Saturday, January 21, 2023, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Join us for a three-part series with guest speaker, Tom Ryan* (bio below)
PART ONE: Faith and Spiritual Bypass with Tom Ryan* on Saturday, January 21 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the Chapel | Many people attempt to avoid difficult or troubling situations by using emotional bypass, a way to discount, rationalize or dismiss something with a truism, saying or thought that shuts down the awful feelings of fear, despair, or overwhelming confusion. While very common and in one sense useful, bypass doesn’t really help us in the long run.
Many Christians inadvertently utilize emotional bypass in a related way, called spiritual bypass. When faced with emotional wounds, unwanted thoughts and troubling impulses, we will use spirituality, theology or religion in various forms to reduce our stress and avoid pain or discomfort.
Together we'll explore how emotional/spiritual bypass is ultimately unhealthy for us, how can we recognized, and how can we learn to cooperate with the Gospel in facing the challenges of this life.
PART TWO: Faith and Shame with guest speaker, Tom Ryan* on Saturday, February 25 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in Room 204 | All of us deal with shame as it seems to be a part of our collective human DNA. Together we'll explore what shame is, how it affects us, and how it affects Christians. We'll also hear about some of the things we can do to help us deal with shame in an honest and spiritual way.
PART THREE: Faith and Sex Addiction with guest speaker, Tom Ryan* on Saturday, March 25 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in Room 204 | One of God’s great gifts is human sexuality. It’s also a part of life many people find challenging. We'll explore what is a sexual addiction, how can someone be a Christian and also addicted to sex, and how the Gospel can help us deal with the cultural tsunami of sexual addiction.
Sign up here for one, two or all three topics.
*Dr. Tom Ryan Bio T. C. Ryan, BSEd (University of Missouri), MDiv (Fuller Theological Seminary), DMin (Fuller Theological Seminary), has been an ordained minister for over thirty years and is certified as a Pastoral Sex Addiction Professional (IITAP).
Having served on the staff of several churches and ministry organizations, he was for nineteen years the founding and senior pastor of a large church in a suburb of Kansas City. In that role he supervised professional staff and lay volunteers, and oversaw the development of creative programs of spiritual nurture and creative outreach. He gave leadership beyond his local church and twice served as moderator of his denomination’s regional governing body.
In addition to his ministry experience, Dr. Ryan is personally familiar with the dynamics and demands of recovering from addiction. He is the author of Ashamed No More: A Pastor’s Journey Through Sex Addiction (InterVarsity Press, 2012).
He founded and is executive director of LivingIntegrated, a nonprofit organization helping both individuals and organizations deal with the cultural crisis of compulsive sexual behaviors. In that role he regularly facilitates part of an intensive treatment program, Boulder Recovery. He speaks to a variety of groups regarding recovery, Christian spirituality and compulsive sexual behavior. He and his wife, Pam, have four grown children and currently reside in the Kansas City area.