VPS this month: Sermon and Mental Health Moment from The LabOratory Co-Founders
Virtual Pulpit Supply this month features a preaching duo: Rev. Amie Vanderford, MDiv and Thaddeus Shelton, Jr., MFT, CSAYC. Co-Founders of The LabOratory Church, a trauma informed congregation, Amie and Thaddeus give us a sermon and mental health moment. From Ephesians 6:10-20, they speak of an “economy of mutual care” and “intimacy with the Spirit.”
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VPS from AllianceQ provides you and your community members with a unique perspective on scripture and deepens your connection with Disciples leaders and ministries. VPS materials are relevant for use beyond worship.
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About the Speakers
Co-Founder & Pastor – Rev. Amie Vanderford, MDiv
Rev. Amie Vanderford obtained her Master of Divinity at the Christian Theological Seminary, along with numerous master level courses in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She and Thaddeus (spouse and co-founder) believe that mental and emotional health are as critical to a person’s overall well-being as spiritual and physical health, and they have incorporated trauma informed care and mental health services, with a particular focus on relational and community healing, into the mission, vision, and foundation of The LabOratory Church. She is also co-founder of Project LEAST. Amie has had a diverse career prior to taking up her call to prophetic and pastoral ministry. In addition to working in the corporate and non-profit fields, she is an accomplished photographer with a diverse multicultural and international background, having lived all over the world since childhood. She obtained an undergraduate degree in International Relations with a focus on Peace and Conflict Resolution, and she has a strong passion for addressing systemic racial and other social injustices.
Co-Founder & Minister of Mental Health – Thaddeus Shelton, Jr., MFT, CSAYC
Thaddeus Shelton, Jr. obtained his Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at the Christian Theological Seminary, and has additionally received his CSAYC (Credentialed Sexually Abusive Youth Clinician) certification. He is currently providing therapy services through a local Indianapolis agency, Family & Community Partners, and he is the founder and facilitator of the Project LEAST (Love Everyone As Self Training) mentoring program which teaches evidence-based pro-social skills in order to equip youth to navigate the world in a healthy and more communal way. He understands the complicated dynamics of systemic oppression, and uses a narrative therapeutic approach to address and help dismantle those systems. Thaddeus has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, and has had a diverse career as an entrepreneur, project manager, and business owner, along with years of experience in the insurance industry, prior to answering his call to service.
How does Virtual Pulpit Supply work?
VPS is offered once a month for the lectionary text assigned to the fourth Sunday. To sign up for the August materials or any previous materials, fill out this VPS request form.
By 5 p.m. ET on the Monday before the assigned date, you will receive an email with a link to download a video containing the scripture reading, sermon, and sending forth. If you request previous months’ materials, your downloads will be sent within 1-2 business days. While drawing from the lectionary texts, you are welcome and encouraged to download VPS materials at another time in the month if it works better for your ministry.
How much does it cost?
There is no cost to download the VPS materials. However, to sustain this ministry, we ask that you consider making a donation to AllianceQ. You can support the Virtual Pulpit Supply project and donate here.
You may also mail a check to: Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, P.O. Box 44400, Indianapolis, IN 46244 with the memo “VPS.”
Full details on VPS, previous months’ preachers and themes