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A Network of Care
Wonderful Counselors
Organizations like Blessing Ranch (Livermore, Colorado) provide high-quality Christian counseling and retreat experiences, but the waiting list for these venues can be long. Bruce Parmenter felt burdened for the many leaders experiencing crisis and in need of immediate help.
Parmenter, who has served as a professor of pastoral counseling and an adjunct supervisor at Lincoln (Illinois) Christian Seminary, is working with Jefferson Street Christian Church (also in Lincoln) to meet these needs with the Pastor Care Network. Leaders from JSCC, including minister of administration Craig Smith, provide accountability and oversight on the new organization’s board.
The network exists to connect pastors in crisis with skilled local Christian counselors. Parmenter recommends many of the selected therapists, but references from others are also welcome.
Although the network just launched its Web site, Smith says two pastors have already received help.
“We make the process as simple and confidential as possible,” he says. “We recommend skilled counselors, but each one sets his own fees and each pastor makes the contact on his own. We provide all the information on the Web site, then get out of the way.”
The network also hopes to raise donations so even more leaders can receive the quick, personalized care so important to Parmenter.
“Just as some pastors are hurting, some people are hurting for pastors,” Smith says. “We welcome contributions toward scholarships so these leaders can receive help.”
www.pastorcare.net
www.jeffstreet.org
‘Dirty’ Work
This year Christian Standard is featuring churches “getting their hands dirty” to serve others and share Christ. But Rochester (Illinois) Christian Church started last year; their “Project Backyard” initiative provided service opportunities to RCC’s congregation throughout 2008.
A variety of outreach activities made it easy for church members with different talents, interests, and financial resources to serve. Projects included redecorating the counseling room at a nearby pregnancy resource center, providing breakfast for teachers in the local school district, furnishing an apartment for a person in need, tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth, and donating money, food, and clothing to both local and international agencies.
www.rochesterchristian.com
Good Show
Although First Christian Church (Beaver, Pennsylvania) started in 1897, the small congregation focuses energy on 21st-century methods to influence its community for Christ. Recently FCC partnered with The Prevention Network, a nonprofit organization serving southwestern Pennsylvania, and its drug-prevention team members in Beaver County to present puppet shows encouraging more than 1,000 kids to avoid drugs and alcohol.
First Christian hired Andy Holmes, creator of the critically acclaimed Gerbert character and TV show, to present the antidrug message at public schools, a local mall, and its own building. The church also printed thousands of Gerbert coloring books to reinforce the “just say no” message. “Life is precious and full of so many possibilities,” wrote FCC senior minister Gary L. Wackler in the book’s introduction. “Gerbert and I believe you can do great things in life, but you need to make smart choices.”
The church also produced a public service announcement and other videos.
“We accomplished most of this through hard work and willing volunteers both inside and outside our church,” Wackler says. “Total cost of the project was about $12,000, but cost to the church was nothing. There are people out there looking for fresh ideas to fund and support. The church can lead in areas of common interest and demonstrate our compassion.”
www.firstchristianchurchbeaver.or
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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