About 30 years ago a group of us at College Hill Presbyterian Church came together to pray about setting up a ministry of growth and healing at the church. I completed a dissertation on the topic of "Training Christian Counselors" at University of Cincinnati in the Summer of 1975 and had several rather exciting insights about new ways to approach discipleship and counseling.
Then, in 1976 the Lord convinced the Elders of CHPC that I was should be placed into a new position; Minister of Discipleship and Family Life. In this new assignment I gathered a team of wise and experienced men and women to seek the Lord about how to accomplish the goals of individual and family healing set by our Elder Board.
We knew a few things about what not to do in counseling and growth. However, there were no creative and exciting new models, especially from Christians, that really jumped out to us. I knew the latest research from the world of psychology and medicine. It was not a pretty picture. The old fashioned "Medical Model" of treatment was obviously out of date. The Medical Model operates on the assumption that relational, emotional and family troubles were like diseases and ought to be treated by an expert in drugs and advanced psychological knowledge.
But research showed that over 40% of all persons seeking help for emotional, relational, marriage and family problems went to pastors and priests first. Only 8% went to a mental health professional. The church does more counseling and produces more growth in people than any other institution. Most importantly, the greatest amount of assistance comes from the congregation, small groups, classes and worship as well as Pastors.
At CHPC we developed a new approach and a new model of healing and growth. We would "Equip all God's children to think and relate with health." That developed into a strategy that God revealed to us about "Equipping equippers to equip the saints..." around the world. The Elders encouraged us to start a separate Non-profit ministry to carry out the model and we set up, Equipping Ministries International. After developing the model and trying it out for a few years we first took the finished model to Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Since then I also set up Life Way Ministries and we established "Seed Corn Equipping Centers" all over the world.
Larry Chrouch was one of the original visionaries that heard the Lord's call about the strategy. He recently sent me a report from EMI that tells how the man who now heads Teleios Norway, Kjell Aanensen, has made another trip to train leaders in Mongolia. To see the report go to emigrow@equipmin.org
Kjell was in Larry's group in 1987, the very first trip we made to Norway, and is now taking what he learned from us to regions beyond Scandinavia. Teleios Norway is now under the umbrella of a key pastor and friend, Martin Cave. Martin is one of the most creative and visionary men I have ever met.
That vision God gave us in 1976 is still producing fruit today. If you want to hear more, call me @ 513-300-5065 or send me an e mail to gsweeten@lifewaycenters.com
Gary R. Sweeten, Ed. D.
Leader Coach & Consultant
Touching Leaders, One Heart at a time
Touching Organizations, One Leader at a time
Touching Communities, One Organization at a time
Touching Nations, One Community at a time.
Touching Eternity, One Day at a time
(C)Life Way Ministries, Inc
A Faith Based Non-Profit Charity
11161 Kenwood RoadCincinnati, Ohio 45242
www.lifewaycenters.com
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