Connections

For Marina Hofman, being a mother was something she had dreamed of. However, in 2014, Marina and her husband were in a head-on collision that left both of them with life-altering injuries.

"Although we survived, I had a lot of issues after my surgeries were complete," said Hoffman. "I was depressed all the time and anxious constantly. I had PTSD and a brain injury, in addition to several body injuries."

Today's children and teenagers are anxious about many things, including family issues, financial instability and pressure to perform in sports and school.

According to the CDC, children between the ages of 3-17 years old are experiencing increased anxiety, and in addition, more than 1 in 3 have behaviour problems and about 1 in 3 of those also have depression. 

Jody McBrayer had it all. He was part of award-winning groups Avalon and Cana’s Voice, which kept him on the road for years. 

Behind the scenes, life was not what it seemed for McBrayer.

• Related: 'Overcomer' singer Mandisa dead at 47

Mandisa is well known for her positive, upbeat and encouraging music, but beneath it, was a woman struggling to deal with her everyday life.

After losing a close friend to cancer, a friend for whom she wrote her award-winning song, "Overcomer", Mandisa descended into a dark pit of depression, isolating herself from family and friends.

The first week of May is mental health awareness week in Canada.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness. However, Laura Howe says only 49% of pastors say they rarely (if ever) speak to their congregation about mental health.

We live in a time of radical church decline where one-third of religious buildings in Canada will be abandoned in the next 10-years.

Christians find themselves listening to pastors’ messages through a podcast or YouTube video rather than going to a physical church service. In light of the worldwide pandemic, churches all over the world moved their services online. This led Canadian pastor, speaker and author Kevin Makins to ask the question, does the church really matter?

Brad Hoefs was a pastor for close to 40 years. During the spring of 1995, in the middle of the highest point of his career, his life took a dramatic turn.

"I had bipolar disorder and did not know it. I was reeling out of control," said Hoefs. "We had just finished the process of relocating the church. I had been the pastor for 10 years, and in that time, we went from 800 to 3000 in worship. It was great, but it was stressing me out. Even good things can cause problems and I was getting sicker."

When people look at highly sought-after pastor and speaker, Chris Brown, they see a successful man that is well put together what they don't know is his history.

Back in 2014, Chris was in a board meeting where they were dissecting one of his talks and figuring out ways that he could be a better communicator. At one point, someone made a comment saying that Chris came across as somebody who has always had a polished easy life. 

As a white Afrikaner woman growing up in South Africa during apartheid, Idelette McVicker was steeped in a community and a church that reinforced white supremacy and shielded her from seeing her neighbours’ oppression.

Today is Earth Day.

Every year on April 22nd, people across the country recognize and celebrate Earth Day, one of the largest environmental events in the world. 

The goal is not only to promote Earth Day just once a year but to connect people to nature every day.