Hi friends!

I know it’s been months since I have written here. I am sorry for that. But I recently accepted a call to a congregation in northern California.  It has been rather all consuming.

Anywho, last weekend I gave a presentation at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Escondido, California.  I had a few people ask me for a copy of the slides for the presentation.  Here they are in PDF format.  If you need them in Keynote or Powerpoint (ugh) or something else, let me know via the comments and I will try to oblige.

-DMR

DarkMyRoad-Escondido

It has come to my attention that with the upgrade/changes made to the lcms.org web site, that the link for ordering the book online for a free download has broken.  I will find out where it went and will correct the links, and let y’all know where it is as soon as I figure it out.

Thanks!

-DMR

This is a little clip of the video from the Lutheran Catechetical Society from a couple weeks ago.  You can order the video for $20 with shipping.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Through the gracious energies of the Lutheran Catechetical Society, I am now happy to report that there is a video of my presentation that I gave to the LCS last weekend at Christ Lutheran Church in Normal, Illinois.

The LCS has been in existence for around five years, and they have high quality videos of a number of their presentations available.  The video of my presentation is essentially a shortened version and commentary on my book, I Trust When Dark My Road: A Lutheran View of Depression, available from LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  I receive requests for videos from time to time, and this is now where I will be pointing them.

If you are interested in having me come and speak to your congregation, circuit, women’s group, etc., about depression and the hope we have in Christ, please email me here.

Thank you to all of my friends in Indiana and Illinois!  It was a wonderful weekend.  God bless you!

-Pastor Todd Peperkorn

The Lutheran Catechetical Society has invited me to come and speak on the topic of  (you guessed it!) Lutherans and depression.  It is being held at Christ Lutheran Church in Normal, Illinois.  HERE is a link to the google map of the same.  And HERE is a link to the Facebook event.

So I am driving from Grace, Columbus, IN over to Normal, Illinois, for this gig.  If you are in the Normal-Bloombington area, I would urge you to join us!  I am told that they will also be offering a video recording of this event.

Grace Lutheran Church in Columbus, Indiana, has graciously invited me to come and speak the weekend of October 9 & 10.  I will be speaking on Saturday evening, and then preaching and leading bible class on Sunday morning.  If any of you are in the area, I would love to see you!  I will be posting on another speaking event that I have in central Illinois here in a moment.

If you would like to find out more, check out the event page for this on Facebook.

Pastor Todd Peperkorn

Below is a PDF file of the slideshow from the Deaconess Conference, as well as a QuickTime movie of the same.  I have not posted the actual slideshow file, since I will probably use portions of it in the future.  If for some reason you would like access to the actual Keynote or PowerPoint file, please contact me via email or telephone. Thanks! -DMR

Presentation on Depression for CDC

Presentation of Slides in QuickTime for CDC

Click here to view the embedded video.

I Trust When Dark My Road: A Lutheran View of Depression first went into print last June. All of the copies from the first printing were taken before it even entered the building at LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The book has touched many lives with the Gospel, and I believe has served as a great opportunity for pastoral care to many people.

So after a six month hiatus, we are back in print! Thanks be to God.

The book is free, just as it was before. They are, however, charging a small amount for shipping. I’m very glad to hear this, as it will allow them to keep their costs lower and to make more of them available in the long run.

So what can you do to help spread the word about this free resource? Here are a few ideas:

• Tell people either by email or in person. You can send them to my web site and I will have the easy link setup in a prominent place.
• Write a review of the book on your blog, web site, or even in your church newsletter.
• Review it or at least rate it on one of the several online review places. Here are a few of them: Goodreads, LibraryThing, Google Books, or anyplace is that you may review it.
• Ask your church secretary to put a notice in your church bulletin about the availability of the book. Here’s a sample bulletin insert:
  

  Are you trapped in the fog of depression? Do you know someone you love who suffers from depression or anxiety? I Trust When Dark My Road: A Lutheran View of Depression is now available at no charge from LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Call (888) 843-5267 to order your free copy, or go to the web site darkmyroad.org for more information.

• Show this to your pastor, and encourage him to order up to five free copies for pastoral care and use at the congregation.

Thanks for all your help and support, friends! God is merciful, and He continues to bring healing and hope to His hurting children.

Pastor Todd Peperkorn
I Trust When Dark My Road: A Lutheran View of Depression

I recently had an episcopal priest recommend NAMI and Mental Health Ministries to me, and specifically to look into the following document they have available:

Mental Illness and Families of Faith: How Congregations Can Respond
Resource/Study Guide for Clergy and Communities of Faith

I haven’t read it list, but I’m putting it in my reading list for soon.  Is anyone familiar with this organization?  How would their goals line up with faithful Lutheranism?

-DMR

THIS IS THE LINK to my interview on WGTD 91.1 in Kenosha. It’s a nice 50 minute interview about depression, spring-boarding from the book. Enjoy!

-DMR