August 3, 2025
By Dr. Cindy H. Carr
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” — Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
When I first entered ministry, I thought my calling was to fix people’s problems—to pray harder, counsel longer, and carry every burden until healing came. My heart was sincere, but my methods were exhausting. Over time, I realized something vital: healing isn’t a solo act—it’s a shared journey. That truth became clearer through one remarkable friendship—with Christopher Aldana, a gifted creative and resilient survivor whose story has reshaped how I understand ministry, recovery, and hope.
More than a decade ago, after a severe mental health break, Christopher and I reconnected. I had known him since his childhood days—he went to school with one of my daughters—but in adulthood, our paths intersected again during a time of deep crisis. Through the years that followed—hospital stays, recovery efforts, court hearings, creative breakthroughs, and countless conversations—Christopher’s insight and perseverance became the soil from which something beautiful grew: The Four Pillars of Healing.
While I had spent years counseling and serving others, it was Christopher who helped me see the full picture of sustainable healing. Together, through trial and grace, we identified the four essential supports that keep recovery standing strong: faith community, therapist or counselor, prescriber or psychiatrist, and family or community support. Christopher lived this model long before he named it. Each pillar represented a part of his real life—the professionals who cared, the faith that anchored him, the friends who stood by him, and the creative work that became his voice. Visit ChristopherAldana.com to explore more of his journey.
Christopher’s story isn’t just one of survival—it’s one of innovation and faith. Through both
setbacks and victories, he modeled what it means to keep building, one pillar at a time. Every time we talked, I learned something new about courage, about grace, and about what it really takes to rebuild a life when the old structures have crumbled. He reminded me that healing requires both surrender and structure—the kind that comes from collaboration, humility, and a deep belief that everyone plays a role in someone else’s recovery.
The Church cannot replace psychiatrists or therapists—but it can offer something sacred that professionals cannot: unconditional community. When the Church becomes one of the four pillars instead of trying to be all four, it moves from exhaustion to effectiveness. We are called to create spaces where mental illness and addiction can be spoken of openly, to build bridges to professional care, to offer prayer and presence without judgment, and to support caregivers with rest, training, and encouragement.
The Four Pillars of Healing framework is more than a concept—it’s a testament to what happens when lived experience meets compassionate ministry. I’m grateful to Christopher Aldana for naming it, embodying it, and allowing his journey to teach so many of us what sustainable recovery looks like. His life is proof that healing isn’t just possible—it’s shared.
As Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Healing holds strongest when many hands hold the rope.
— Dr. Cindy H. Carr, D.Min.
Healing Through Compassion Series
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.