the Wire - news, events, and more.
July 18 2008 at 10:30AM
North Central Ohio District Nazarene Youth International | Mount Vernon, OH
Speaking: Jake Larson
August 29 2008 at 10:00AM
Lifelight Festival | Sioux Falls, SD
Speaking: Jon Bell
September 17 2008 at 06:30PM
Clarksville First Church of the Nazarene | Clarksville, TN
Speaking: Jon Bell
Eating Disorders are Serious.
By Krissee Danger on Fri, Jun 27th 08 at 02:54PM
Check out this article and please get the help that you need.
Cornerstone 08!!!
By Krissee Danger on Mon, Jun 23rd 08 at 08:55PM
We just got back from Big Ticket in Gaylord, Michigan and are now preparing for Cornerstone! Watch out for some sweet podcasts from Big Ticket and C-stone!
Please come and hang out with us in the merch tents... we'll be there all week with sweet shirts, stickers and buttons!
BIG TICKET FESTIVAL!!!
By Krissee Danger on Sat, Jun 21st 08 at 08:52AM
Hey guys! We are at Big Ticket Festival in Gaylord, Michigan this weekens hearing sweet bands and making awesome friends.
We are in the merch table by the Rock Tent and ya'll better come out and say "hey" if you're in town!
I'm takin' what they givin'...
By Krissee Danger on Sun, Jun 15th 08 at 05:27PM
cause I'm workin' for a livin'!
Can anxiety and depression be linked to working over-time?
Check out this article here.
Jon in Revue Magazine
By Jon Bell on Wed, Jun 4th 08 at 03:00PM
I will be speaking this summer at the Big Ticket Festival in Gaylord, MI and Revue Magazine recently ran an article featuring the upcoming festival and an interview with me.
Check it out here.
Kirsten Dunst Got Help for Depression
By Jon Bell on Wed, May 28th 08 at 10:44AM
Actress Kirsten Dunst did what Heart Support is all about, she sought help for her struggles with depression. Dunst said "It was a good six months before I decided to go away. I was struggling and I had the opportunity to go somewhere and take care of myself. I was fortunate to have the resources to do it. My friends and family thought it was a good idea, too."
You can check out in the news here.
2nd Place
By Craig Gross on Sat, May 24th 08 at 03:59PM
Thanks to all of those who voted for the myspace IMPACT award. We came in second but thanks for all your support.
RAWK THA VOTE!!!
By Clint McManaman on Sun, May 18th 08 at 10:02PM
Friends! Please take 2 minutes and use those keys to hit this link and vote for heartsupport in the Myspace Impact Awards. We're currently trailing in 2nd. So if you have any friends with a billion friends on myspace, or you personally know Tom, ask them to support the heart and send out a bulletin to vote for us. It would be sweet of you. http://myspace.com/impactawards.
Also, our friends in Ocean is Theory are in the running for a spot at this year's Cornerstone Music Festival, your vote can help them to make it their this summer...but you have to act now!!! Voting ends at midnight, Central Standard Time.
p.s. Their Debut EP is on iTunes for only $4.95.
p.p.s. We've got a new store launching this week as well as a new tee, Check back this week for the new link.
MYSPACE IMPACT AWARDS!
By Clint McManaman on Tue, May 13th 08 at 11:27AM
Hey friends! We've been nominated for a Myspace Impact Award. You can vote for us now at myspace.com/impactawards. Thanks for supporting the heart!
Report: Depressed teens, marijuana a dangerous mix
By Jon Bell on Tue, May 13th 08 at 07:10AM
The US Governemnt has recently released an extensive study on teenage marijuana use and have found a correlation between depression and consistent use of marijuana. Teenagers who smoke marijuana to self-medicate can compound their depression, the report said. Check out CNN's article covering the report here.
Wii Fit Calls Skinny Kiddie Fat
By Jon Bell on Fri, May 9th 08 at 10:29AM
Here is a bizarre bit of news for you! Apparently the Nintendo Wii might come into some controversy over it's new Wii Fit video game. The game comes with with the cleverly named Wii Balance Board, which gives a new method of input that can measure both weight and balance.
According to Nintendo's website, "Wii Fit is a combination of fitness and fun. By using Wii Fit a little every day, you, your friends, and your family can work toward personal goals of better health and fitness."
However, a 10 year old, 4'9'' little girl, weighing in at a less-than-whopping 92 ilbs, has been called ''fat'' by the game. Is this a ''better health and fitness'' model for our kids?
Check out this interesting little bit of news here, from the online site dedicated soley to the Wii.
The Growing Wave of Teenage Self-Injury
By Jon Bell on Wed, May 7th 08 at 09:13AM
The New York Times recently published an article covering the topic of self-injury. This article covers why some teenagers engage in self-injury and who is most vulnerable to this. Check it out here.
Church saves woman with addiction
By Jon Bell on Wed, Apr 30th 08 at 12:53PM
This is a pretty great example of a Church that helped out a meth-addicted woman and her account of the story. Check it out here.
Starving for perfection: The changing face of anorexia
By Jon Bell on Tue, Apr 29th 08 at 09:02AM
The American Medical Association just put out an absolutely excellent article about the changing face of anorexia. The AMA does an excellent job in this article of breaking down just what anorexia looks like today.
Please read the article here.
Students learn stress busters
By Jon Bell on Fri, Apr 25th 08 at 08:40AM
No doubt college life often is a blast, but this time of year can test even the most worry-free of students. Check out the full article here.
8 Questions Adolescents Are Asking About Stimulants
By Jon Bell on Tue, Apr 22nd 08 at 01:21PM
From U.S. News and World Report, the National Institute on Drug Abuse recently offered adolescents the first-ever "Drug Facts Chat Day." Students from high schools and middle schools across the country submitted anonymous questions online—about alcohol, the brain, addiction, and everything in between—to NIDA scientists, including some of the nation's top experts in substance abuse. The scientists then responded with personalized, nonjudgmental answers. Below is a sample of the inquiries that relate specifically to attention deficit disorders and the drugs used to treat them. All the questions and answers below are unedited.
