For those who missed the PVCA Parent & Principal Coffee Hour at the beginning of February, here is a recap of our discussion with guest speaker Bryan Cerrone, a PVCA alumnus, pastor, and author.
We gathered in Townsend Library to listen to Bryan Cerrone address depression and anxiety, a difficult topic that many churches often avoid. As a pastor, husband, and father, Cerrone courageously shared his personal struggles with depression and how his faith helped him through these challenges and inspired him to write the book, Embers of Hope: When Depression Comes to Church.
Although Mr. Cerrone is not a mental health professional, he has considerable experience with his own depression. He spoke openly about his painful past, including his mother’s struggle with addiction, his father’s abandonment during his childhood, and the abuse that he endured while living in foster care. In adulthood, Cerrone faced profound grief from the loss of his son, his unborn twins, and the tragic passing of his sister. While carrying the burdens of his past and the grief that he endured, Cerrone shared how he wrestled with his faith, often questioning it. As a pastor, he felt the pressure to shepherd his congregation while perpetuating the facade that all was fine. One day, however, he stood in front of his congregation, attempted to speak, and found himself paralyzed with emotion. In that moment, he realized that he was no longer able to hide his unresolved pain; he was battling the lies his mind that he had held onto since childhood that made him question, “Am I truly a Christian?”
It wasn’t until Cerrone sat by at a campfire one night that he acknowledged his own flickering faith. As he lamented to the Lord about his struggles, he looked down into the fire and saw only two embers left glowing. He realized, however, that the fire had not extinguished completely. That very moment inspired him to start journaling, which led to the writing of his book, in which each chapter is dedicated to biblical heroes who suffered and the lessons that their experiences can teach us. He used the example of Elijah, who was found under a tree, burnt out, and asking the Lord to take him. Cerrone explained, “If God can use Elijah, He can use you.” He discussed how unresolved pain and trauma can reside within us and how we often avoid allowing God to change us. He emphasized that running toward God, rather than away from Him, is when we can truly experience healing. Cerrone acknowledged that there isn’t always an open space in the church to talk about depression and anxiety, and he hopes that his book will help shed light on this important topic and support others in overcoming their suffering.
Bryan Cerrone’s insights and contributions have been an invaluable reminder to us of the importance of our connection with Christ and allowing Christ to heal us. As Bryan stated, “The Lord has a plan; I don’t understand it, but I will trust it.”
We look forward to seeing you at our next Coffee Hour, which will be on Friday, March 7 at 8:00AM.