Hiding in the Pews: Shining Light on Mental Illness in the Church

by Steve Austin, Robert W. Lee (Foreword)

In 2012, Steve Austin, then a pastor, nearly died by suicide. His experience launched him on a journey that opened his eyes to the widespread problem of mental illness and how those who live with it are often treated in congregations. He began to if church folks had talked openly about mental health, therapy, suicide prevention, recovery from abuse, and other difficult issues, would that have changed his story? In Hiding in the Pews , people with mental illness--some of whom might be pastors themselves--will find comfort as they learn they are not alone. Those who know someone with mental illness will gain wisdom about how to be a safe presence. Those who hold the most power in church communities--pastors, board members, and lay leaders--will be challenged and equipped to transform their congregations into places of healing, where it is safe for people to be vulnerable about their suffering. Austin draws on his own experience, as well as on interviews with eighty current and former church leaders and members. Each chapter covers a topic or theme about mental illness and the church and includes practical applications to guide leaders on a journey toward transforming church culture. When a church champions vulnerability and establishes safety within its walls, especially for those who are suffering, the loving power of God heals. Austin offers hope that faith communities will be the first places people think of when they need a sense of safety and belonging.

Genres: Faith, Mental Health

230 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

About the author

Steve Austin was a pastor when he nearly died by suicide. Years of performance-based Christianity taught Austin to sweep the pain of childhood sexual abuse, plus the shame of PTSD, anxiety, and depression under the rug.


When it came to his suffering, Austin believed it was best not to let anyone know about his secrets - especially church folks. As a result, fear, shame, and guilt were Austin’s constant companions.


Thankfully, a suicide attempt was not the end of his story.


When Austin realized his life wasn’t over, he set about figuring out how to embrace vulnerability by asking for professional help and sharing the uncomfortable truth about his story.


In short: he gave himself permission to be human for the very first time.


Since going public, Austin has learned that countless others are desperate to live an authentic life, too. These days, he helps hurting people find an integrated approach to wholeness, including mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.


Since 2012, Austin has written several books, including: Catching Your Breath and Slow Miracles. His work has been featured in USA Today, Huffington Post, The Mighty, and other outlets. He has become a leading voice at the intersection of faith and mental health.


Today, Austin consults church leaders from around the U.S. on how to make their faith communities a safe place for those who are suffering. He also hosts the Catching Your Breath podcast, blogs regularly at catchingyourbreath.com, and is a sought-after speaker at international conferences.

Reviews

[Jane Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a pastor, this book is for you. If you’re a churchgoer, this book is for you. If you feel alone in your faith community, this book is for you. If you want to belong to a healthy faith community, this book is for you. No matter who you are, this book is for you! “We’re all equals at the altar rail - all in need of, and receiving, great grace. And often, when we are least expecting him, God shows up at the table and breathes on us anew.” Steve has set the table and God is most definitely with us, among us, hearing, healing, and loving us. This book is for all of us!

[Zachary Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably going to be the hardest review I’ll ever write, and not only because the subject matter of this book is about the thorny intersection of religion and mental illness. The reason is that the author, Steve Austin, with whom I’ve written about in the past and have communicated with a bit when he put out his self-published work Catching Your Breath a few years ago, was found dead in a vehicle in a parking lot presumably near his home in Alabama on June 7, 2021. The death was — from what I can read on the web — being treated by police as a suicide. Austin’s latest work, Hiding in the Pews, is complete but will be released posthumously a season after its original expected publication date. I read the book unaware of the fact that he had passed, so here I am struggling to be as charitable as possible, as I only found out about his death when I went hunting for his picture on the web prior to writing this. This is so hard. He seemed like such a friendly guy in my dealings with him. He was just 38 years old.

I worry that this book may not be taken seriously given the nature of Austin’s death. Meant for pastors and other church leaders, Hiding in the Pews is a book that combines personal stories alongside Scripture quotes as a means to combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues facing the church. It is not a flawless book, but it is an especially important one. Austin’s upbringing was in the Pentecostal Church as an evangelical Christian, though he seemed to have become more progressive in recent years, and this book is more geared towards evangelical pastors who might offer mere platitudes to those suffering from, say, depression, rather than offer them any genuine help by listening and validating their issues. However, the book could be useful to pastors and staff in non-evangelical churches, if not some laypeople, too.

