[Bonus Episode] Walking Through Depression

Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee are joined by special guest Jeff Gauss to talk about his battle with depression and what advice he has for people who are dealing with the same struggles.

0:40 - Jeff shares about his experience planting three churches in the past 17-18 years. He planted two churches in Minnesota before planting his current church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He is also the director of church planting for the Converge Heartland district.


5:00 - Jeff talks about his struggle with depression, which began after his sister was killed in a car accident when he was 13 years old.


7:15 - Jeff discusses what he’s learned from his battle with depression that would be helpful to other people who are going through the same thing.


10:00 - Danny asks Jeff if it was hard to share with his wife what he was going through.


11:10 - Jeff talks about what his depression warning signs are and how many people don’t realize that they are depressed.


13:00 - Jeff discusses what he has learned about his faith through his struggles.


14:30 - Jeff talks about how he went to a doctor after realizing he needed help and started taking medication. “That [getting on medication] was probably the best decision I ever made.” He also started getting Christian counseling and still sees a counselor regularly.


16:15 - Lee asks Jeff if he was afraid to go to counseling and, if so, how he overcame it.


19:00 - Danny asks Jeff what he would say to those who are opposed to taking medication.


22:00 - Jeff gives his final advice to listeners who are struggling.


23:30 - Lee lets listeners know Converge is available to help. Contact Converge