You don't need to struggle alone.

Wellness is best defined as

living into wholeness.

It's not striving for perfection, attempting to "fix" ourselves, or feeling happy all the time.

It's an invitation to embrace who we genuinely are, so we can experience the rich and full life Jesus promises us.

The Gathering's Wellness Ministry exists

To help. To heal. To give hope.

The Gathering Wellness is here to support you on your journey to wholeness.

About Wellness

Who is Wellness Ministry For?
The Gathering is a place where all people can come when they are hurting and need support.

You do not have to be a member of our, or any other, church community to participate in our Wellness programs.

It is our hope that people from all walks of life will find hope, healing, and community here.
How Does It Work?
We offer short-term support groups (Wellness Groups) and special events, both centered around particular challenges, life transitions, or mental health & wellness topics.

We also create and curate helpful Wellness resources to share.
What is a Wellness Group Like?
Wellness groups are 6 weeks long and address a life need or transition.

Groups are led by people who have lived experience with the topic and are trained to facilitate safe and supportive group experiences.

You can expect a mix of open discussion, learning, and reflection. Some participants benefit from sharing, while others prefer to mostly listen and reflect - either approach is welcome.

We find that participants get the most benefit from the group if they attend all 6 weeks.

Wellness Calendar

To register or add yourself to the waitlist, click on the group of interest below.

Registration open through first week of each group. We encourage early registration as group size is limited and groups do fill up! Limiting group capacity ensures there is plenty of time for participants to share and maintains the integrity of the group model.

Wellness groups are offered 4 times a year:

FALL: SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
HOLIDAY: NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
WINTER: FEBRUARY-MARCH
SPRING: APRIL-MAY

If there is a Wellness topic you are interested in, but is not currently being offered, please reach out to Ashley Pondoff,  Director of Wellness.

Meet Ashley

Director of Wellness

Ashley Pondoff, LCSW

Contact Ashley
Ashley Pondoff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, originally from Los Angeles, who moved to St. Louis in 2010 to attend graduate school at Washington University. She’s dedicated the last 10 years to working in the mental health field, and, most recently, worked as a therapist. She has been a part of The Gathering since 2010 and attends the Clayton site with her husband, Chris, and their 10-year-old son, Charlie.

Ashley credits being a part of The Gathering community as an important part of her own healing journey. She loves to read, savor every moment of the changing seasons, and most of all, sit with people over a cup of coffee and hear their stories.

Want to connect with someone for a specific, personal need or prayer request?

Our Care Ministry can help. One of our trained, confidential Care Ministers would love to pray for you and walk alongside you.

Visit Care page