Depression has been called an "elephant in the room" in the Christian church. The black sheep of all medical conditions. The one thing no one wants to acknowledge. Yet, it seems to be the one thing everyone is dealing with, either personally or through friends or family members. Everyone knows someone who is currently or has previously battled this disorder. And that's not just an assumption; it's a statistical fact.

In the United States alone, 18.8 million people (close to 10 percent of the adult population) are affected by a depressive disorder in a given year. That's almost one out of 10 people.

If, by chance, you are ever in the Pacific Northwest and get a hankering to visit Pullman, Wash., here are a few helpful landmarks for your trip:

Traveling east from Seattle, watch for towns like Moses Lake and Ritzville. Northbound from Oregon, you’ll likely pass Walla Walla and Waitsburg. Traveling westward, keep a sharp lookout for the Nez Perce National Historical Park and Moscow… Moscow, Idaho, that is.

Suffice it to say there’s not a whole lot around Pullman. And once you get there — past all the rolling green hills and bucolic scenery — there isn’t much more.

• Secure day, time, and location of coach’s bible study. 
• Recruit a bible study leader or facilitator. 
• Develop a bible study plan with timeline and specific lessons outlined. 
• Organize a weekly study agenda.
• Plan an initial study that introduces FCA, explains what the study is about and the importance of commitment and confidentiality.