Christian Peer Network

About the Organization

Organization category

Public Charity

Country / State

United States / Utah

Mission

To create a network of well-trained volunteers who have personal experience overcoming their own or a loved one’s mental health challenges and who are fully equipped to provide practical and spiritual support to those who are currently struggling with mental health challenges.

Programs or services

Our program is structured around three interconnected goals designed to create a sustainable, impactful Christian Mental Health Peer Support system within faith communities:

Educate Church Leadership and Implement Mental Health Ministry Programs:
We will actively engage church leaders, raise their awareness of the critical need for mental health support, and offer a ready-to-implement mental health ministry program. This program will integrate peer support, thereby directly reducing suffering and preventing tragedies related to untreated mental illness. We aim to shift congregational culture, normalize conversations around mental health, and equip leaders to recognize and respond to needs effectively.

Train and Support Peer Volunteers:
We will recruit, train, and provide ongoing coaching to dedicated volunteers with lived experience of mental health challenges. These Christian Peer Supporters will be equipped to offer both practical guidance and spiritual encouragement, fostering an environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and supported on their healing journey. Our training will empower them to apply pastoral exhortation and instruction as they walk alongside those navigating complex challenges (Source 1).

Establish a Comprehensive Resource Hub:
CPN will serve as a central hub, providing churches and Christian counselors with a wealth of information, articles, and resources tailored for Christians facing mental health challenges. This hub will promote best practices, connect individuals to relevant services, and ensure a continuous flow of up-to-date, faith-integrated support materials.

Detailed programs

Our program is structured around three interconnected goals designed to create a sustainable, impactful Christian Mental Health Peer Support system within faith communities:

Educate Church Leadership and Implement Mental Health Ministry Programs:
We will actively engage church leaders, raise their awareness of the critical need for mental health support, and offer a ready-to-implement mental health ministry program. This program will integrate peer support, thereby directly reducing suffering and preventing tragedies related to untreated mental illness. We aim to shift congregational culture, normalize conversations around mental health, and equip leaders to recognize and respond to needs effectively.

Train and Support Peer Volunteers:
We will recruit, train, and provide ongoing coaching to dedicated volunteers with lived experience of mental health challenges. These Christian Peer Supporters will be equipped to offer both practical guidance and spiritual encouragement, fostering an environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and supported on their healing journey. Our training will empower them to apply pastoral exhortation and instruction as they walk alongside those navigating complex challenges (Source 1).

Establish a Comprehensive Resource Hub:
CPN will serve as a central hub, providing churches and Christian counselors with a wealth of information, articles, and resources tailored for Christians facing mental health challenges. This hub will promote best practices, connect individuals to relevant services, and ensure a continuous flow of up-to-date, faith-integrated support materials.

Target Audience

Our program strategically targets four key populations crucial for establishing a comprehensive and effective Christian Mental Health Peer Support network:

Church Leaders:
These influential figures are pivotal in cultural change. We will engage them through targeted outreach, presentations, and consultations to introduce the mental health ministry program and demonstrate its value in strengthening congregations and serving their members. We aim to help them develop a care framework and communication channels within their ministry.

Christian Counselors:
Recognizing the importance of a continuum of care, we will build relationships with Christian counselors. They can then confidently refer clients to our trained volunteer Christian Peer Supporters for non-clinical, faith-informed companionship and ongoing encouragement, complementing professional treatment.

Christian Humanitarian Organizations:
These organizations often encounter individuals in acute need. By partnering with them, we can ensure their clients have access to compassionate Christian Peer Support, integrating spiritual and practical assistance into their broader service offerings.

Christians with Lived Experience:
This population forms the backbone of our peer support model. We will actively recruit individuals who have overcome or are managing their own mental health challenges, or those of a loved one, to be trained as volunteer Christian Peer Supporters. Their unique perspective and empathy are invaluable.

Geographic Focus

United States

Current projects

We are currently running community workshops and training volunteers, alongside industry professionals, through Practical Application, Providing Ongoing Support, Regular Check-ins, Community of Practice, Continuing Education, and Leadership Training. These projects are helping to reduce stigma and judgment among Christians who are seeking mental health support. and facilitate the spiritual and emotional growth of peer volunteers.

Organization goals

Our program is structured around three interconnected goals designed to create a sustainable, impactful Christian Mental Health Peer Support system within faith communities:

Educate Church Leadership and Implement Mental Health Ministry Programs:
We will actively engage church leaders, raise their awareness of the critical need for mental health support, and offer a ready-to-implement mental health ministry program. This program will integrate peer support, thereby directly reducing suffering and preventing tragedies related to untreated mental illness. We aim to shift congregational culture, normalize conversations around mental health, and equip leaders to recognize and respond to needs effectively.