You can check out the full article here.
France to outlaw anorexia in Fashion???
By Jon Bell on Fri, Apr 18th 08 at 09:59AM
France's lower house of parliament this week adopted a groundbreaking bill that would make it illegal for anyone to publicly incite extreme thinness.
Fashion industry experts said that the law, which would apply to magazines, advertisers and websites, would be the strongest of its kind anywhere.
Check it out here.
Send us your Heart Support pics!
By Jon Bell on Wed, Apr 16th 08 at 12:45PM
Hello,
How are you?
As you'll notice at HeartSupport.com, we've added some new photos of folks in their Heart Support gear. We want your photos as well.
Have a great day out with some friends in your Heart Support T's? Send the us a picture.
Happen to get a Heart Support tattoo like Jon, El Clinto, and Craig did? Send us the picture!
Traveling? Take a picture of yourself 'Supporting the Heart' and send us the photo.
Please send us your pictures to info@heartsupport.com and we'll add them to the photstream.
Have a great day and Thanks Again for Supporting the Heart!
Binge Eating Disorder.
By Krissee Danger on Wed, Apr 9th 08 at 08:07PM
This is a great article confronting the issue of binge eating disorder.
It also has some great tips for over coming the urge to binge!
Check it out here.
Stress over school drives students in India to commit suicide.
By Krissee Danger on Fri, Apr 4th 08 at 12:53PM
School stressing you out?
Don't let it get too far, talk to someone.
Check out this article.
Fashion Industry Fuels Eating Disorders.
By Krissee Danger on Tue, Apr 1st 08 at 02:38PM
Check out this article to read about how the appearance of size 0 models in the fashion industry is fueling poor body image and increased eating disorders in adolescents around the world.
Sex Addiction.
By Krissee Danger on Sun, Mar 30th 08 at 02:11PM
Check out this eye-opening article on sexual addiction here.
MySpace Suicide
By Craig Gross on Fri, Mar 28th 08 at 11:36PM
I just watched this incredible story on Nightline about a young teenager who took her own life after a MySpace relationship went bad. Watch it here.
Internet Addiction
By Krissee Danger on Wed, Mar 26th 08 at 06:28PM
Is it real?
Can internet addiction be just as harmful and time consuming as an addiction to drugs or alcohol?
You decide.
Read more here.
The Law Profession's Battle with Depression and Anxiety
By Jon Bell on Thu, Mar 20th 08 at 08:19AM
There is a great aricle found HERE that describes the heightened depression and axiety that accompanies the law profession and just a couple of measures that are being taken to help alleviate that depression and anxiety.
School Daze.
By Krissee Danger on Wed, Mar 19th 08 at 09:52AM
Intolerance for academic failure gives higher likelihood for suicide and self-injury.
Check out this article here.
Forgive Us Father
By Craig Gross on Thu, Mar 13th 08 at 11:42AM
CNN has an article today about the popularity of confessions online. While heartsupport.com is a bit different from the sites they mention it does make a lot of sense why people are headed online these days to deal with issues. Read more HERE.
It's National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
By Krissee Danger on Tue, Mar 11th 08 at 03:39PM
Knoxville, Tennessee news station WBIR has brought National Problem Gambling Awareness Week into the spot light by speaking with a woman who struggled with both gambling and alcohol addiction. You can read the article here.
Also, if you are struggling with a gamibling addiction, please check out the resources offered here.
Ocean is Theory
By Clint McManaman on Mon, Mar 10th 08 at 12:17AM
Our friends in Ocean is Theory are releasing their debut EP - "Into the Mouths of Lions" in May. They're streaming new tunes on their myspace page. Check 'em out!
New podcasts.
By Clint McManaman on Sun, Mar 9th 08 at 10:39PM
Hey everyone, we've uploaded 4 new podcast episodes, all from the heartsupport tour featuring the bands; This Beautiful Republic, Spoken, Falling Up and Family Force 5. Check 'em out in iTunes.
-elclintooooo
Tips for Overcoming Self Injury
By Krissee Danger on Sat, Mar 8th 08 at 10:13PM
This article is slightly informal but provides some really great tips to help those who are struggling with self injury. Check out the article here.
A Beautiful Boy
By Craig Gross on Thu, Mar 6th 08 at 07:45PM
David Sheff wrote an amazing article in the NY Times about his son's addiction to drugs. The book just released and is incredible. We will try and get him on a podcast. Check out the book here.
For a Paxil-Free Life, She'll Take The Long Route
By Jon Bell on Wed, Mar 5th 08 at 05:08PM
From LATimes.com:
For a Paxil-free life, she'll take the long route
My pet peeve is the misuse of the words "panic attack."
My cohort of grad school classmates frequently drop the phrase when they've had a mildly difficult night putting the finishing touches on a research paper: "Oh my God, I had a panic attack when I couldn't find that 2007 Caplan article I needed to cite!" I've heard others throw it around in other trivial ways: "Oh, I'm going to have a panic attack! I can't decide which purse to wear!"
These are not panic attacks. Call them shocks, scares or dilemmas. But not panic attacks.
If I could replace all of my true-blue panic attacks with the twinge of uncertainty that comes from not being able to locate a needed item or the frustration of indecision over a fashion accessory, I would. Real panic is much worse, and for me, it goes something like this:
I'm driving on the turnpike. There's no exit for another 20 miles.
What if my car breaks down? (Heart rate speeds up.) How will I get help? (Muscles get tight.)
Oh my God, why is my heart racing? Why are my muscles so tight? (Respiration grows shallow.)
