This is a translation from the original article in Swedish: ”Vad är mindful Church?”
I (Lotta Klasén) have been with Mindful Church since its beginning. Here I tell you what it is and why I am there.
Mindful Church was started by Richard Johnston in March -2022. It is a new type of Christian church/community built around several core principles: fellowship, teaching, sharing, prayer, Christian mindfulness, contemplation, meditation and worship. Mindful Church has meetings on Zoom, but encourage the development of local expressions of Mindful Church. Everyone is welcome to join the meetings on Zoom. The meetings include informal conversations, live meditations, prayer and teaching from the Bible, as well as teaching about contemplation and Christian mindfulness.
Christian Mindfulness
Richard Johnston is also behind the website “Christian Mindfulness”. and has written several books on the subject of Christian Mindfulness. There are those who think I invented ”Kristen Mindfulness” but it is my Swedish translation of ”Christian Mindfulness” which exists in England, the USA and also other countries.
Who leads teaching, meditations and prayer at Mindful Church?
Mindful Church is led by two women and two men: Bev Walker, Karen Openshaw (link), (who together with Chris Edmondson wrote the books: ”Mindfulness as mission gift” (link) and ”Mindful Devotions: a 40-Day Journey Through the Bible”) (link), Paul Bane , (pastor in the USA, who also runs the website Mindful Christianity today. (link) He is also co-author of the book ”In presence of Jesus” and Richard Johnston.
One of several guest speakers at Mindful Church is Shaun Lambert (link). He is a Baptist pastor, psychotherapist, author and has a doctorate in the subject of Christian Mindfulness ”Mindfulness of God” and has written several books on the subject.
Regina Chow Trammel (link) has also been a guest at Mindful Church. She is a therapist, speaker, educator and has written the book: ”A Counselor’s Guide to Christian Mindfulness: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul in and Soul in Biblical Practices and Therapies.”
Who is Mindful Church for?
Mindful Church is for anyone who wants to explore a more conscious approach to life and be a ”mindful” aware Christian. Do you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness? Mindful Church can help you. Mindful Church is focused on the relationship with Jesus Christ and the relationship with each other.
Why am I with Mindful Church?
I (Lotta Klasén) have been with Mindful Church from the beginning. In this group there are people with whom I can identify. People who have or have struggled with mental illness and burnout and who are interested in and practice Christian Mindfulness. Richard has talked about his experience of burnout, how mindfulness helped him and how he then created courses in Christian Mindfulness and started his website about Christian Mindfulness. Shaun Lambert has a similar experience, as do several who lead teaching at Mindful Church.
Mindful Church and Christian Mindfulness have not had a Swedish equivalent. Therefore, I have created this website “Kristen Mindfulness Nu” (Christian Mindfulness Now) www.kristenmindfulness.nu and intend to start Mindful Church Sweden. I think that this group Is av vary soul-caring ”church” that functions as a prayer group for me and is a very important complement to the regular church. I find it very difficult to identify myself in the ”ordinary” free church. They almost never talk about mental suffering – almost as if it did not exist, as if the reality that I experienced in my life does not exist within the church.
I am also in the Mindful Church and the movement that Christian Mindfulness is as well because I believe that it is the missionary gift and missionary movement of the future (”Mindfulness as mission gift”” It is time to build bridges between psychological science and research and Christian faith. Mindfulness is everywhere, so then there can also be Christian Mindfulness. It is time to build bridges between people instead of building walls and always having ”us” and ”them”.
At the same time, I understand that there are people who think I am a false teacher and misunderstand me. It’s hard. But I continue anyway. I follow God’s calling.