“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

~Matthew 11:28-30

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The 2026 NAMI Walk takes place this Saturday, October 17, so in today’s OLT I will share the story of the creation of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Paul Mollenhauer also provides us with a timeline of the partnership that Saint John’s has had with NAMI for over a decade.
 
In 1977, three mothers, Harriet Shetler, Bev Young, and Nancy Abraham, each with a son with schizophrenia, met to discuss the challenges they shared raising a child with serious mental illness. The women decided to assemble a group of family members and friends of persons with mental illness who shared similar concerns. On April 13, 1977, 12 people met at the Cuba Club Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, and formed the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. This name was chosen partly because of its beautiful acronym, AMI, which means “friend” in French.

In Central Texas, that same inspiration arose in 1984, when a group of local families founded NAMI Austin to bring support, education, and advocacy to their community. What began around kitchen tables and church basements has grown into NAMI Central Texas, serving a six-county region that includes Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, and Caldwell counties.  As part of the national NAMI network, NAMI Central Texas offers free, innovative programs that support individuals and families, educate the public, and advocate for a mental health system that works for everyone.
 
Saint John’s has a long history of partnering with and supporting the work of NAMI.

• 2014 and 2015 Out of Exile Conference: Connecting Faith, Community, and Mental Illness - Saint John's sent representatives to this conference, which was partially led by NAMI Central Texas. In 2015, Karen Hale was a panelist. 
• 2015 Planning Session - The Mental Health Ministries Team met with Karen Ranus, Executive Director of NAMI Central Texas at the time, to discuss a partnership.
• The Season of Listening - Karen Ranus participated in our panel discussions during this period of discernment about Reconciling Ministry Network affiliation.
• NAMI Walk - Saint John’s first began participating in this organized walk around 2012. Paul Mollenhauer, chair of Saint John's Mental Health Ministry Team, has organized a team, now known as the Saint John's Steppers, since 2015.
• 2017 and 2018 Bridges of Hope - NAMI Central Texas led this class at Saint John’s for church staff and leaders.
• 2018 Mental Health Ministries Team Coffee House - NAMI Central Texas was the beneficiary of funds raised through the Mental Health Ministries Coffee House in 2018.

Karen Ranus, former Executive Director of NAMI Central Texas, has called Saint John’s "superstars" because of our mental health team and the work we have done for mental health awareness. I hope that the story of NAMI and the history of Saint John’s work with them has been inspirational. Maybe you will be inspired to participate in this year's walk or possibly get involved with the Saint John’s Mental Health Ministries Team.