What's going wrong with my body? (Head feels light.) What if I pass out? There's no exit for another 20 miles! Pull over!
My panic attacks began in college. They would occur during situations in which escape proved either difficult or embarrassing: in class, in my cellblock of a dorm room, on the highway. They became a daily event and interfered with my daily activities, so I did what countless direct-to-consumer television ads told me to do: I went to my doctor.
He gave me a script for Paxil, mumbled something about how half the population takes this sort of stuff and told me to take it easy.
After a week or two, the panic attacks just stopped. For this, I was thankful. I could drive, go to class and spend time in my dorm room. But Paxil had one pretty undesirable effect on me: I started to lose interest in just about everything. I stopped initiating social activities (who needs that sort of thing?) and was no longer motivated to perform well academically.
My emotions had flat-lined: I hadn't cried in months, nor had I proverbially jumped for joy. I felt -- nothing.
I was free of those nasty panic attacks, but was the trade-off worth it?
No, I finally decided. It wasn't. I figured it was time to see how I could manage without brain-numbing psychopharmaceuticals.
The great withdrawal debacle began. First attempt: cold turkey. This was a regrettably poor decision, as I spent nearly a whole week with the "brain zaps," an electrical shock sensation that would travel up my spine and into my head. Not to mention, I couldn't keep my self awake, and I was terribly dizzy. (I remember sleeping on the floor through an entire staff meeting for our college paper.)
Second attempt: I devoted one month to slicing up pills and tapering my dosage downward from 10 milligrams. I still got the zaps -- as well as a racing heart, a weird sensitivity to temperature changes and migraines galore. I gave up.
Would I need to take Paxil forever?
When I started graduate school, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up academically if I were reading scholarly literature through a foggy, Paxil-coated lens. So, I started tapering, very slowly this time -- by just more than a milligram per month.
This proved to be the proper equation for me, although I still got the zaps, the headaches, the racing heart, as well as some major cognitive fog during the final month, a pinch of insomnia, nausea, anxiety -- and, you guessed it, panic. After some research, I found that panic attacks are a withdrawal effect of Paxil as well. Double whammy! Great.
I ached, zapped and panicked my way through the days and weeks that followed my final dose as I tried to devour research articles about computer-mediated communication and social identity theory. (I still, to this day, am not quite sure how I managed to not fail.)
After my motivation and emotions returned, I started doing what I should have done when my panic attacks began: I became an information-seeking machine. I read books. I sought out alternative therapies. I took an anxiety-management class, tried acupuncture and learned about mindfulness meditation.
Things started to improve, and the good news is this: Things are still, miraculously, improving. I'm now aware of how my freshly Paxil-free body reacts to anxiety-producing stimuli -- my heart races and my muscles tighten -- and because of this, I know when to start calming myself down.
We live in a quick-fix world. You want a burger? Go to the drive-thru and you'll have one in less than a minute. You want to change the channel on the TV? Don't bother getting up; just use the remote.
And likewise, for our panic attacks, we expect to find instant solutions behind the pharmacy counter. But quick fixes aren't always the best long-term solutions. Paxil was a merely a bank loan that I had to eventually repay with interest.
I'm thrilled to be so young and so in control of something that had once stopped my life in its tracks.
See you on the highway!
Heart Support Tour Wrap Up
By Jon Bell on Tue, Mar 4th 08 at 05:59PM
Well the band is back home in Atlanta and the Heart Support Tour has been officially over for a week now. After a ton of sleep, it's time for a wrap up.
Without a doubt, we can say that this tour was a great experience for Heart Support, even just for the sake of exposure. However, as is the case with these types of adventures, the benefits usually present themselves in a variety of ways. HeartSupport.com has seen a steady rise in traffic, the Facebook and Myspace have added more than a thousand new friends, and the Live Help has seen a definite increase in conversations, all of which demonstrate how grateful Heart Support is to Family Force 5 for organizing the Heart Support Tour. We are all quite humbled that a band as generous as Family Force 5 exists and is willing to do what they can to get help for their fans and their friends.
Perhaps the most rewarding times on this tour were to visit a city and then to see the stories that would be posted from those same cities in the week or two following the tour stop. There were many moments spent in the back of the bus, the band and I all crammed into the back living room as I shared what someone had written in, someone who had been at their show just a day or two before. What a great experience to see how a band's music can relate to people on so many different levels. It has meant the world to us that people who came to the tour, with no previous knowledge of Heart Support, would have been impacted to the point that they wanted to share their story with others. It really is touching when people can hear just a few basic things about an organization, hear a few stories, and get it and understand the community and help that we're doing our best to put out there.
It hasn't all been about Family Force 5 either. The opener, This Beautiful Republic, received this message via email shortly after the tour ended:
"well like i said i saw u in fargo,ND but what i didnt tell u is that heart support has a very important meaning for me even tho at the concert was the 1st time i had herd about it i would like to know what the website is or whatever it is a grl would need to get there cuz i know i will need to use it in the future cuz i am trying to stop doing some bad stuff i promised myself after the concert that i would stop but it hasnt been easy."
I also appreciated the experiences that each band had, the awareness that each band member shared, that there are many many people who simply feel alone and hung out in the cold with all of their emotions. At their own shows too. Every person that took part in putting together the tour had the feeling that that tour meant something more. I could tell that each interaction I had that I shared with the bands, each story that I read from the site with them, and each conversation we all had brought out the reasons why we were all taking part in the Heart Support Tour.
The photostream has also been updated. One of the pictures you will see is of the Family Force 5 stacks all covered in toilet paper, streamers, various items of food.. you get the drift. The last night of the tour was "prank night" and the hijinks were absolutely ridiculous. A live chicken was found in Spoken's bus, singers were tied with rope like a mummy and sent out crowd surfing while they were still singing, food parts were thrown in faces mid song, and general chaos ensued during each band's set. It was probably the best show I have ever seen, in part of course for the craziness that was taking place. Thank you Billings, Montana for putting up with "prank night!"
