March 26, 2020 – An evening with Simonetta Carr, author of “Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia Through A Mother’s Eyes”.
Are you or someone you know struggling with mental health issues? You are not alone.
Simonetta Carr, author of Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them will be at Oakland Hills Community Church on Thursday, March 26. This event will address the issue of Mental Illness and the Church. Doors open at 5:45pm and the speaking event begin at 6:30pm.
When a son, sister, grandchild, or grandfather begins to behave in unexpected and disturbing ways, family members hope it is simply a phase. For some, however, it is a lifetime struggle. It could be anxiety, alzheimer’s, autism, bipolar disorder, cerebral palsy, cognitive impairment, closed-head brain injury/trauma, depression, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia.
The diagnosis can bring shock, fear, and worry to everyone involved. But in the midst of the numerous challenges, there is still hope.
Simonetta chronicles her experience of caring for a son with schizophrenia, along with all the struggles, questions, and fervent prayer that went with it. But this isn’t one person’s story. She has provided information and wisdom from psychiatrists, pastors, parents, and people who successfully live with schizophrenia, uncovering the gospel in each situation and sharing hard-won insights on how to care and advocate for those we love.
Join us on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:45) for our guest speaker/author, Simonetta Carr. Simonetta will be discussing her book, Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia through a Mother’s Eyes. This is a free seminar and open to all. Please share this event with your friends on Facebook – by clicking this link.
About Simonetta Carr
Simonetta Carr was born in Italy and has lived and worked in different cultures. She worked first as an elementary school teacher and then as a home-schooling mother for many years. The author of a number of books, including the award-winning series Christian Biographies for Young Readers, has contributed to newspapers and magazines around the world, and has translated the works of several authors from English into Italian and vice versa. She lives in San Diego with her family, where she is a Sunday school teacher at Christ United Reformed Church.
Seminar Schedule
- 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM ~ Doors open – Browse the book table, NAMI resources, and find a seat
- 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM ~ Opening remarks and prayer, by Pastor Ralph Rebandt and vignettes by a few people affected by mental health issues (in their personal or family life)
- 7:00 PM – 7:50 PM ~ Simonetta Carr speaks
- 7:50 PM – 8:05 PM ~ A short break (use the restroom, check out the book table, etc.)
- 8:05 PM – 8:45 PM ~ Q & A – George and Tamara Kelly will join Simonetta during a question and answer session, moderated by Pastor Rebandt
- 8:45 PM – 9:00 PM ~ Refreshments
Sign up here to confirm your attendance at this free seminar.
Here’s What People Are Saying…
“The church has historically not understood mental illness well or handled those who have mental illness with appropriate care and compassion. That is thankfully changing, but many Christians still live with common illnesses such as depression and with even rarer ones such as psychosis and schizophrenia. To that we can add the countless family members who suffer because of the havoc they see these things wreaking on the lives of those they love. Simonetta Carr is one such person, and here is a heartfelt and heartbreaking account of how her own family has been affected by such and how she still found hope, even in the darkest hour, in the God who saves.” – Carl Trueman, Christian Theologian and Church Historian; Professor, Grove City College
“The most honest and deeply moving Christian book I’ve read in a long time. Simonetta opens up her broken heart to show us the painful darkness and agonizing tragedy of serious mental illness. But she also opens the door of hope and help for other families by sharing the hard-won knowledge and resources she discovered both in the common grace of God and in the church of God. May this book transform her beloved son Jonathan’s death into life for many others.” – David Murray, Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids; Author, Christians Get Depressed Too
“Simonetta Carr’s Broken Pieces is a must read for any parent of a troubled child. No, make that parents of any child. The pain of a fallen world and God’s redemptive love which is greater than death and that leads to hope come through crystal clear as you read through your tears. Yes, the love of our heavenly Father shines through each dark and tear stained page. You will understand His love better by this mother’s honest testimony. Read it. Encourage others to read it. You will want to hug and comfort this mother for her contribution to His glory. You will then want to comfort suffering parents in your church and neighborhood. – George C Scipione, Adjunct Professor of Biblical Counseling, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA
This event is brought to you by Oakland Hills Community Church and Daisy Petals.