“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and

be in good health.”                 

                                                                                         3 John 1:2

“People with mental problems are our neighbors. They are members of our congregations, members of our families; they are everywhere in this country. If we ignore their cries for help, we will be continuing to participate in the anguish from which those cries of help come. A problem of this magnitude will not go away. Because it will not go away, and because of our spiritual commitments, we are compelled to take action.”

                                                         Rosalyn Carter



The Agape Emotional Health & Healing Advocates (or Advocacy) Group

Is committed To DESTROYING the Stigmas and Myths associated with

Emotional Brokenness and Mental Illness

Did You Know?

• One in four persons sitting in our pews either struggles with, or has a family member strug­gling with, emotional wellness issues like bi-polar disorder or depression
• A majority of individuals with a mental health concern go first to a spiritual leader for help
  • Studies show that most clergy may be the least effective in providing appropriate emotional wellness support and referral information
  • Many faith community members believe that fasting and prayer are enough to see you through hard times
  • There are thousands of families and individuals who need but lack the skills to cope with mental illness.

The Rev. Henry Lee Clay recognizes the need for this kind of ministry. As a result, the Agape Emotional Health and Wellness Advocacy Group was birthed to help improve the competence, capacity and the commitment of health and wellness ministries within our African-American Church community.

The primary goal and objective of the Agape Emotional Health and Wellness Advocacy Group as a collaboration of Mental Health Professionals, Clergy, Laity and Community Leaders is to improve the emotional/mental health, nutritional practices, physical activity and overall health and wellness outcomes by providing training, education and development opportunities to help support and encourage faith-based health ministries and leaders throughout New Jersey.



Surveys show that over forty percent of Americans seeking help with mental health/emotional wellness issues turn first to ministers, priests and rabbis.Unfortunately, the response of clergy and congregations falls significantly short of what parishioners expect of their faith leaders. Individuals struggling with emotional wellness and mental illness challenges are significantly less likely to receive the same level of pastoral care as persons in the hospital with physical illnesses, persons who are dying or those who have long-term illnesses. People often visit others with physical illness, bring them meals and provide other helpful services. Mental illness has been called the “no casserole disease.” There are a number of reasons why these needs are not being met. Clergy do not receive adequate education about mental illnesses in seminaries. Some faith groups see mental illness as a moral or spiritual failure. Congregations are made up of individuals who mirror the stigma and fear we find in society as a whole. Even if people are aware that someone is struggling with mental illness, they may not know what to do or say.