Thank You to the folks that purchased a Heart Support t-shirt or pair of shades - I hope you are wearing them proudly and telling your friends what in the world a massive heart on your shirt means. Thank You also to those that purchased stickers and buttons - I hope you have them displayed in the most visible places possible. Thank You also to each person that came to each show and listened to the message of Heart Support. I know it must have been tough to sit through some guy talking before each band played, but hopefully you came away with something valuable to help get your through whatever it is you are going through. Finally, Thank You to the bands This Beautiful Republic, Spoken, Falling Up, and of course Family Force 5 for putting on such great shows and for making the Heart Support Tour such a memorable experience.
So that's it. That's what I have to report. Rumor has it, started right here, that there will be another Heart Support Tour, a whole different tour with new bands, new cities, and new experiences to go along with it. Stay tuned and hopefully I will get to meet you out on another Heart Support Tour.
Sincerely,
jon
Heart Support Tour Update #5
By Jon Bell on Fri, Feb 22nd 08 at 10:10PM
Hi,
So I am in Saskatchewan, along for the ride with the guys from Family Force 5 for today's non-Heart Support related gig, and I figured it was time to give another update before the end of the tour wrap up update sure to come next week.
Since the last update, the tour has been in Ohio, back to Michigan, south to Kentucky, up to Minnesota, over to North Dakota, and now to Canada for a day off. Pretty much everywhere but Kentucky has been cold. But that's okay with me, I live in Michigan, it's been the guys from Atlanta that have had the hard time with it. Something about Hotlanta can't stand the cold... :)
For two of the dates, in particular the ones in Spring Arbor and Owensboro, the fantastic El Clinto took over as emcee as I had best man duties at a wedding to attend to. Since these were Clint's first experiences emceeing, he had his own set of experiences during the two dates he took over the Heart Support duties.
Here are his thoughts on the whole experience:
"Thanks to Spring Arbor and Owensboro for supporting the heart! The opportunity to meet the bands and fans at the heartsupport tour and the conversations that followed were great, the response to the tour through all of the stories submitted, nearly 100, has been encouraging to what heartsupport is all about and I can't wait to see what the next tour brings about."
In Minneapolis, I met a couple of young women that were so moved by seeing Krissee's video, that afterward all they wanted to do was give me a hug through all of their tears, both of them. (Virtually the exact same thing has happened in most of the other cities). The really cool and interesting thing to me about the girls in Minneapolis was that the first thing they said to me was "we needed tonight, because we've been right here for each other" as they both made hand gestures in each other's direction. They went on to share with me about how both of them have struggled with self injury and they have lately been each other's accountability. It was so touching for me to actually see them re-invigorated by Krissee's video, excited to continue to help each other get better, healthier, with hopefully no more setbacks. These encounters have been all too commonplace during this tour, once again reminding me that truly no one is alone in their struggles, that people all over the place are going through some of the almost exact same struggles as people who live a 12 hour drive away, and that community and help are just around the corner.
We also received this encouraging email the other day:
"I would like to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart! My daughter went to the concert last night!!! She hasn't stopped talking about it since. She swears that it has opened her eyes. She is leaving to go to Military school this July. She has had some problems in the last year. But after last night she looks so content. I can see some sort of 'happiness' in her eyes again.
Once again I thank you. I would love to have her go to another concert soon..."
Another set of encouraging emails we have also been receiving are from people that have come to the shows and left with this feeling that they want to help out, in particular with Live Help or some of the other counseling needs required to keep Heart Support going.
Here's an email we received yesterday from someone with a counseling background:
"I was at the HeartSupport tour last night in Fargo and wanted to check out the website where I saw that you are in need of counselors. I have my Masters in Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy would love to help out anyway I could. Let me know what your needs are and we can discuss this further."
But all of this is to say that the real need is still prevalent and is very much an ongoing and growing thing for Heart Support. When the Live Help is offline, the message box delivers messages into our inboxes such as this one:
"i cant stop cutting and have no other outlet except purging. i feel like the only outlet i have for my stress is cutting"
This tour has been a lot of fun. The band Family Force 5, as well as the openers, continue to out on great shows and keep the mood light. However, the struggle will always be there, no doubt about it, and it has certainly continued to be a blessing to be able to speak each night into the lives of those that are on a journey through these issues.
Sincerely
jon
Updates
By Jon Bell on Wed, Feb 20th 08 at 04:33PM
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know about a few updates we're excited about.
First, the Live Help schedule has been posted for the rest of the month. Please click on the Live Help icon to see the schedule. We are constantly working on the Live Help feature and want to be there for you. Hopefully sooner rather than later we'll be able to late night times on there as well.
Secondly, the store now has model pictures! I am personally excited about this so that you can see just how awesome El Clinto's designs look on actual human beings.
Lastly, the photostream has a few updated photos on there, including the squirt gun show in Lima, Ohio that I was so honored to be included in. After sharing the message of community and help, it was certainly interesting to then be a part of soaking the front couple of rows!
Sincerely,
jon
Heart Support Tour Update #4
By Jon Bell on Wed, Feb 13th 08 at 07:37PM
Hello,
The Heart Support Tour has continued to be an awesome and fun experience. No doubt about it, the conversations that I have been able to have with so many different people have been enlightening and exhilarating. Couple that with the videos that continue to be submitted at the Your Story Booth each night, and this tour has continued to be an amazing experience.
Since the last tour update, we had 3 days off, which just about everyone used to get well. The sickness bug was running rampant around the bus and had most us living with fevers and intense coughs. Since those days off, the tour has visited Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and now tonight in Ohio.
