Faith Leader Connect: Serving Our Community Through Mental Health

All area faith leaders are invited to join Texas Health Community Hope on Wednesday, Nov. 6, for a morning of connecting faith with mental health care and well-being. Designed to be “for leaders by leaders,” Faith Leader Connect is a free event that will offer encouragement, fellowship, and the opportunity for faith leaders to learn about resources that may better help serve the mental health needs of congregations and the community.

Participants will enjoy a light breakfast, then hear from a varied group of area leaders on the topic of mental health. Presenters and topics will include:

Dr. Griselle Batista: “Community Focused Mental Health.”

Dr. Batista, an Assistant Professor of Nursing at TCU’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, will address the ways that faith-based organizations can help with mental health challenges within the communities they serve.

Michelle Bowles: “Connecting with HOPE.”

As a program manager for Texas Health Community Hope, Bowles excels at building relationships with schools to enhance the well-being of students and families. Bowles will discuss the impact Social Determinants of Health have on mental health and the various Texas Health programs, initiatives, and resources available to faith leaders.

Ralph Emerson Jr.: “Mental Health for Faith Leaders.”

Emerson, senior pastor at Rising Star Church in Fort Worth, has 20 years of experience as a pastor, speaker, and author. Faith leaders’ own mental health is vital to longevity and well-being. This presentation will offer practical ways to address personal mental health, as well as that of the people you serve.

The Amon Carter Event Center at Lena Pope (3200 Sanguinet St, Fort Worth 76107) will host the Faith Leader Connect event. It is free to all pastors, clergy, lay persons, and ministry leaders but pre-registration is requested. For more information, contact [email protected].

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

About Dr. Griselle Batista

Dr. Griselle Batista is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at TCU’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. She obtained a BSN from the University of Puerto Rico, an MSN (Psych-Mental Health Nursing) from the University of Miami, and a PhD in Nursing (with a concentration in Transcultural Nursing) from Duquesne University. Dr. Batista’s professional journey began as a bicultural and bilingual nurse in Puerto Rico; she has been a psychiatric/mental health nurse for over 25 years. She is passionate about teaching and raising awareness about mental health issues. Her research focuses on community-based interventions that foster mental health promotion in Hispanic communities.

About Michelle Bowles

Michelle Bowles is a Program Manager with Texas Health Community Hope who excels at building relationships with schools and forming effective relationships to address and overcome barriers to healthy lifestyles. Her work is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of students and their families by helping to strengthen and advance school wellness programs. With a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin, Bowles brings over 20 years of experience with schools to her role. She is deeply committed to helping improve the health of those in our community.

About Ralph S. Emerson Jr.

Ralph S. Emerson have over 20 years of experience as a pastor, speaker, and author. Emerson began his preaching ministry in 2001 under the leadership of his father, Pastor Ralph W. Emerson Jr. of The Rising Star Church in Fort Worth, TX. There he served as youth and young adult pastor, Executive Pastor of Next Generation Ministries, and church Executive Pastor. In 2023, he became senior pastor at Rising Star. In addition to his time at Rising Star, Emerson served at CityGate Church in Burlington, North Carolina, as the Executive Pastor for 5 years, and as Senior Pastor of Impact City Church in Odessa, TX for almost 2 years. A graduate of Florida A&M University with a BS in Business Administration, his ability to be biblical, practical, as well as culturally and generationally relevant, has opened doors for him to speak across different platforms nationally.

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