Suicide prevention goal of three events
The Arkansas Department of Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are co-sponsoring three events this month in Arkansas to train clergy and lay church leaders in addressing suicide with their congregations; and creating a supportive environment for their congregations that facilitates healing within their faith communities.
“Soul Shop: Ministering to Faith Communities Affected by Suicide” will hold the free trainings from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today at Arkansas Children’s Northwest, 2601 Gene George Blvd. in Springdale (register at afsp.org/soulshopAR1); from 8 am. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at 508 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs (register at afsp.org/soulshopAR2); and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Roberts Library, Room 124, 401 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock (register at afsp.org/soulshopAR3).
Contact Christopher Epperson, a member of the foundation’s national board of directors, at christopher.afsp.ar@gmail.com .
Network to assist in healing of survivors
This fall, Arkansans are set to have a new resource for healing from abuse, according to an announcement Monday by the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock.
The Texas-based Maria Goretti Network is dedicated to helping people heal from any kind of abuse. Miguel Prats, manager of the Maria Goretti Network and an abuse survivor; and the network’s co-founder and vice-president, the Rev. Gavin Vaverek, will lead an informational meeting on the forthcoming chapter from 6:30-8 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1115 College Ave. in Conway.
The Rev. Tony Robbins, pastor of St. Joseph, has been appointed as the chapter’s spiritual adviser by Bishop Anthony Taylor of the diocese, according to the announcement.
“We hope to offer compassion to anyone who is suffering,” said Robbins, who emphasized Tuesday that the group will be open to people of any faith. “It’s just the Christian thing to do, to accompany someone in healing as our lord Jesus would.”
Anti-abortion play sets 4 performances
Arkansas Right to Life is sponsoring a four-city tour of the play Viable: The Truth Presented in One Act, Friday to Sept. 30.
The 75-minute play tells the story of a couple’s reconciliation nearly 30 years after a wife reveals to her husband that she had an abortion before they married; and involves the aborted child visiting her mother in a dream.
Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, said she decided to bring Viable to Arkansas after attending a closed performance of the play at the National Right to Life Convention in South Carolina in July.
“I’m so grateful for Viable for coming out and tackling this subject,” Mimms said. “It’s simply about this woman, and how she came to deal with [the abortion] after 30 years — that’s typical. Most women don’t confront the abortion for many, many years after it’s happened.”
The play will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Raphael Parish Hall, 1386 West End St.in Springdale; at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Awaken Church, 2101 Fowler Ave. in Jonesboro; at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1 Covenant Drive in Little Rock; and at 7 p.m. Sept 30 at Oaklawn Baptist Church, 2918 New Boston Road in Texarkana, Texas.
The cost is a love offering. Parental guidance is suggested, as some material may not be suitable for children under 12. More information is available at viableplay.org (also includes video clips of the play) or artl.org.