Curtis and Carol have struggled with mental health issues most of their lives. Curtis has battled clinical depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Carol has struggled with bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness).
Mental illness was a taboo topic and research was somewhat limited when Curtis was diagnosed over 40 years ago. He began feeling clinically depressed when he was in college which turned into Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. While struggling and going through counseling, he made it through only one semester at the University of California at Berkeley before he came home and tried to take his own life. After counseling, the support of community, and medication, he began to slowly find ways to manage his mental illnesses and continues to monitor the symptoms today.
In the early years of Curtis’ and Carol’s marriage, Carol’s bipolar disorder adversely affected their relationship and family. They also experienced rejection and stigma from people. When she had her major manic episode in 2002, she ended up in the psychiatric hospital and it was not until then that she was willing to take the steps necessary to take care of her health.
After that time, they found resources to educate themselves about mental illness. Curtis was able to find a good faith-based support group and together they went to NAMI’s Family-to-Family class. They found that being in a community was the beginning of healing and hope.
After moving from Orange County, CA to Ventura County, CA, they searched for a faith-based support group similar to the one they belonged to in OC but were unable to find one. They decided to start their own support group and when they started sharing their ideas with others, they were encouraged to expand their vision. They saw how God’s hand was on every aspect of this dream. The seed of desiring to belong to a faith-based support group grew into the Enlighten Mental Health Seminar in 2018, the first event of its kind in Ventura County, which addresses mental health openly in a Christian context.
This ministry of the Chinese Christian Church of Thousand Oaks desires to provide mental health resources for our community, Ventura County, and beyond. They know that whether you or someone you love is struggling with mental health issues, you would greatly benefit from support and resources.
We are here to shine Jesus’ light on mental health.
Rev., Dr. Curtis Lowe was the English Pastor at the Chinese Christian Church of Thousand Oaks (CCCTO). He has been a pastor for more than 35 years and has served in three churches as a Senior Pastor as well as in Christian Education and youth ministry. He has a B.A. in psychology from San Diego State University; a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Bethel West Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Spiritual Formation from Azusa Pacific University. He is also a Certified Spiritual Director (CSD).
Carol Lowe is a homemaker. She received her B.S. in Business Information Systems from California State University, Los Angeles. She worked several years in aerospace, but when their eldest was born, she looked forward to being a stay-at-home mom. They have three children. They live in Southern California.
Currently they serve with Standing Stone Ministries which shepherd ministry leaders, including pastors and their wives. Healthy ministry leaders guide healthy ministries, and healthy ministries help spread the good news of the gospel to their neighborhoods, communities and cities