Train and Support Peer Volunteers:
We will recruit, train, and provide ongoing coaching to dedicated volunteers with lived experience of mental health challenges. These Christian Peer Supporters will be equipped to offer both practical guidance and spiritual encouragement, fostering an environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and supported on their healing journey. Our training will empower them to apply pastoral exhortation and instruction as they walk alongside those navigating complex challenges.

Establish a Comprehensive Resource Hub:
CPN will serve as a central hub, providing churches and Christian counselors with a wealth of information, articles, and resources tailored for Christians facing mental health challenges. This hub will promote best practices, connect individuals to relevant services, and ensure a continuous flow of up-to-date, faith-integrated support materials.

Leadership

Wendy O’Leary has many years of personal experience caring for and supporting a loved one with a serious mental illness. She has worked directly with families since 2007 as a Certified Family Peer Support Specialist. From 2009 until 2015, she was also a Statewide Wraparound and Family Peer Support Trainer/Coach, helping write the curriculum for family peer support in Utah.

Rick Killpack has been certified as a Peer Support Specialist in the State of Utah and has worked on the Mobile Crisis Team for Summit County, Utah. He is the author of the Bipolar Booklet and Put God First: A Guide to Gratitude. He created the American Mood Swings project, which includes a documentary series, a podcast, and a YouTube channel, all focused on timely mental health topics.

Lindsay Jepperson has been leading women's Bible study groups for thirteen years. Lindsay has been a special education teacher for nineteen years. Lindsay ran a successful nonprofit called Life is Good for five years, which helped pay for medical equipment that insurance wouldn't cover for individuals in need. She is the author of the book, ‘Adjusting Your Sails: Anchoring to God in the Storms of Life,

LeeAnn Brunson is a retired nurse with over twenty-five years of extensive psychiatric management and clinical experience in mental health before retiring this year. LeeAnn has been the assistant administrator and director of clinical programs and was the vice president of clinical services with start-up mental health hospitals in Utah and Texas. She provided education, training, and supervision within recovery-oriented care.

Jessy Polzer brings over 20 years of experience and
leadership in education, TechEd, and nonprofits. She has served as Executive Director of Operations at MVF Church and Director of Partnerships at Waterford.org, focusing on compassionate, effective systems.

Dr. Rob Harter, past CEO of The Christian Center of Park City.
Rob has 29 years of experience leading and building
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Strategic priorities

The Christian Peer Network is committed to providing excellence in training and supporting a network of volunteer peers and family peers who are fully equipped to effectively support those who are struggling with mental health challenges and their loved ones.
Combining an evidence-based practice with a Christ-based desire to serve those who are suffering with mental health challenges makes this more than a service; this is a calling. This is a mental health ministry.

Funding Needs

Grant categories you're seeking

Community Services, Faith Based, Mental Health, Operating Support, Women, Women-Owned Startups and Businesses

Funding needs

Christian Peer Network (CPN) combines faithful stewardship with data-driven strategy to ensure our resources directly fulfill its God-given calling. By engaging key stakeholders and mapping local assets, our network can clearly justify an immediate target of $20,000 to cover essential operating costs and launch strategic initiatives to build community. Ultimately, using these funds in a clear budget and committing to regular evaluation, we will maximize its Kingdom impact, foster deep trust, and sustain meaningful connection for the long haul.

Impact & Recognition

Success stories

"Wendy: I can’t thank you enough for the support you have given me and my family. It was your unwavering belief in me and continued support that gave me the will to continue fighting for my life and my kids. If it weren’t for you, I honestly believe I would have lost hope, lost my will to live, and would have lost my children.
Thanks to your loving support, we are now a healthy, happy family. Not perfect, of course, but we are here, and we have hope in the future and faith in God to continue through the hard stuff."

"Wendy: I want to let you know what a difference your support
made to our family. At a time when we were struggling and in
despair, you helped shed light on our situation and gave us hope. That light kept us going. We are now on the other side of some very dark days. A. is doing better than we could have ever hoped for back then. We will always be grateful to you for the support you provided us when we needed it the most. Thank you."

“Rick, we are so appreciative of the support you have given our family. M. has been truly blessed by you. We’ve seen such a change from where he was a year ago. God is good. Thank you!”

Partnerships & Collaborations

Brayden Robinson, CPSS, MSW
Executive Director
Utah Peer Network
brayden.robinson@utahpeernetwork.org

Laura Behnke
Director of Operations
Mountain Life Church
Park City, Utah

Dr. Rob Harter
Chief Executive Officer
Christian Center of Park City

Get Involved

How can volunteers get involved?

https://www.christianpeernetwork.org/volunteer

How can donors support your mission?

https://www.christianpeernetwork.org/donate

Do you accept partnerships?

Yes, we are looking to partner with non-profit organizations and people who have similar interests.

Website & Social Media