What People Are Saying

Trekking Toward Tenacity

“Chris offers us a unique gift in Trekking Towards Tenacity: part bible study, part meditation, part training for parents in how to form and shape the faith of their children. Many books do one or two of those well, but Chris skillfully leads the reader through all of them in a way for those of us raising kids to take our own spiritual formation seriously and grow in how we walk spiritually with our kids. This book is all about how to practically learn to live in God’s loving presence, putting both our spiritual and mental health front and center. Using Ps 139 as a guide, Chris walks us directly into the intersections of our life and helps us recover how to experience God’s presence, build mental and spiritual resiliency, and curate conversations with our kids about their life and faith. If you’re looking to strengthen your faith or gain a more creative imagination for how to shepherd your kids this is a fantastic resource.”

Trekking Toward Tenacity

“With anxiety and depression on the rise among children and teenagers, Chris Morris’s insight and strategies for combating the lies and misconceptions surrounding mental health are exactly what parents need in their parenting arsenal. Trekking Towards Tenacity provides parents with thoughtful discussion starters, enlightening Scripture explorations, and actionable steps to bettering the mental health of the family as a whole. As someone who serves in youth ministry and sees the debilitating effects of mental illness among our teens, I recommend this book to any Christian parent who values the mental health of their children.”

Trekking Toward Tenacity

“This book has the potential to save lives and build healthy dynamics in homes across the nation. Chris Morris’s vulnerability about his own life and family is inspiring and a testimony of God’s relentless pursuit of His children. As a pastor’s wife, I hear how mental illness is affecting our families, and Trekking Towards Tenacity is a tool that I recommend to all Christian parents. It is the real deal!”

Trekking Toward Tenacity

“God’s word can teach you how to parent through mental health battles. Trekking Towards Tenacity opens your eyes to the power of scripture, self-reflection, and activation exercises that promote healthy change and breakthrough. Our world is saturated with new mental health cases daily. Chris focuses on pivotal points like understanding God’s intimate knowledge and presence, learning gratitude, the significance of prayer, and the ability to embrace our emotions and vulnerabilities as strengths. What if learning those pivotal points would bring more peace to your home?”

Trekking Toward Tenacity

“A wise and wonderful walk through Psalm 139, Trekking Toward Tenacity is the kind of book you’ll want to read slowly, marking it up and letting it soak deep into your heart and soul. Both conversational and honest in his style, Chris weaves Scripture and spiritual wisdom throughout this warm and gentle book. I came away thinking this: “We are all disheveled souls, but God still loves us and there is always hope.””

Resilient and Redeemed

“With deep compassion, Chris Morris shares his heartbreaking yet hopeful story. He navigates the often-misunderstood intersection of mental health and spiritual well-being with hope and wisdom that are desperately needed in today’s conversations about mental health in the church. I pray that Chris’s vulnerability starts conversations among believers, church leaders, and families.”

Resilient and Redeemed

“Chris Morris is a voice the church needs to hear! By courageously sharing his story, Chris opens a much-needed conversation about mental health, weaving personal narratives, theological insights, and practical guidance into a topic that has long been left in the shadows of religious communities.”

Resilient and Redeemed

“In this book you will encounter Chris as a wise guide who shares his journey’s harsh and painful realities. As he skillfully unfolds his story, he encourages all of us to open ourselves to the beautiful possibilities for hope and healing in Jesus. May we all listen to Chris as he points us to Jesus, and may the church be filled with gritty friendships.”

Resilient and Redeemed

“Open this book and journey with Chris Morris in the struggle to make sense of mental illness within the Christian life. Read the stories, reflect on Scripture, and find hope. In these pages, Chris helps us see God as present in the struggle. Resilient and Redeemed is a gift to all of us who struggle with mental illness or walk with someone who does.”

Resilient and Redeemed

“If you are a Christian who battles with depression and suicide, this book is for you. If you have a loved one who struggles with these same elements, this book will help you understand their battle and how you can encourage and pray for them. Chris invites the reader into his very personal journey with reflection and understanding, and his words provide hope and healing through God.”

Resilient and Redeemed

“I ask my clients, ‘Has your faith, theology, or church experience been helpful or harmful?’ Chris vulnerably and courageously writes about how he has been harmed and most importantly how he has been helped, literally saved, by God and treatment. He shares how depression can affect marriages. It’s real, honest, and hopeful.”

Whispers in the Pews

“I am ridiculously excited for the stories in this book to be shared. There is an incredible need to discuss the reality of mental illness and how the church can improve how it addresses this.”

Whispers in the Pews

“Compassion is the antidote to stigma, and it only begins when we hear the stories of real men and women who suffer from mental illness. Chris Morris is doing the church a tremendous service with this book. It should be required reading for anyone who considers himself or herself to be a follower of Jesus.”

Whispers in the Pews

“Chris Morris has compiled honest and raw stories that give sight into the heart of many Christians who have battled, or are battling, mental illness. Whispers in the Pews brings to light that mental health matters and how it hasn’t always mattered in the Christian community, and it needs to. Our churches need to be a place where all are welcome, no matter one’s story. Chris has written a thought-provoking book that will stir up your heart to be a part of the change we need to see.”

Whispers in the Pews

“Finally, someone is speaking out on a deep and important issue that simply does not get talked about enough in our faith communities. Thank you, Chris, for your honesty and bravery. May these words move us all to deeper and more compassionate action.”

Whispers in the Pews

“I cannot imagine Jesus scolding someone with a mental illness, telling them to just get over it, try harder, memorize more verses. No, He would listen. He would love. He would be filled with compassion. And even He was deemed mentally ill in his time, his miracles attributed to demonic activity. In short, Jesus empathizes with people who don’t fit a culture’s mold. But the church? We can either cause more suffering or create pathways of hope. Sadly, through ignorance and Christian platitudes we’ve done more of the former than the latter. This book offers incredibly precious insight to help the church become like Jesus for those who suffer. Read this book. Give it to your pastors and leaders. Revolutionary seems too small a word.”

Perfectly Abnormal

“I highly recommend this book to any person or family trying to deal with a chronic illness. In its pages you will find practical help to move forward, and hope to experience a life worth living. Over the past few years I have witnessed the pain and sorrow experienced by Chris and his family. Chris struggles not only the affects of his own physical illness, but the emotional pain of watching his children wrestle with their own sickness. Add to that the silent frustration and distress caused by well meaning individuals, friends and doctors, who question the reality of his sickness.

Through all of this, I have seen his family dust themselves off, pull together, cling to hope, and refuse to give up.”

Perfectly Abnormal

“Perfectly Abnormal is one of those books that should be required reading for churches longing to provide a welcoming environment for all their members.

And it should be required reading for any human who wants to love, empathize, and walk in the shoes of another.

I so appreciated Chris Morris’ wise theology of suffering and his keen insight into those who don’t fit the straightjacket of what society calls “normal.” An excellent book, well written.”

“Chris gave my favorite session ever at a conference. His words brought tears to my eyes, and still do every time I listen to the recording.”

“Chris understands the ways that faith and mental illness combine into powerful and useful ways. He isn’t afraid to stir the pot to get people to think differently about tough topics.”

“Chris is able to speak confidently about chronic and mental illnesses, combining practical points and biblical guidance into a compelling package that’s entertaining and challenging.”

“Chris tackles topics that churches and other groups need to hear, but are often afraid to address. He speaks with a pastoral heart to those who are hurting and to those who lead the church, guiding everyone toward a stronger sense of community and sensitivity.”