Soul Shop for Black Churches equips faith leaders to address suicide in their congregations

The Black Church has long been instrumental in confronting the challenges that African Americans face around the country, whether it be racial discrimination, the COVID-19 pandemic or the erasure and censorship of Black history. Though, one struggle it’s been hesitant to address is suicide. 

Many religions deem suicide a sin— as evidence that a person did not appreciate the gift of life from God. Though attitudes toward it have shifted in more recent years, mental health remains somewhat of a taboo topic in faith and Black communities. 

The Soul Shop movement has stepped in to empower faith-based institutions and leaders with training to support congregants who have been impacted by trauma and suicide. 

“Historically, the Black Church has been such a cornerstone for our Black communities. It has been the birthplace of movements, the heartbeat of hope, the food pantry, the gathering space, a place of sanctuary and also a place where we can regain a sense of inspiration to make change,” said Lauren Jenkins, co-director of Soul Shop for Black Churches. “Why not the Black Church be the place where we are having conversations about a public health crisis, like suicide, and hearing how suicide is impacting our Black communities?”  

The concept for the Soul Shop movement was designed in 1999 by founder Fe Anam Avis, who wanted to discover how faith communities could respond to suicide. What started as a one-day training for faith leaders in 2012 quickly grew into a national movement, becoming an independent organization in 2017. 

In 2022, Soul Shop for Black Churches emerged from the broader movement. The program was designed by a group of Black faith-based leaders with expertise in suicidality and in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

A one-day workshop, their training teaches faith leaders how to develop workshop resources, educate congregants on suicide awarness and fundamental conversation skills and open the door for people who have experienced suicidal thoughts to share their stories. The program also points to times when suicide was discussed in scripture to help reduce stigma. 

“When people get into that space of desperation they cannot access hope—which is understanding and seeing that a better, new day is achievable—and they feel isolated and alone,” said Jenkins. “With Soul Shop for Black Churches, we help equip faith-based leaders to essentially be somebody’s borrowed hope until they can find it again.” 

Jenkins serves alongside Rev. Dr. Reginald Wells. Wells, a Missionary Baptist pastor out of North Carolina, was a participant in the training himself before becoming the other co-director of Soul Shop for Black Churches. 

Both Jenkins and Wells have personal encounters with mental health challenges. Jenkins, a clinical counselor and trauma specialist from Maryland, lost her childhood best friend to suicide and later experienced suicidal desperation herself. Wells, a military veteran, suffers from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He also lost his great-nephew to suicide. 

Since taking the training and becoming  co-director, Wells has begun to implement what he’s learned in his ministry. He preaches sermons on what desperation looks like and prays openly about suicide.

“We have weekly prayer in our church via conference call, and the focus of one of our prayers was on those who are dealing with suicidal ideation and desperation,” said Wells. “That was something years ago we did not do. I’m just trying to let people know that it’s OK to talk about it.” 

In the future, Jenkins and Wells plan to continue normalizing conversations about suicide in faith communities. They also hope to gain more exposure for the work of Soul Shop for Black Churches. 

For them, it’s a movement with momentum, not a one-off program. 

“If you are reading this and you have been impacted in some way by suicide, understand that your experience has a voice that needs to be heard,” said Jenkins. “There are resources and training, like Soul Shop, to equip us to help save a life, ease a burden and let somebody know they’re not alone.” 

For more information about Soul Shop click here. 

FULL ARTICLE by Megan Sayles, AFRO Staff Writer, September 29, 2025