The show in Richland, Michigan on the 10th was especially meaningful for me as it will be the closest show to where I live, geographically speaking. The temperature was about 6 degrees outside with incredible amounts of snow and wind, pretty much about normal for this time of year in Michigan, but treacherous nonetheless. Since the band is from the Atlanta area, I found their lack of winter enthusiasm to be quite hilarious.
This particular show was especially meaningful for me as it's the only show on this tour that my family will be able to attend. They have been huge supporters of Heart Support and their curiosity as to what this 'Heart Support Tour' is has finally been satiated. They, like everyone else, found Family Force 5 to be a live show like non other.
I also wanted to share some comments from one of my best friends, also named Jon, who came to the South Bend and Richland dates. I found his words to be another reminder of why I do what I do, and share this so that you have some insight into why Heart Support is so meaningful to those of us that work to keep the help and community found at Heart Support alive.
Here's what he said:
"I have heard Jon say that sometimes the most powerful words someone can say are “me too”. I had the opportunity to work at the merchandise booth, and amid the high energy, loud music and excited young people I had some great conversations – people thankful that someone finally started an organization that actively helps, people who are now clean and sober but only recently so, and people who are still struggling with addiction, depression, and a great deal of other difficult situations. Lots of people stopped by to say that they were thankful that Heartsupport exists, and I wholeheartedly replied, “me too”."
Finally, Thank You to all of you who are spreading the word about Heart Support. Thanks for the banners on your myspace, Thanks for handing out flyer cards, Thanks for visiting the store and supporting us, and Thank You most of all, for saying to your friend who's not in the best place in their life, "check out HeartSupport.com." The stories that we are hearing on the road are beautiful and are speaking to the help that people are finally receiving, namely through their experiences with Heart Support. You are making this possible, Thank You.
Sincerely,
Jon
Heart Support Tour Update #3
By Jon Bell on Sat, Feb 2nd 08 at 08:49PM
Family Force 5 has just taken the stage here in Fort Smith, Arkansas, making this the 9th date of the tour. I am currently sitting back stage and wanted to give you an update about the tour thus far.
Since the last update, The HeartSupport tour has been to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Greensboro, North Carolina, Joplin, Missouri, and two gigs in Arkansas, one in Fayetteville and tonight's gig in Fort Smith. All of the tour stops have been great. Each venue has been completely different from any other stop we've been on, including a high school auditorium, a very large church, a practically brand new super great all ages club, and two separate small, dingy clubs. Each of the venues have presented their own strengths and weaknesses, but the same thing tends to happen with Heart Support.
It has been an honor to share my story along with the help and community found at Heart Support, and then to see that my words have resonated with so many people is quite humbling. Each night I am struck by the people who come to me and share their struggle with me, share where they are at in their life, and share about the help they need. The honesty and vulnerability in these people is truly powerful and again, quite humbling.
However, sometimes the experiences that stick with a person are hard to define and quantify. Here is a story that was submitted this morning by a girl name Jessica who came to the gig in Fayetteville, Arkansas:
thanks
Jessica (16), Rogers, Arkansas
Feburary 1st, 2008, I was at the music hall in Fayetteville, AR for the heartsupport tour. I had no idea what the heartsupport tour was, I just always go to the music hall to get away from life.
Whoever kept talking about heartsupport.com... thanks, because when you came up to me when I was sitting on the floor, and asked me if I was okay, you saved my life. You made me realize that there are still good people in this world. Lately, I have been losing faith, but you fixed that, just by saying, "Hey, are you okay?" and you didn't even KNOW me. It meant so much to me.
Thank you.
I share this because all I literally did was say Hello to a girl sitting on the ground. Sometimes it's the little things that can help put the big things in perspective. This tour has been great, but it's stories like this one, stories that capture the despair in people such as Jessica, that are making the Heart Support Tour so special.
The tour has 3 days off coming up tomorrow through Wednesday, and pretty much everyone is heading home for some R and R. Sickness has been dominating most of the tour, including my own fight with a fever and some bronchial madness, so these 3 days are coming at a great time when we all need some rest and home cooking.
Grace and Peace,
Jon
heartsupport tour videos
By Clint McManaman on Sat, Feb 2nd 08 at 05:19PM
We've added a player to our myspace featuring some of the stories being told via the "Your Story" on the heartsupport tour. Check them out here.
Heart Support in the South Bend Tribune
By Jon Bell on Fri, Feb 1st 08 at 11:39AM
Concert to benefit HeartSupport
ALICE CULP
Tribune Staff Writer
Family Force 5, a crunk rock band, will be in concert with the bands Falling Up, Spoken and This Beautiful Republic at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Calvary Temple, 3717 S. Michigan St., South Bend.
"A lot of the kids I work with at the Underground enjoy (Family Force 5) a lot," says Judah Strantz, who manages the Underground Cafe, which booked the concert.
Family Force 5, a relatively new group, swept the recent CCM Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards with seven category wins, landing the band on the cover of this month's magazine. Actually, each of the five band members received his own cover photo, a first for the magazine since 2001's dc Talk cover story.
The concert will help raise funds for HeartSupport ministry (www.heartsupport.com), an online community for people dealing with addictions, self- injury, depression, eating disorders and suicide.
"It's coming with a heavy ministry aspect, which I was pleased with," Strantz says of the tour. "They want to help people -- to let them know there are people out there who can help them and that there's hope in Jesus Christ."
Jon Bell, one of HeartSupport's founders, will speak at the concert. At one time, he struggled with depression that led to drug addiction, so the ministry is a passion of his.
"Ten years ago, I really could have used HeartSupport. ... I couldn't talk to my family and friends because they loved me so much and I didn't want to let them down," Bell says on a video posted on the HeartSupport Web site.
A booth will be set up at the concert where attendees can go to share personal stories.
