Chris Morris Speaks
Chris connects mental health and the church in practical ways. He shows congregations how to implement ministry guidelines that will not only make people feel welcomed, but loved. From a lived experience, Chris addresses theological and practical barriers to a healthy mental health ministry, and shows that God is not done with someone due to a diagnosis.
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About Chris Morris
Chris Morris is a powerful speaker on mental health and the church. He’s been a respected speaker at a number of churches, universities, and regional conferences. He doesn’t come as a psychologist or counselor, but instead brings his own experience as a battle-tested Jesus-loving veteran of mental illnesses. He brings a unique combination of theological insight, tested strategies and compassion for those you’re ministering to. He is able to break down the barriers between leader and sufferer because he is both.
Chris tackles the questions most people are afraid to ask. He brings hard-won wisdom from the trenches of both ministry and mental illness, and isn’t shy about sharing it. His topics include the absence of God in dark times, what the Scriptures have to say about mental illness, why a person is so much more than their diagnosis, and how to develop a multi-pronged mental illness ministry that helps those who suffer to be noticed, loved, and known.
Chris has a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Arizona Christian University and is a current student at Northern Seminary, where he’s pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology and Mission.
Video Samples
Here is a short session Chris did at the Disability & The Church 2024 conference. He talked here about myths that churches hold on to that keep them from being valuable partners with mental illness communities:
Here are some more snippets of Chris speaking in an interview segment, so you can get an idea of how he communicates. This interview was called “Break the Stigma” and focused on faith and mental health.
Chris’ speaking topics
Anxiety, Depression, and the Heart of God:
Too many people feel their mental health diagnoses disqualify them from God’s work, but nothing could be further from the truth. Ephesians tells us that we are God’s masterpiece, and no one who has created a masterpiece would hide it in the basement out of shame. With “masterpiece” as a backdrop, this session walks through what the Bible actually says about anxiety and depression. (Hint: neither is a sin, and both are present in the lives of Bible heroes.) We will then discuss the skill of cognitive reframing in the context of Scriptural guidelines.
Perseverance when Promises are Unfulfilled:
Desperation and fear often rule the day when we receive a distinct promise from God, but the fulfillment of that promise is delayed. Sometimes we feel as though we are the only one who has ever felt such a disconnect from God and his promises, but Hebrews 11 tells another story. This session outlines the lessons we can learn in the waiting by highlighting stories from the Old Testament heroes of the faith.
Resilient and Redeemed:
Suicidal ideations and depression have followed Chris his entire adult life, and he’s found himself in a psych ward more than once as a result. But here’s something he’s learned through his challenges: God always leaves a witness of his presence. Through these dark seasons, Chris learned what it means to be resilient, invest in himself, and lean into community to find health and wholeness. Be inspired to grow in your walk with God and in your community through this talk.
Trekking Toward Tenacity:
Parents often feel overwhelmed trying to raise their children to be mentally and spiritually tenacious, and they worry their kids will fall away from spiritual or mental health at the first sign of trouble. It is possible, even in today’s hectic world, to make choices that set you up to be mentally healthy, and we can coach our kids to do this very thing. We can find our solution in our identity in God and his great love for us. Psalm 139 has 13 specific aspects of our identity that we can embody to find tenacity, and this session outlines each component while providing practical ways to implement them into family life.
Investing in Mental Health Communities as an Everyday Christian:
Many Christians feel like they have to be a social worker or a psychiatrist to support those battling mental illnesses, but this is largely a result of the overmedicalization of our society. There are dozens of strategies anybody can employ to help those in mental illness communities, and it all starts with the act of deep listening. This session walks through Romans 12 and identifies a handful of activities that anyone can participate in to bring life, hope, and community to those who are struggling.
Speaking Endorsements
High Resolution Head Shots
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Book Chris to speak
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