Read the rest of the review here: https://zachary-houle.medium.com/a-re...

[Abigail Westbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m struggling to know how to rate this one. It deals with a topic that churches desperately need to be talking about more, and leaders need the insights and practical help that are laid out here. My pastor’s wife died of suicide a few years ago, and (like the author) my favorite aunt killed herself when I was a kid - so the topic hits home and I know how badly Christians need training along these lines. Written from the perspective of a suicide attempt survivor, the thoughts here are unique and I appreciate the author’s humility and openness about his struggles.

But at the same time, I can’t fully recommend this book because the author pulls extensively on ideas from people like Rachel Held Evans, Richard Rohr, and Brene Brown - while also having some rather sketchy (highly imaginative) interpretations of Bible stories. The viewpoint is considerably “left” of where I would land, as evidenced by word choices and little ideologies tucked in here and there.

Added to this is the fact that the author himself died of suicide shortly before this book was released, something I’m glad I knew before I started reading. That fact highlights the need for this message while simultaneously making one wonder if the ideas he expresses in the book are all that is needed for those who struggle so deeply - was there something else vital that he was missing in his pursuit of healing? Maybe…just maybe he was wrong when he writes that “sometimes we need something other than Jesus”?

I am still giving this book 4 stars because of the practical insights for creating safe spaces and becoming a compassionate listener/leader. There is value here, but I would only hand it to someone well-grounded in Scripture and able to sort through the various ideas that are presented.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Steve sadly passed away earlier this year due to suicide, he left behind a love letter to the church that said, “I know you want to better, here’s a road map to get there.”

Steve knew firsthand what it was like to live with mental illness and still be part of the church. He knew how lonely and isolating it can be. He knew this was because there is so little in the way of conversation or education about this topic, and he knew church leaders needed someone to kick off that discussion.

So Steve took the initiative. He wrote this book specifically for church leaders who want to do better for those who live with mental illness.

If you are a church leader, I highly recommend this book to you.

If you are a church member who wants to understand this topic better, I highly recommend this book to you.

If you are a church member with mental illness who is looking for validation that you are not alone, this book is also for you.

[Ben Kohns · Rating 4 out of 5]

With vulnerable honesty and a well-timed sense of humor about his own experiences, Steve Austin has written a book everyone in the church should read. While written specifically to help church leadership understand how to care for and minister to those who suffer from mental illness, every church member who has ever hidden their mental illness or anyone who simply wants to understand how to make the church "safe" for a “hider” will benefit from reading it. The author is uniquely qualified to bring his story to the table. Not only was he a “pew hider”, he was also a “pulpit hider”, and after a suicide attempt, he became an advocate for those struggling in the pews and a coach for the leaders of those churches who misunderstand, stigmatize, and ultimately bring harm to those in their care who suffer from mental illness.
Hiding in the Pews: Shining Light on Mental Illness in the Church

[Laura Meiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've been a member of organized religion for any amount of time, you'll probably recognize that the capital "C" church hasn't always handled the concept of mental illness well. So for those who serve and who also struggle with such things, there is a huge amount of guilt and shame as well as a stigma on our backs.

Enter Hiding In The Pews. Steve Austin has done an excellent job of vulnerably sharing both from his own experience as an individual who struggled with mental illness as well as a pastor who cared deeply for his church, for other churches, and was concerned with how they could all make a difference for those, well, hiding in the pews. While Steve ultimately lost his battle with this dreadful illness, his words ring no less true. If you lead, if you shepherd, if you oversee others around you, please take time to read Steve's words. You'll be glad you did.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book and interacting with the author on social media for several years, I wish more authors would have the courage to write with the honesty and openness Steve has. I'm a little lost for words on how this book and Steve's life impacted mine. Suffice to say, this book deserves every star and should be essential reading for church-workers, especially those in leadership.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austin's writing is quite accessible to church leaders and attendees alike. His examples are clear and applicable. He approaches mental health as a 'wounded healer', and that allows the reader to trust that he is not giving trite answers.
This is a must read book for people of faith as they navigate the darkness of mental illness themselves or strive to help those finding it hard to breathe.

