MOSAIC, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

“Serving GOD & Serving Others”

(Dt. 10:12 & 1 Pet. 4:10)

by means of interacting, intertwining & integrating its Vision, Mission & Motto Statements in sync within & throughout various Collaborative Partnerships through Outreach Ministries:

1). Celebration of Families; 2). Community; 3). Ham Radio Communications & Emergency Preparedness; 4). Homelessness; 5). Mental Health & Disabilities; 6). Prison Ministry; and 7). Veterans, just to name a few!!!

Mysteries Of: God’s creation of the universe, as well as the earth and everything in it as we know it are definitely the Mysteries of life, and life and everything pertaining to it are truly the magical Mysteries in which we live. For instance, it is a mystical transformation made possible by the Church (the Body of Christ) by the grace of God, in so far as it is a “Mystery” – a sacrament in the ontological sense – and unites us with the human nature of the Word, that is full to the brim with divine energies, with the presence and power of the Pneuma (spiritus – Spirit).

[The body of the Word] in its own nature has been enriched with the Word who is united to it. It has become holy, life-giving, full of the divine energy. And in Christ we too are transfigured.

Cyril of Alexandria That Christ is One (PG 75, 1269).

Spiritual Awareness: In a deified person is reconstituted the single sense that brings together intellect, emotions and vigor, and transfigures them into the divine light. “Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s,” says the Psalter (Ps 103:5).

Spiritual Awareness teaches us …… ‘In him,’ says the Psalter, “my flesh has blossomed afresh.”

Diadochus of Photike Gnostic Chapters, 25 (SC 5 bis, p.96-7).

Spiritual progress has no other test in the end, nor any better expression, than our ability to love. It gives us the ability to discover in the other person an inward nature as mysterious and deep as our own, but different and willed to be so by God.

In Communities: Mystery and splendor of the Body of Christ [Church]: members of Christ, we are all, as Paul writes, “members one of another.” This is to see the whole of humanity [community] as consubstantial, one person only, in the most realistic of senses. In this spacious body [community] love circulates as divine-human blood.

An elder said, “I have spent 20 yrs. fighting to see all human beings as only one.”

Sayings of Those who Grow Old in Ascesis (SO I, p.407).

For, in fact, compassion comes in the end to be united with the same compassion that God feels for all communities of the world. Gregory Nyssa speaks of the “pathos,” the passion of God for human beings, of the “suffering God,” the God of feeling. And Pascal wrote: “Jesus will be in agony until the end of the world.”

Brother, I recommend this to you: “Let the weight of compassion in you weigh the scales down until you feel in your heart the same compassion that God has for [all communities of] the world.”

Isaac of Nineveh Ascetic Treatises, 34 (Spanos p.151).

…a new heart: The heart must purify itself in order to see God.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8).

...look at the immensity of love. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts” (Rom 5:5). Augustine of Hippo Sermons, 23, 7 (PL 38, 157).

In union with God, the heart absorbs the Lord and the Lord the heart, and the two become one.

Quotation attributed to St. John Chrysostom by Callistus and Ignatius Xanthopoulos, 52 (Philokalia IV, 252).

...a new spirit: One of the most important evidences of the work of the Spirit, both in the Church and in the lives of individuals, was the way the Spirit led Peter, Philip, and more prominently in the experience of Paul. Being led by the Spirit means more than enjoying the freedom, boldness, and victories He brings. The Spirit is truly the Guide and Protector all individuals and Faith Groups need.

The Book of Acts thus emphasizes that the Holy Spirit in the very nature of things is closely bound up with every aspect of the life of the Church and Christians. Jesus is the Savior, Baptizer, Healer and Coming King. But the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus and does for us all Jesus promised He would do. We are baptized, empowered, taught to be disciples, and guided by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Treasury of all good things & the Giver of Life!

The Spirit that is united to God by prayer and by love acquires wisdom, goodness, power, beneficence, generosity... in a word, that person bears the attributes of God.

Maximus The Confessor Centuries on Charity, III, 52 (PG 90, 1001.

MOSAIC, Inc. Overview

World Faith Groups (WFG), Community Based Organizations (CBO), church congregations, synagogues, temples, mosques are repeatedly asked to respond to a variety of community needs, including local, regional, county, and state (e.g., Department of Mental Health). In instances where people have a disability and/or mental illness, the pastor/clergy or congregations, synagogues, mosques and/or temples may be hesitant to become involved. However, people/communities with disability and mental illness, their families, guardians, caregivers and their problems remain. Most recently, due to the present economic crisis, they have undoubtedly been knocking at the congregation’s, synagogue’s, mosque’s and temple’s doors.

How can the World Faith Groups and Community Based Organizations respond? The values of WFG’s living/lifestyles create the potential for creating caring church’s, synagogue’s, mosque’s & temple’s. A WFG, church, synagogue, mosque and temple can be the place where people with a disability and mental illness can find a place of welcome and hospitality. The WFG/CBO, church congregation, synagogue, mosque and temple can be a place which supports both the person who is ill and the family as they struggle with the realities of living with a disability and/or mental illness. This “World Faith Group Symposium: Implementation & Self-Sustaining Topics on Mental Illness Outreach Ministries and Spiritual Awareness” is an innovative collaboration to help & assist All World Faiths have a better understanding of disabilities &/or mental illness & what we can do to be understanding & supportive of those who have disabilities and/or mental illness.

Beginning in the nineteen sixties, care and treatment of persons with disabilities and mental illness has improved dramatically with the introduction of new medications. However, medical practice has out-paced practicality. In too many instances, people who are struck with a disability and/or mental illness – even those who approach society’s definition of normal – daily face an unsympathetic, unfair, and hostile society. Fear of those affected by a disability and/or mental illness has alienated many people. People often fear violent behavior, fear being identified with those who are “different,” fear the disability or illness itself, fear that they, themselves (Faith members), could become disabled or mentally ill.

