European Mental Health Week Becomes an Outreach Opportunity.

Romania | EUD WM news | Liliana Radu | June 2, 2023

Church members catch the attention of people on the street with a children's puppet theater and other mental health awareness activities.

As part of the "Christ for Europe" campaign, Simona Anca, Women's Ministries director of the Northern Transylvania Conference, organized a special Sabbath on May 27, 2023, for area women at the Adventist Church "Efrata" in Frata, Jud. Cluj.

The special guest for this occasion was Heather-Dawn Small, Women’s Ministries director of the General Conference. She delivered a message with a profound soul-searching impact entitled "Let's Take Off Our Masks." Listeners became aware of the need to be authentic in every moment of life and also of God's unconditional love, even when we are not wearing our emotional masks.

After the divine service, a fellowship meal with delicious food was organized and served by the sisters of the church.

Because May was the European Mental Health Week (MHE), the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its ministry departments, in collaboration with the Municipality of Frata, organized a street activity to raise awareness among the population about the importance of mental health. Passers-by on the street enjoyed a children's puppet theater with child-friendly language about the symptoms of Alzheimer's and its prevention, Alzheimer's disease screening provided by specialists, quality music provided by the Junior Harmony Brass Band, and free hugs provided by Cristi Anca. "Notes of Hope—Speak up for Mental Health,” a church-sponsored project included the distribution of leaflets with material adapted from the book "The Forgotten Art of Thinking" by Neil Nedley, 

Eighty people attended the occasion, enjoying what was offered. Thank God for the volunteers involved in this event and for these opportunities to serve the physical and spiritual health of the people to His glory.

Photo credit: WM Romania
According to a report by Liliana Radu, director of Women's Ministries, Romanian Union Conference

Published in Mosaic newsletter, 2023 Q3