"For sure they are going to get an exciting show," Strantz says of the concert.
"I'm hoping people that are struggling, they will see that (a problem) is not a dark thing you have to keep hidden. Instead of keeping a problem in seclusion, let's bring this out in the light, where we can attack it and get rid of it."
You can check out the artice here as well.
New Videos from the Heart Support Tour!
By Jon Bell on Thu, Jan 31st 08 at 08:34PM
Hello,
We have now added 6 new videos from the Heart Support Tour. Please be sure to check them out.
Also, if are planning to attend a date of the Heart Support Tour, please be ready to share your story in the Your Story Booth.
You can see pictures of the Your Story Booth in the photostream at HeartSupport.com.
Sincerely,
Jon
Designers, Artists, Photographers, etc. Needed
By Jon Bell on Sat, Jan 26th 08 at 02:16PM
Hello,
We're still in need for creative people to use their creative minds to help out HeartSupport. We are planning a visual, physical edition of the website soon (think of an arts an magazine...warmer) and have been enlisting anyone and everyone to send us their submissions to info@heartsupport.com. If you are someone that has been itching for an opportunity like this, then this is your time.
For the time being, I have posted three entries that may help point you in the direction of what we are looking for. However, I have had second thoughts about doing so because we really want you to feel as free to create as possible. You can check them out at the HeartSupport photostream and on Flickr. We hope these three pieces will help spur on your creativity!
Please know that when you send us an image, the same disclaimer that exists on the "your story" page applies here as well. We promise to properly credit the authors of their work and are planning on this to be another way for people to learn and know that they are not alone in their struggles.
If you would like more information, please check out the earlier news item regarding this from a few weeks ago or send your inquiry to info@heartsupport.com.
Sincerely,
jon
HeartSupport Tour Update #2
By Jon Bell on Fri, Jan 25th 08 at 05:36PM
Hello,
This tour just keeps getting better! So we have now done four dates, all in Texas, and are moving on to Alabama.
Since the last update we have been to Amarillo and San Antonio. Both of the gigs were great and had tremendous energy. As you'll notice from the photos, opener This Beautiful Republic has been wearing the Gold Foil T's and supporting the heart. Good stuff.
After the Amarillo gig, Ronda from Amarillo shared her story "broken" here with the site. I shared this story with the band and then proceeded to share just about every story with them that has come from the Texas leg of this tour. We all huddled in the back lounge of the bus as I read the stories straight from the site. It was an incredibly awesome time for the guys to see just what this tour means to so many people who have been coming to the shows.
We also been having approximately 5 people each night sharing their story at the Your Story Booth, you will start to see those videos updated and on the site soon.
Thanks again to all those coming out to the shows, this has already been a great experience for heartsupport.
Sincerely,
jon
Heart Support Tour Update #1
By Jon Bell on Mon, Jan 21st 08 at 04:35PM
Hello,
The tour is now underway! We have been to Abilene and El Paso, Texas already and have had a great time. Both crowds have been fantastic, full of energy, and generally excited about the tour.
The first night in Abilene was a little crazy as everyone involved with the tour all showed up at once and had to figure out exactly what was going on. I was honored to get to talk with seven different youth pastors about what a HeartSupport series can look like for their youth group. I also met a girl named Jordan who is about to start her own group in Sweetwater, Texas. It was simply awesome to meet someone so caring and so sincere about her desires to help those in her own community.
In El Paso, we were at the County Coliseum, which apparently is right near the Mexican border. I know this because as I was out for a run a Border Patrol agent stopped me and asked where I was headed. Apparently I ran either right into Mexico or pretty close to it. I still laugh when I think about how much trouble an ID-less guy on a run across the border could have caused had the agent not been so nice! In El Paso, we had some aweome visitors to the Your Story Booth. This booth is on tour so that people at the concerts can videotape themselves sharing their story. I am so excited to post them soon so you can see them. Also, if you come to a stop on this tour, please be sure to share your story in the Your Story Booth.
Also, check out the Flickr photos at heartsupport.com. My favorites, so far, are the two that I have taken from stage each night after I share for the last time.
Finally, please help support the heart at one of these stops. We have some awesome T's, pins, stickers, as well as tour exclusive Shades.
Sincerely,
jon@heartsupport
Heart Support Tour Begins Today
By Jon Bell on Thu, Jan 17th 08 at 10:40AM
Hello,
El Clinto and I are currently en route to the first stop on the heartSupport Tour wondering if it's even worth it to try the radio. You see, we are in Texas, headed for the city of Abilene to meet up with the bands and get this tour up and running. We couldn't be more excited to help bring the message of heartsupport to all of the fans of Family Force 5, Falling Up, Spoken, and This Beautiful Republic.
If you have any ticketing needs, we can promise you that heartsupport will be of no help. Please head to www.familyforce5.com and check out the links on their site.
Also, please keep your eye out on here as I will be posting photos and updates from the tour.
Sincerely,
Jon
Website updates
By Clint McManaman on Thu, Jan 10th 08 at 12:28PM
Hey there! This is el clinto.
Interns wanted! We've been receiving your emails and myspace messages daily about wanting to help with heartsupport, so we put together an intern application that you can download here. In the app. you can learn more about what an internship means at heartsupport as well as fill out a questionare to send back to us for review. We're excited to meet you all.
Bring on the conversation! We've added a comments system to the website, so now you can add your comments to the blogs and news here on heartsupport.com.
Get fed! We've added RSS feeds to the website, so you can keep track of all news, events, submitted stories and more. Click here to subscribe to the feeds and learn more about RSS feeds.
Podcast #2 is up! Jon, Craig and myself recorded a new heartsupport podcast today, in it we discuss the upcoming happenings for heartsupport including the heartsupport tour and the visual edition of heartsupport that we're shooting to launch this summer. The podcast aslo includes the audio from Jon's talk at Mars Hill this past week. Get it through iTunes, or download the episode here.
