héctor J. Hernández serves as the NBA Connect Coordinator. In this role Héctor serves in connection with the Mental Health Initiative Manager adapting, implementing, and evaluating the Mental Health Initiative design within and in relation to the Disciples Hispanic communities across the church. This includes developing collaborative relationships with the Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries (Obra Hispana), the Hispanic Convenciones, regions within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), other general ministries, congregations, appropriate ecumenical contacts, and other NBA program areas related to mental health.
In addition to this, Héctor serves as the coordination of NBA peer learning and wellness groups. Given NBA’s expanded and deepened use of the peer learning and wellness group model, Héctor’s work supports the Director of Organizational Development in the overall administration of NBA Peer Groups. This includes recruiting, training, and implementing peer groups, and providing group leadership across the diversity of NBA’s programming. The NBA has determined that each of the peer groups has a mental wellness and spiritual care component that is fundamental to the effectiveness of the group model, which has implications for the qualifications of each coordinator.
Héctor holds a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Christian Theological Seminary, as well as an undergraduate degree in Communications with a minor in Visual Arts. As an artist, clergy and therapist, Héctor is constantly reflecting artistically and theologically on topics like immigration, the humanitarian crisis in our borders, the unaccompanied Central America children, family separations, hope, and social justice.
Rev. Bere Gil Soto, Pastor, Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo).
La Rvda. Bere Gil Soto nació y creció en la región central de México, en San Luis Potosí, donde obtuvo su licenciatura en psicología de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Llegó a los Estados Unidos en el 2012 respondiendo a su llamado al ministerio, matriculándose en el Seminario Teológico Christian (Christian Theological Seminary), en Indianápolis, Indiana. Se graduó en diciembre de 2016 con una Maestría en Divinidad y una Maestría en Artes en Consejería de Matrimonio y Familia. Unos meses después de ser ordenada en la Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) de los Estados Unidos y Canadá en mayo de 2017, comenzó a pastorear la Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo). La Rvda. Bere ha servido en diferentes capacidades ministeriales en las expresiones locales, regionales y generales de la Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo) de los Estados Unidos y Canadá.
Rev. Bere Gil Soto was born and raised in Central Mexico, in San Luis Potosí, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. She came to the United States in 2012 answering her call to ministry by enrolling at Christian Theological Seminary, from where she graduated in December 2016 with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy.
A few months after being ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in May 2017, she began pastoring Iglesia Hermandad Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo). Bere has served in different ministerial capacities in the local, regional, and general expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Prior to serving full time in ministry, she worked as a school counselor and as a marriage and family therapist.
Bere’s passion resides in the creative, transformative, and liberative power of God through people’s stories.
Sarah Serrano, Trabajador social clínico con licencia, Bienestar Counseling & Education/Counselor, Bienestar Counseling & Education
Sarah Serrano es esposa, madre, líder comunitaria y psicoterapeuta licenciada con más de 15 años de experiencia trabajando en el campo de la salud mental, abarcando todas las contribuciones al bienestar mental, incluidas las sustancias y su abuso, comportamiento, hábitos y otros factores externos. A través de su práctica privada de consejería en línea Bienestar Counseling & Education, ha podido trabajar en un área que le apasiona; La intersección entre la espiritualidad y el bienestar mental-emocional. Su experiencia como líder del ministerio y terapeuta profesional le ha dado la oportunidad de comprender y satisfacer las necesidades de quienes sirven a los demás. “Creo que no hay historia personal, dolor, comportamiento o problema que Dios no pueda usar para fortalecerlo y capacitarlo para llevar una vida sana y equilibrada.”
Sarah Serrano is a wife, a mom, a servant leader, and a licensed psychotherapist with over 15 years experience working in the behavioral health field, which encompasses all contributions to mental wellness, including substances and their abuse, behavior, habits, and other external factors.
Through her online counseling private practice Bienestar Counseling & Education she has been able to work in an area she is most passionate about; the intersection between spirituality and mental-emotional wellbeing. Her experience as a ministry leader and professional therapist has given her the opportunity to understand and meet the needs of those who serve others. “I believe that there is no personal history, hurt, behavior, or problem that God cannot use to strengthen you and empower you to lead a healthy well-balanced life.”
She hold’s a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work along with Graduate Certificate in Addictions Counseling from Florida International University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. Sarah is currently licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in the states of Florida and Colorado.