[Dustin G. Longmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great perspective on how churches can become hospitals of healing for folks who are suffering from mental health issues.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the potential to transform by bringing healing into our lives as leaders and into the lives of those we serve. Read beyond the trigger warning and do the necessary work. I am ready to share this book with the leaders of the church I serve and to help our faith community become a place of healing for the hurting. Steve challenges us as leaders. May we rise to the challenge.

[Lisa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who wants to make the church a better place for those of us who have mental health struggles. It was written specifically to church leaders, but I think that it has so much to offer everyone, no matter what your position is. It speaks to those of us who struggle and those of us who want to make the church a safer place. Steve shares his struggles as he advocates for change from the top and from within each one of us. He urges us to make the church "a hospital for the hurting", championing vulnerability and creating true safety for all to be welcomed as they are; pain, scars, troubles and suffering. There are no easy answers, but a needed compassionate perspective, with suggestions and practical applications.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very important read for everyone in the church. I appreciated the author's vulnerability and candidness and his suggestions for helping (I.e. listening) others deal with their mental illness. It did get repetitive at times.

[Adam Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

In June 2021, pastor Steve Austin died by suicide after a long battle with mental ill-health. This book, published posthumously, contain (unintentionally) his parting words to the church, a clear call for leaders to be equipped to support Christians with mental illness. Above all, Steve's hope was that "those who hold the most power in church communities will be challenged—and equipped—to use their power well and to transform their church communities into places of healing, where the suffering are safe to be vulnerable" (4).

"Hiding in the Pews" is mainly aimed at church leaders, and takes a very practical approach, with plenty of personal stories from the author and others, and application sections at the end of each chapter. He encourages leaders to set the tone for their churches, being willing to drop their masks of "perfection, wisdom, and certainty", and embrace vulnerability (4). He also exhorts leaders to recognise the value of their stories: "As you embrace your journey, sharing the highs and not shying away from the lows, you empower those around you to do the same" (121). As pastors, we often want to share stories with neat, victorious endings. But real recovery stories include "rhythms of ebb and flow, of better and worse" (128).

Steve's background was in evangelicalism, before moving into a more liberal Episcopal context. Both aspects of his church experience are reflected in this book in different ways, although ultimately his conclusions and encouragements are applicable across all denominations and none. As an evangelical reader, I differ from Steve at various points, and I was unconvinced by some of his handling of Scripture. But any reader can learn from his raw, personal plea to care well for the hurting.

[Micole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m amazed at how much this book speaks to my own experience with mental illness in the Church and the mission of my non-profit www.thefaceofmercy.org
Steve Austin is a prophet for our time, speaking with needed insight to the struggles of those with mental illness. He addresses the reality that every church has people in the pews who are suffering and remain unseen. This book outlines clearly not only the problems that keep church communities from being safe places for vulnerability as well as how church leadership can and should move to change church culture. All of this is told with an emphasis on both the isolating suffering of mental illness and the tender, healing love of God.
This book beautifully weaves together insights from scripture, Steve's own story, and practical tools for pastors. Stories of Job, Elijah, Jesus, and Hagar are unpacked in light of suffering, mental illness, and vulnerability. While our understanding of mental illness may be new, these stories help to illustrate the importance of a community ready to walk with those suffering.
I’d recommend this book for all pastors and church leadership! If there was such a thing as required reading for pastors and priests, Hiding in the Pews should be! This book can also be so helpful for those in the Church living with mental illness, as it validates their struggles.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this book. As a fellow sufferer of mental illness, I was hoping this book would both compassionately and biblically articulate to church leaders and members how to address the needs of members like me. While I think the author did a great job of conveying compassion, much of his biblical applications were questionable and left much to be desired.