Jon Bell at Mars Hill Bible Church
By Jon Bell on Wed, Jan 9th 08 at 03:42PM
Hello,
How are you?
Last Sunday, January 6th, I had the amazing opportunity to share my personal story at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. It was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget, as an enormous part of who I am is because of the people from this community.
My brother gave the talk on grace and peace and then asked me to share some of the journey that I have been on, namely the grace and peace that was extended to me and the grace and peace that I am working to extend here at HeartSupport If you would like to check it out, you can do so HERE.
Grace and Peace,
jon
heartsupport featured in the Grand Rapids Press
By Jon Bell on Tue, Jan 8th 08 at 12:55PM
heartsupport was featured on the cover of the Saturday Religion section of the Grand Rapids Press on January 5th.
Here is the article with the link at the bottom:
-----------------------------------------------
Help from the Heart
It hasn't been easy, says the 20-year-old Northwest Grand Rapids resident.
"To this day, I still want to do it," she said.
"It" was pulling out her hair, a strand at a time until she was essentially bald.
"It" also was self-injury. She used a razor blade or X-acto knife to slash her forearms and legs.
Growing up in Frankenmuth, Danger -- who asked that her real last name not be used -- remembers a happy childhood, but one that was tinged with feelings of low self-worth.
As the feelings persisted and her anxiety grew, she pulled out her hair and eventually started to cut herself as a way to cope, she said.
"I had this amazing buildup of stress, and this was a way to release that, a physical way to cope," Danger said. "I couldn't always hide what I did, so I've got to believe I wanted somebody to know I wasn't OK."
Her parents tried to find her help, she said, and a "parade of every sort of counseling, therapy and medication you can think of" brought some good results.
But it didn't make her invincible.
"I needed a safe place to talk," she said.
hen a friend told her about heartsupport.com, and Danger volunteered to be one of the first to share her story with a new online community whose organizers want to be a source for hope and healing for those who are hurting.
Source of support
She posted a video testimony of her experiences on the Web site, and today serves as a live-chat moderator.
"The main thing is, you've got to talk about it," Danger said. "When I finally talked about it to the people I loved, that's when the healing really started."
Heartsupport.com is a new ministry for those with substance abuse or self-injury issues, eating disorders, depression or suicidal thoughts.
The ministry was started in October by friends Jon Bell, 24, brother of Mars Hill Bible Church teaching pastor Rob Bell; Web designer Clint McManaman, 27; and Craig Gross, 32, an ordained minister and former youth pastor perhaps best known as the founder of anti-pornography ministry XXXchurch.com.
McManaman, a drummer for former Christian rock band subseven, said he had heard stories from fans about their personal struggles while on the road touring.
From the backseat of the band's tour van, he used his talent for design to come up with a logo to express his concern -- a heart with a line underneath.
"I thought I could sell T-shirts and raise money to give to the organizations that are helping people with some of those issues," McManaman said.
Eventually, the trio of friends decided they wanted to do more.
Heartsupport.com includes features such as live and e-mail support with licensed counselors, chats and message boards where posters can share their experiences and the chance for people to upload their video stories.
The idea behind heartsupport, as described on Bell's Web site bio page, is simple: "Sometimes the most important words for a person to say are 'Me too.'"
An addiction to porn was how McManaman connected with Gross. For Bell, it was a struggle with drugs and clinical depression that led to his involvement with heartsupport.
Personal struggles
"I realized I was depressed in seventh grade," Bell recalled. Instead of seeking help, he said, he numbed his pain with drugs. "I didn't feel like I could let my parents or siblings down, and I didn't feel like church was a safe place to talk about what I was going through," Bell said.
"I think that's common, the feeling that people will think 'What do you mean, you're not doing OK? You're in church.' I think a lot of people feel a need to have everything together."
After having "a really bad weekend" of drug use and being so depressed he couldn't get out of bed, a friend called Bell's brother to let him know what was going on.
"Rob called me, and I remember it clear as day," Jon Bell said. "He asked me 'Are you living in hell?' And I said 'I absolutely am.' All I needed was to have someone say 'If you could get out of where you're at, would you?'"
Admitting that he had a problem led to treatment and counseling, and allowed those closest to him to pull him up and out of his misery.
Had someone recommended an online resource, he probably would have used it, Bell said.
"It's a safer conversation to say 'Go to heartsupport' than 'You should see a counselor,' even though what they're really saying is 'You should see a counselor.'"
Bell blogs on heartsupport's depression page.
"We believe everybody's story is important, and that nobody should struggle alone," he said.
"People who are struggling put up walls. We're trying to kick down as many walls as possible."
Verbal advertising
In its first month, heartsupport.com had 10,000 hits. Visitors to the site typically range in age from 14 to 40.
The trio largely relies on word-of-mouth to promote the Web site. They also speak to church groups and at conferences, and starting this month, Bell will take part in a 37 U.S.-city concert tour that will include a heartsupport booth, where concert-goers can film their own stories to be uploaded to the web site.
Bell also will speak at 9 a.m. Sunday at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville.
"If they don't have anyone around them they feel they can talk to, now they have somewhere to go on their own time, in privacy," McManaman said. "Maybe this is the step they need in talking to someone face to face."
For Danger, the word "accountability" comes up a lot when she talks about healing, particularly when it has to do with sharing her story.
"It's part of learning to cope, and it's about finding people you can be completely honest with," she said.
"Having so many people know what I have been through and what I still think about, that holds me accountable to not slide.
"It's like I have a whole team behind me."
-----------------------------------------------
This article can also be found by clicking here.
Needed: Designers, Artists, Photographers, Creative People, etc.
By Jon Bell on Tue, Jan 8th 08 at 11:41AM
Hello,
How are you?
