A NEW course in happiness has been launched for churches and
workplaces by the UK's largest Christian disability charity,
Livability.
The course, which is open to all, was sold out when it ran its
first training day last weekend. It has so far been run in about 60
churches and workplaces, and is now being extended across the
country.
Katharine Welby, Livability's community mission co-ordinator,
spoke on Tuesday of a "great hunger for happiness in society today.
So often we look for it in our jobs, money, appearance, etc. The
media can teach us that this is the way to happiness, but
statistics show that depression is the second most disabling
illness in the world now.
"We have had people interested in running it in schools,
hospitals, churches, work places, and have ourselves run it in
offices during the lunch-break, and in churches, for both those who
attend the church and the wider community."
"It does not have explicit Christian content, and is therefore
great to do with those who perhaps come to your foodbank, or who
you meet as a street pastor. Everyone wants to be happy."
The course was written by Andy Parnham, a church leader from
London, who worked previously as a doctor. It says it will address
"the meaning of happiness, forgiveness, gratitude, relationships,
and success".
www.livability.org.uk