That was Mickey. I believe Sis. Alvear was talking about Vesta.
I listened to Mickey's talk and was somewhat troubled by a couple of things she talked about.
First, (this isn't troubling, but helps to understand the push for mental health talks at BOTT the past few years) the subject of mental illness and mental health is personal to Mickey. She tells a story of her own struggle and that of her granddaughter.
I had to rewind a couple of times to ensure I heard it correctly, but at 28:22 she said "Jesus came for more reasons than just to connect us to God."
Jesus did give several reasons why He came, "to do the will of the Father," to bring light, to bring a sword, to bring judgment, etc. But each reason and the main reason was to connect us to God.
She quoted
Romans 7:18, then asks if "this person" is possibly experiencing a mental disorder or are they convicted because they're sinning? Then she says we connect sin with mental illness.
She promotes Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist and communication pathologist, and has attended her seminars, and read her books. She recommended everyone read one of her books. Leaf also reinterprets scripture to fit her narrative.
2 Tim 1:7 she claims "fear" means "anxiety" and "sound mind" refers to "mental wholeness." She does the same with
Proverbs 21:7.
Mickey uses
Proverbs 21:7 as well, though I have heard that verse used out of context by more than just Leaf and Micky. "As a man thinks so is he." It's not about the mind or mental health. That scripture is about a petty host who is calculating or adding up the costs of his guests as they sit and eat, pretending to be happy and sharing their meal but his heart isn't with them.
Tennie McCarty and Shades of Hope was promoted by Mickey and by Misty Calk, who was brought up towards the end. One of the things McCarty and SOH does is "Inner Child Therapy," which is trying to go back into your childhood to determine if there's some kind of unresolved trauma or issues. This is one of my main objections to therapists. I don't believe in going back to the past and dredging up potential trauma or issues. Especially not as an Apostolic who believes in regeneration. The past is under the blood, leave it there.
I posted a photo earlier of a quote and asked for context. The quote was "Alcohol and addictions cannot stop us from being who God has called us to be." After hearing it in context, I cannot agree. She's referring to
current alcohol use and
current addictions. The very next thing she says is, "I hang out weekly with the most beloved, struggling, honest, overcoming addicted people in this church. People who have been in and out of recovery centers so many times they've lost count."
So in that context, yes, alcohol and addictions both can and will stop you from being who God has called you to be.
I still have reservations about this push for Apostolics to seek mental health treatments with therapists.