Arlington pastor encourages open conversations, practical care, and spiritual balance as part of holistic healing

ARLINGTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / October 30, 2025 / Pastor Ronnie Goines, founder of Koinonia Christian Church and Dr. R.W. Goines STEM Academy, is leading a renewed call for faith communities to prioritize mental and emotional health alongside spiritual growth. Drawing on his own journey through adversity, Pastor Goines is encouraging churches, leaders, and families to normalize conversations around depression, anxiety, and burnout-and to approach healing as both spiritual and psychological.

"When I first started preaching, people were afraid to talk about depression in church," Pastor Goines said. "We told folks to just pray about it. But healing doesn't work that way. God gave us prayer and professionals. It's time the church embraced both."

Mental health challenges have reached historic levels across the U.S. According to the CDC, one in five adults experiences mental illness each year, and one in six youth aged 6-17 faces a mental health disorder. In Texas, suicide rates have climbed 35% since 1999, highlighting the urgent need for community-led solutions that include faith-based support.

Pastor Goines believes churches can be a powerful part of that solution-if they evolve.

"Faith and feelings aren't enemies," he said. "The church should be the safest place to say, ‘I'm not okay,' without fear or shame."

Beyond sermons, he's calling for small-group conversations, pastoral training, and partnerships with licensed counselors to provide holistic care. He also challenges individuals to take action within their own lives-through rest, observation, and community engagement.

"Rest is not laziness-it's leadership," Goines added. "When you learn to pause, pray, and process, you show others that self-care is a form of stewardship."

In addition to his pastoral leadership, Pastor Goines has worked with organizations like the Arlington Life Shelter, Red Cross Disaster Relief, and local domestic violence centers. His commitment to emotional and spiritual wellness is reflected in his ministry's outreach, which focuses on serving the whole person-mind, body, and spirit.

A Call to Action

Pastor Goines is encouraging individuals and faith communities to take three simple steps toward emotional health awareness:

1. Start a conversation. Talk about mental health in your family, church, or small group this week.

2. Take rest seriously. Set aside time for prayer, reflection, and genuine downtime.

3. Seek help early. Combine faith with therapy and community support when you or someone you love is struggling.

"You don't need a platform to make a difference," Pastor Goines said. "You just need to pay attention, care enough to ask questions, and create space for honesty."

For more information on Pastor Goines' community work and upcoming speaking engagements, visit www.koinoniachristianchurch.org.

Contact: info@ronniegoinespastor.com

Read the full interview here.

SOURCE: Erase