In response to the needs of people with a disability and/or mental illness and their families/guardians, “Mysteries Of Spiritual Awareness In Communities MOSAIC, Inc.” was created to facilitate the work, initiative, and collaboration of All of the World Faith Groups (WFG) and Community Based Organizations (CBO) in reaching out to those who have a disability and/or mental illness and their families/guardians. The goal is to have them welcomed (into church congregation’s, synagogue’s, mosque’s and temple’s) as part of their Faith community and integrated into the life and lifestyle of that community.

“Mysteries Of Spiritual Awareness In Communities MOSAIC, Inc.” appreciates that numerous World Faith Groups / Communities have an educational system in place at the national, state, regional, local and church congregation, synagogue, mosque and temple levels. This system can encourage and enable reaching out to people who have a disability, mental illness and to families/guardians by drawing them into the life and lifestyle of the particular World Faith Group’s membership. It can give support within the WFG and Whole Community by serving those who have a disability or mental illness and their families/guardians. This can include educational efforts within the WFG or joint collaborative efforts with other church congregations, synagogues, mosques and temples in youth and educational classes, or in workshops or consultations. By combining its educational and service efforts the WFG and CBO can add its voice to those advocating for the needs of people who have a disability, mental illness, youth and their families/guardians at all levels of our society.

NOTE: Understanding the meanings and definitions of the following:

Implementation – to put into effect according to or by means of a definite plan or procedure; to fulfill; perform and/or carry out;

Self-Sustaining – the means of self-supporting and maintaining oneself (i.e., that is in this case World Faith Group(s)) without relying on continuous outside aid and/or support.

Mysteries Of Spiritual Awareness In Communities MOSAIC, Inc.

The Disabled and Mentally Ill persons have been designated for centuries as a curse, sort of a punishment from God. But in reality, the disabled and mentally ill are a personal Blessing and Spiritual Gift from God, far from the historical labeling of being spiritually weak. Therefore, nothing has prepared the World Faith Groups for people who have disabilities and mental illness and their families/guardians living in our “Whole Community”. Even though, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental illness affects one in four families, pastors/clergy and their church congregations, synagogues, mosques and temples are largely unaware of the problems. Without the necessary education and training about the disabled and mentally ill, the church, synagogue, mosque and temple will be as uninformed and misinformed as the general public.

Even with the spirit of compassion you nurture in your church congregations, synagogues, mosques & temples, many families will remain “in the closet” with disabilities & mental illness. Many others will harbor myths and fears, making it difficult for us all to face reality squarely.

We know mental illness in particular, is a biochemically based brain disorder. There are numerous medicines which relieve its major symptoms, such as plaguing hallucinations, delusions, voices and paranoia. Medications, however, cannot reconstitute out broken lives, bring back lost friends, mend families, give us work or love. Recovery from any disability or mental illness requires a holistic approach, healing the body, mind and spirit. It requires the love, acceptance and support of others, especially from World Faith Groups and Community Based Organizations.

My dear disabled and mentally ill friends, are the most gentle, loving spirits, truly a Blessing in my life, and undoubtedly a Spiritual Gift to All of us who have contact and communicate with them regularly on a weekly basis, THANKS to GOD. YES, we are all different for numerous reasons, and if it were not for such Spiritual Gifts that Bless this planet, our bond of various sufferings becomes seemingly inevitable for all, and seals many strong spiritual friendships. They are graciously humble, who repeatedly comment on the fact that they are neither specially gifted nor cursed. However, these Spiritually Gifted friends of mine have unique talents and potentials not yet realized within them-selves, not to mention the “Whole Community”. YES, it does in fact take time to get used to those we see as different, and we may also find it sometimes hard and cumbersome to have a conversation with them. At times, it may seem that they rapidly change subjects, or even talk about things that seem strange or inappropriate, such as talking to themselves. Furthermore, they may seemingly dress unusual or appear unkempt; stand too close to us; walk away from us suddenly for no apparent reason; as well as in our own church congregations, synagogues, mosques and temples, they may sound the loudest “AMEN” or speak when no one else is speaking; and rock back and forth, pace or show unusual movements in their extremities. But unknowingly, the general public and World Faith Group memberships do not realize that some of these symptoms are caused by the very medications used to help them cope and fit into society.

The greatest barrier for the disabled, mentally ill, and former mental patients have to face when they return to the “Whole Community”, and/or a specific community where they once lived or family members still do, is “isolation.” They may suffer this “isolation” even within the institutions traditionally meant to offer support to those in need. Therefore, I’m praying that this “World Faith Groups Symposium” will inspire you all to go back to your church congregations, synagogues, mosques and temples and meet face-to-face with persons with disabilities, mentally ill, and their families/guardians. Let us meet each other, dialogue and collaborate at this “World Faith Group Symposium” today and carry a new openness and understanding into the future.

In conclusion, it is extremely important for all of us to play a role in trying to eliminate “STIGMA” in our Faith Communities, which starts with eliminating false remarks/statements:

They have been repeatedly told that their illness stems from spiritual flaws and weaknesses.

They have been told that they are possessed by demons and Satan.

They have been told that they should go off their medication, stop seeing doctors, and substitute prayer.

They have been told that they were bad, shunned as evil, called “lost, and are very much feared.

May GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS, FOREVER & EVER, for your understanding and support of those who are and/or may be less-fortunate than others / ourselves, AMEN!!!

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Fr. James W. Steele

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Rev. Dr. (Bishop James) Steele (President & CEO)