We Belong To You.
Did We Ever Share This With You?
Something occurred to us recently. There may be pieces of our story that we've never actually shared with you. Of course we know all the ins and outs and twists to how we've gotten to the place we are today, but it could be true that you don't actually know our entire journey to getting here.
For example, did you know that just before COVID, our church leaders did a survey of the community and discovered that regardless of faith identity or income level, the #1 place people know they can go to in time of need is the local Church? But that the 2nd to last place they knew where to go when needed was for mental health care.
Think about it... where would you start if you or a family member needed a therapist for the first time?
You'd probably search the list of 200 providers on your insurance panel and take a shot in the dark, or you would have to reach out to a close friend and ask if they have a good counselor they've met with. OR you would go straight to your church and ask if they trust any good therapists.
It's a little daunting.
And even after all that, it may not be a good fit. So the process begins again.
Even with all Our faults and history of sometimes making some not so great or even horrifying decisions, the Church remains a place people do trust when they are beginning their journey to healing. That's an amazing thing.
That's a Jesus thing.
That's because Jesus is the goodness. He is the healing we seek, whether we really know that or not. And His People have been and will always be the ones who mess things up from time to time. Sometimes in some really hurtful ways.
But a beautiful part of God's intricate design of our need for community is that we are hurt in relationship... but we also heal in relationship. And we want you to know that we belong to you.
Now imagine the Church actually being the one that is leading the way in providing best practices for mental health care. Offering clinical, ethical, professional, beautiful mental health care to the community that is accessible to all people, not just the affluent. The Church is trauma-informed, relevant, and is filled with people who understand the incredible depth of the intertwinedness of our spiritual and mental health.
And now Easter is upon us. Resurrection Sunday.
And it got us thinking about how many little resurrections happen in that therapy room. Before you get worried we're going into some weird territory, read this:
from dictionary.com, the definition of "a resurrection" is "a rising again, as from decay, disuse. A revival."
We are not comparing Christ's resurrection power with "the little resurrections in the counseling room." But we are holding space for Christ's resurrection power in the counseling room....for Him to do whatever He wants to in there. For His Holy Spirit to be present, to hold you, to speak to you....to bring healing to you in a different sort of way. That what you experience is truly "a rising again." "A revival".
Jesus is the Good Counselor. Don't get that wrong.
And He uses trained, professional, safe therapists all day long to hold space and open up an incredibly intimate environment for his Holy Spirit power to cause Change, Healing, a Coming Back To Life in the lives of the clients we serve.
Did you know that therapy is so incredibly healthy for your relationship with God? With others? With yourself?
Therapy is discipleship.
You can access us for therapy any time you are ready. And we now have 4 partnership churches with 3 locations: Smyrna/Marietta, Buckhead, Lawrenceville, GA. Whenever you're ready, we can meet you online or in person.
We belong to you.
