Yesterday, I met with a new team that has begun work on an important ministry at BG—counseling. One of the largest needs in our society today is for skilled people to help others with emotional and relational health. I am encouraged that BG is organizing to provide that kind of help.
The problem of mental health is receiving a lot of attention in the news. The Covid pandemic had a severe impact on people’s emotional wellbeing. Teens in particular are struggling with anxiety and depression. Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death among young people—an issue that has affected Ithaca in recent months.
And then there is the “loneliness epidemic.” Basic relationships seem to be harder to form and easier to lose.
One of my goals in ministry for the last 25 years has been to place counseling at the center of church ministry. BG’s discipleship should focus on our emotional and relational lives so that we receive healing from the Lord as part of our growth in Christ. This focus must be strong in our formation of both lay and staff leaders.
Katie Winkler, BG’s Community Coordinator, recently completed her MA in pastoral counseling and will oversee this team as it grows. She has been joined by Emily Yesudasan, who has finished a certification in biblical counseling from Westminster Seminary. Other BG attenders are at different stages of formal training, like Will Tay and Sherri Korb. We also have professional counselors like Herb Masser and Donna George.
God is giving us much faster progress than I expected.
But the task is immense. There are philosophical and theological questions that have hindered churches in this work for decades, making it difficult for counselors to work in unity. Who qualifies as a counselor? Shouldn’t a church leave this work to the professionals? What is the role of clinical expertise in addressing spiritual problems? What part do the Bible and the Holy Spirit play in maintaining our emotional health?
These are some of the issues we worked on yesterday. Please be in prayer for this team, for its growth, and for BG’s ability to do this vital work.