We are in the process of putting together the first edition of the physical, Visual Edition of heartsupport. What we are going to produce in a magazine format are people'e stories put into visual form, through a variety of artistic mediums. Our goal is to empower those with creative gifts and talents to use their work to help tell these beautiful and broken stories that have affected us all.
If this applies to you, perhaps this would be the best way to tell your own story. Perhaps you have read a story on this site that has resonated with you and you would like to provide an image to accompany that story. This is an open call to send your image to info@heartsupport.com. Please operate with a sizing of either 8x10 or 11x17 in mind. Please include your contact info (email at a minimum) so that we can contact you if we decide to run with your image.
We can't say this enough: the palate is open for you to work with. There are no rules except that it has to be electronically sent. (if you paint, please take a high resolution photo of the piece)
On another note, starting this summer, we will have the capability available for you to upload your image right to the site. As of now, with the capital that has taken to enable the video and story elements, we will wait until summer to enable this. We will post submissions as soon as this feature can be enabled.
Grace and Peace to you.
Causes giving challenge.
By Clint McManaman on Fri, Dec 28th 07 at 10:37AM
Join the heartsupport giving challenge on facebook and support the heart! CLICK HERE!
Seasons Greetings!
By Clint McManaman on Tue, Dec 25th 07 at 12:21AM
Hey everyone, this is el clinto. I was scanning the pages of heartsupport.com this evening, thinking of those of you that have submitted stories. My heart sank for a moment as I realized that some of you may not enjoy this time of year at all and I just wanted to extend a word of encouragement to anyone who may read this.
"You Don't Have To Live Like This." On our first heartsupport podcast, Jon talks with his brother Rob and the main thing that sticks out to me from that podcast is the saying; "You Don't Have To Live Like This.", It's such a simple thought that so many of us have heard time and time again, yet it is so powerful, something we all need to here over and over again from time to time in our lives. Whatever your situation may be, You don't have to live like this.
My hope for the New Year is that heartsupport is able to help you through your journey by giving you real help, to connect you with real people in your community at home or online to encourage you, to rescue you from the situation you are in, or to provide you with the tools needed to help someone you know in need.
So, Seasons Greetings to all of you and Happy New Year!
the heartsupport tour
By Clint McManaman on Sun, Dec 9th 07 at 03:23PM
We're bringing heartsupport to a city near you in 2008... and we're bringing it LOUD!
January 17-February 28, 2008 - the heartsupport tour - featuring music by: Family Force 5, Falling Up, Spoken, & This Beautiful Republic plus videos, a speaking session by Jon Bell and a special "Your Story video booth" all on this tour.
If you would like to get involved with promoting this tour, hit up the Support page, click the "heartsupport tour" tab and download the tour flyer or get the code to theme out your MySpace page for the tour.
We're currently booking dates, if you would like to bring the heartsupport tour to your city, Email - bMeyers@caa.com
heartsupport - AIGA - 1st place
By Clint McManaman on Wed, Dec 5th 07 at 04:27PM
heartsupport received 1st place in the Health category for the AIGA cause/affect competition in San Francisco. Full results here - http://aigasf.org/causeaffect/choice
Columbus, GA
By Clint McManaman on Sun, Dec 2nd 07 at 09:59AM
I just returned from speaking in Columbus, GA at the Boards and Bands Expo. Thanks to Raven and everyone involved in this outreach. If you're living in or near Columbus, GA and you need someone to talk to, or a place to get hooked into a community, check out the following.
The Core Shows - http://myspace.com/thecoreshows/
Refuge Skate Bible Study - Tuesdays at 6pm
Celebrate Recovery - Thursdays at 6pm
The River Counseling Center - 5900 River Road Suite 102 - Columbus, GA 31904 - 706.322.3280
AIGA - cause/affect
By Clint McManaman on Fri, Nov 30th 07 at 01:49PM
The design for heartsupport has placed in the AIGA cause/affect competition, AIGA, being the professional association for design. I'll be attending the ceremony Dec. 4th in San Francisco to accept the award and further spread the word about heartsupport to the design community. Here's a little snippet about the cause/affect competition:
Our goal: we’re tired of working in isolation. Of sneaking a non-profit client or pro-bono project in through the back door. It’s time we got together to worship the worthy and commend the commendable.
We feel that if we are going to make a difference in our society we need to recognize some of the great strides we have made. But, more importantly, we need to get connected and figure out how we can work together towards the common good. This competition is more than a showcase. It is a celebration of intent, and it offers a reason to come together as a community.
It's exciting to see people in the design world come together to celebrate community and awareness rather than just a typeface or design scheme.
the UK needs heartsupport.
By Clint McManaman on Fri, Nov 30th 07 at 01:39PM
I recently returned from the UK for work with XXXchurch.com. It seems that heartsupport has already made it's way onto the streets of London and by the looks of this quote from BBC News, the UK needs it.
The UK has the highest self-harm rates in Europe. One in 10 teenagers deliberately hurts themselves and 24,000 are admitted to hospital each year.
[+] You can read the full article here.
Get Involved.
By Clint McManaman on Mon, Oct 29th 07 at 05:12PM
You can tell your story of addiction, depression, eating disorders, self injury or suicide through video or written format.
Get Help.
By Clint McManaman on Mon, Oct 29th 07 at 05:10PM
You can view videos, get info and read blogs of others who struggle with the issues of addiction, depression, eating disorders, self injury and suicide. We also offer Live Support - a real time chatroom available for you to talk with a counselor.
Welcome to heartsupport.com
By Clint McManaman on Mon, Oct 29th 07 at 05:08PM
We're exicted to bring to you heartsupport.com - Community Based Online Help - user submitted content to encourage conversation, help and education on the subjects of addiction, depression, eating disorders, self injury and suicide.