Most of the book was very self centered and focused more on the words of Brene Brown than the Bible. There were also some curse words and an overuse of his childhood abuse and previous suicide attempt story. If he would’ve included more stories of others, he wouldn’t have needed to use his same examples over and over again.

Halfway through the book I researched the author and found out that he committed suicide before this book was released. It was heartbreaking and made this book a lot more difficult to get through.

Overall, I think the author did the best he could to shine a light on those hiding in the pews but I would never recommend this book to anyone suffering or hoping to learn more about those suffering from mental illness in the church.

[Sarah Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hiding in the Pews by Steve Austin is a great book for anyone, whether pastor or church-goer, looking to make the church family a safe place for those who struggle with mental illness. The book can be summed up by the quote, “Our churches have the power to offer this safety and belonging to those in crisis…” While stating that he is not a mental health professional, in my opinion, Austin did a great job of understand ways to build support within the church in order to make it a safe place where you can be vulnerable and help each other heal. As someone who often says, “I’m fine” no matter what, this book has helped me see that there are changes that need to take place in my own church family and life if I want to truly be healed.

[Rhonda]

This book had some solid advice for church leaders and other people, regarding helpful and gracious support for those with mental health challenges. The last chapters were especially practical, well founded and solid in terms of counseling theory. I did read the insert in the book first, which noted that the writer committed suicide before his book was published. I found that very disconcerting, since many of his friends and colleagues apparently had taken heed to his advice and counsel about how best to support a person with suicidal ideation / thoughts. He left behind a family and many friends who apparently had high regard for him, if postings on the internet about his death are any indication. Prayers for his wife, children and other family.

[Casey A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a portion of this book and wanted to stop in for a quick review while reading. Author Steve Austin’s story and fight for mental health in the Church continue on in Hiding in the Pews. Mental health has a dark cloud hanging over it and Steve wants us to step out from under that cloud and talk about it. Hiding in the Pews brings encouragement to engage and talk about struggles with mental illness. This is a solid and applicable story and guide for the churched and the unchurched. I would recommend this book to anyone that currently struggles, has struggled or knows/sees someone that struggles with mental illness. The author says it best that we must “keep going”.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read for Pastors and church leaders

Mental health and the church. These are not usually discussed at the same time. It’s time for us to get equipped as leaders for healing people and not hurting them. I’ve lead many small groups where healing takes place. It beautiful and humbling. The church needs to become that safe place that people long for.
I gave this book a 5 star score because Steve Austin is brave to be so vulnerable . We need more people like Steve showing us the way.

[Michael Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most powerful, beautiful books I have ever read. It touched me emotionally to where I had to take breaks because I needed to stop and reflect on the written words. There is some sadness with it knowing what happened with the author but life is not easy. It is hard. We are all broken in some way yet our brokenness is different and unique and in a way that brokenness is beautiful. 🫶🏻

[Ryan and Sara Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Church Resource on Mental Health

This book was very helpful in understanding how the church is impacted by mental health and ways in which pastor's and church leadership can help. It is important to shine light on people struggling with mental health challenges in the Church. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about how the church can be a place of hope for people who are struggling with mental health challenges.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Many practical tips and examples of both how to approach those in the church who are struggling and how NOT to approach them. Steve uses his own experience and they experiences of others he interviewed to get a range of ways people with mental health issues are treated in churches. Honest, real, sad, funny, moving. Addresses difficult topics in an approachable way. Read this book!

[Lauren]

This book could be of such use for church members and leaders (& other religious heads) to read and have in their congregations. However, I'm not optimistic at the pace the church moves for any type of reforms or societal changes.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An open and honest look at mental illness. There shouldn't be shame in it, but there almost always is. Good steps to follow, no matter where you or the person you're working with is at.

[Linneah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking. Hard to read. Important to read.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every few pages found myself saying “ooof” out loud

[Candi Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book and would recommend to others!

[Caleb Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary reading for people in ministry and Christians in general. Very practical and supported by scripture. Bottom line: modeling Jesus can look like just being present when people are struggling.

[Barbara Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to stop reading when I found out he committed suicide in 2021.