Needs of the Community
For those of you who are joining us as prayer partners for our ministry I’d like to share some of what’s been going on in our community recently. The end of the school year was busy for many families, but God has answered our prayers in keeping us safe both spiritually and physically.
One need in the community that we noticed the past few months is the need for counseling and/or therapy. I talk to our pastor Michael on a weekly basis and although he never mentions any names, he always says that a new person has contacted him that week and has a lot of issues on their mind. Granted, a pastor within a community is meant to be spiritual guide, espcially for those who are feeling overwhelmed. And though Michael is more than happy to meet, discuss, and help work through issues, there are some he has met that need assessments and therapy from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist beyond the spiritual guidance that Michael can offer.
The problem for many in our area these days is a lack of health insurance, often compounded by being unemployed. It’s quite tragic; the people who need these services the most are the ones least likely to afford them.
One service project we are trying to develop is a benevolance fund to help provide for those in need in our local community. We hope that part of that fund could provide 2 or 3 sessions with a psychologist to those in our community who are having trouble affording it. Currently, Michael is trying to talk with local clinics to see how we can set this up the best. One clinic in particular is in Plymouth on campus at the Michigan Theological Seminary on Ann Arbor Trail. Graduate students in the psychology department offer one-to-one therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and group therapy at a reduced rate, $20 per session. Graduates of the program who are licensed also meet with clients at that clinic at a rate that is agreed upon by the client. What is great about the clinic on campus at MTS is that the therapists are trained to incorporate a Christian world-view into the therapy sessions if that is what the client would prefer.
Obviously, we continue to pray for those in our community to seek out God to help them. But we would also feel remiss if we couldn’t offer anything of ourselves to help them on their path. We know we cannot replace God, but we pray that He would work through us in demonstrating his love.
For our prayer partners, please pray that this endeavor would be blessed by God, and that many people who cross our paths would benefit from it. Also, pray that Michael is able to work out all the necessary details to set up partnerships with local clinics.
Lastly, please pray for our church as we prepare to move to a more visible location. Currently, we meet as a house church, but in the fall of this year we are planning on moving our Sunday Morning Gatherings to a location more visible in the community. There are a lot of details that need to be ironed out, such as purchasing signs, signing contracts, and preparing all the elements of worship. Please pray that God will oversee all these details and that we would be submissive to His direction, and also that He protect us from spiritual and physical harm along the way.
It will be an interesting summer for us. Please, pray for us as we pray for you.
