In 2001, Rev. Mike Potts noticed something different about his preaching: he had begun to stutter. “It was a new and disturbing experience for me,” said Mike. Then his wife Linda noticed that when he walked, his left arm didn’t swing like the right one. After two visits to Duke University Hospital and the Mayo Clinic, Mike was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

A little over a year since COVID-19 plunged us into a temporary lockdown and a slow return to something like normal, the RBI leadership and staff reflected on lessons learned during this extraordinary time.

Mental health, in all its various forms, can be a scary, difficult issue to tackle. It can feel shameful and embarrassing to admit that we need help, let alone discuss with another person. It’s not uncommon for church servants to feel as though they must “have it all together” for the sake of the congregation, while struggling with the unique difficulties of ministry. This makes discussing mental health issues and seeking care even harder.