Counseling & Stephen Ministry

Counselor: Reverend David (Bucky) Hesson, LMFT (Licensed  Marriage & Family Therapist) Purpose: The Counseling Ministry is a response to Jesus' statement that he came so that we might have more abundant life (John 10:10b). We believe professional Christian counseling is often an important means of conveying God's grace so that abundant living can be a reality.

It is our desire to reach out, not only to our members, but to the entire community, when the brokeness in their lives blurs their recognition of the choices they have. Divorce, grief, anger, depression, loneliness, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and other relationship problems, can all be so overwhelming that the individual sees no options. The Counseling Ministry of First United Methodist Church is a safe place where people are assisted in developing more productive ways of thinking and behaving. Our goal is to encourage our clients to make more positive life choices, whatever their situation.

Approach to Counseling: Whether your problems are individual in nature, or involve relationships, such as marriage or parent-child, we approach them in the context of the family and the environment in which they exist. Behavior is best understood in light of the system in which it occurs. Most important, we believe that God plays a significant role in the healing process.
Scheduling Appointments: To schedule an appointment, call 444-3315. Ask to speak to David Hesson, as he schedules his own appointments. If he is not available when you call, he will return your call promptly.

Regarding Costs: There is no charge for the initital visit. This session will be for assessment purposes and a determination of counseling needs. After the initial session, the fee is $40.00 per one-hour session. This is approximately one-half of the rate charged by a counselor in private practice, but offering Christian counseling at a reduced, affordable rate is a part of our ministry. However, if this amount is prohibitive for anyone, our fees are negotiable when necessary.

What is Stephen Ministry?
We have 25 active Stephen Ministers...The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first layperson commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need. Our church currently has four Stephen Leaders and 25 Stephen Ministers to serve the church and community. Like St. Stephen, we need you, the laypeople, to be the eyes and ears of the church and refer people who need Confidential Christian Care.

Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus. command to love one another. Through one-to-one caring relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them.
Is life more than you can handle alone right now?
Are your health, your attitude, or your relationships suffering?
Are you adjusting to a new job, a change in marital status, a serious illness, the death of a loved one, a recent move?
Would you like to have someone in your life who really cares?
Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, to share God's love with you can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness you may be experiencing.

What is a Stephen Minister?
A Stephen Minister is:
a child of God who walks beside a hurting person;
a caring Christian friend who really listens;
a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care.

A Stephen Minister is not:
a counselor or therapist;a problem-solver;a casual visitor.
Stephen Ministry helps meet the needs of individuals who are:
hospitalized;terminally ill;bereaved;in a job crisis;new members of the church;disabled;homebound;lonely;in a spiritual crisis; orlooking for a caring Christian friend.
Consider allowing a Stephen Minister to walk with you on your journey to wholeness.
Meet Your Stephen Ministers...The following laypersons have received fifty hours of classroom training and receive two and a half hours of supervision and continuing education each month. Our Stephen Minister Team is Jeff Reynolds, Debbie Edwards, Roy Cox, Donna Farley, Amy Gilbert, Anne Smith, Helen Mason, Bonnie Krom, Judy Morris, Mary Helen Averitt, Janyce Spurlock, Teresa Moss, John Lloyd, Scott Schweitzer, Geneva Thomas, Sheryl Tippitt, Vicki Eatherly, Bucky Hesson, Rochelle Dail, Sandy Jenkins, Mary Ann Adams, Tracy Cartwright, Jan Dickens, Shenna Granstaff, Gwen Kuhn, Jim Romano, Ellie Runyon, Sharyn Worley.