Hi, I’m Steve Austin, and I’m thankful to connect with you. I’m so excited about the opportunity to collaborate with your church to host a Self-Care Sunday.
Here's how to host a Self-Care Sunday for your church or small group...
But first, here’s a little about me: I’m a speaker, life coach, and Amazon best-selling author. I've been featured in RELEVANT Magazine, Huffington Post, Christian Courier, and several other places. In my first ten years of traditional church ministry, I wholeheartedly believed there was a Biblical answer for every problem, that prayer could change anything, and the answer to virtually anything we faced was a combination of just “choosing joy” and having the “faith of a mustard seed”.
Then my world fell apart.
I was a pastor when I nearly died by suicide. I was twenty-eight years old, married five years, and the proud father of a tiny baby boy. No one saw it coming (usually no one does).
Here's a bit of my story, "The Truth about Parenting, Recovery, and Messy Grace":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP4j0eI0_Bg
In the years of recovery since my suicide attempt, I’ve learned that sometimes we need more than just a prayer of faith and a “magic Jesus pill”. I’ve learned that my suicide attempt doesn’t make me less of a Christian or a weak person.
Jesus talked about self-care in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
I only recently realized just how important self-care and compassion actually are. It took me staring death in the face to come to his conclusion. According to these staggering statistics, 1 in 4 people in your church suffer with some type of mental illness. Does your church offer resources for those who are burned out? Stressed? Feeling anxious or depressed? The world is a cruel place, and we’re all looking for kindness. For grace.
Grace found me in a hospital bed, longing to die. I was at the end of my rope, but grace looked like a second chance from my wife, plus professionals and pastors who urged me to do the hard work of recovery. I’ve learned that God remains faithful and present, even in the midst of our darkest tragedies. God has walked with me through the broken places of my life and Jesus has lingered with me as he gently restores my soul. My goal is to use my story to positively impact others with grace and hope.
Self-Care Sunday options for any size church or budget:
Option 1: Weekend retreat.
- Friday night workshop (most places include a night of worship as well), followed by a Saturday morning workshop, lunch, Saturday afternoon workshop, and then host a Self-Care Sunday. This would be a perfect event to co-host with another local church or two, in order to lower costs for everyone. This includes 50 complimentary copies of Self-Care for the Wounded Soul and additional copies can be ordered in advance at a discount.
Option 2: All Day Sunday
- Sunday morning sermon, lunch, and either a Sunday afternoon workshop or a Sunday evening Q&A. This includes 30 complimentary copies of Self-Care for the Wounded Soul and additional copies can be ordered in advance at a discount.
Option 3: Sunday morning sermon
- This includes 30 complimentary copies of Self-Care for the Wounded Soul and additional copies can be ordered in advance at a discount.
I would be honored to share my story with your congregation, in hopes of empowering others to live a more wholehearted life. Recovery is possible. I am living proof.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience to schedule a Self-Care Sunday!
Email: steve@iamsteveaustin.com
Interested in my story? Want to know more about self-care? Check out my book, Self-Care for the Wounded Soul.