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    HopeKeepers is a nondenominational Christian encouragement support group for those living with chronic pain. HopeKeepers meets every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord. There is no charge for attending these meetings and we highly encourage you to attend. The Odessa chapter began meeting in June of 2003 and started with 10 members. The membership continues to rise today.

    HopeKeepers is affiliated with a national group, Rest Ministries of San Diego. Donna Brown is the leader of the Odessa group and is available for speaking engagements. For more information, call 432-337-6176 or click any of the links.

    HopeKeepers meets every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at The Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord. Please come by, we'd love to have you.

About Chronic Illness

• Nearly 1 in every 2 Americans has a chronic condition

• 60% of those who live with a daily illness or pain are between 18 and 64

• The divorce rate among the chronically ill is over 75%

• Depression is 15-20% higher for chronically ill. However, the significance of one's faith has shown to lower the risk of depressive symptoms and aid in better handling a stressful medical event

• Various studies report physical illness or uncontrollable physical pain are major factors in up to 70% of suicides; and more than 50% of these suicidal patients were under 35 years of age

     Those who use their religious faith to cope are significantly less depressed, even when taken into account the severity of their physical illness. In fact, the clinical effects of the religious coping showed the strongest benefit among those with severe physical disability. Some 87 patients hospitalized with serious illness who also then suffered depression were followed over time in another study. The patients with a deep, internalized faith recovered faster from the depression, even when their physical condition wasn't improving.

Odessa American Article       HopeKeepers Magazine Article

Click the image for the full size article about HopeKeepers featured in the Summer 2005 edition of Better Health & Living magazine.