Newsletter - Life Counseling Ministries

250 Meadow Lane, Conestoga, PA 17516
Phone: 717.871.0540
Fax: 717.871.0547
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.life-ministries.com
Volume XXIX No. 2
Newsletter
June 2016
-Dan Beachy-
Approximately two years ago, Sam accepted the responsibility of Administrator of Life Counseling Ministries (LCM). It was a real relief to have someone like Sam “carry on the torch.” I am convinced that Sam’s vision and passion will serve the organiza on and the Church of Jesus Christ into the future. The leadership of the organiza on encouraged me to be available as a resource and remain ac ve as long as my health allows me to do so. When the change was implemented, it was decided that I would not spend any me at LCM for at least three to four months to facilitate the transfer of leadership. During this me I was available to Sam for phone conversa ons. A er my three months absence, the Execu ve Board and Sam invited me to consider a posi on as a part- me counselor. In addi on, I do projects for Sam and serve as a resource to him. I have also been doing some work with other organiza ons as a consultant for leadership issues. Currently, I am in the office three mornings a week to see clients. I am grateful for the opportunity of being part of an organiza on that encourages someone like me to remain involved, but in a less stressful role. People ask me how I am coping with my Parkinson’s disease. I was diagnosed in 2004. My physicians told me than that I will need to learn to budget my energy. I thought I understood then but now I am really learning to understand. This is especially cri cal in the evening or when I feel under pressure. I am learning to limit my speaking assignments to the morning and to decrease the frequency of accep ng assignments. People o en ask why we need to struggle with painful memories when forgiveness is in process and perhaps even reconcilia on has started. God’s grace allows us to find healing at a deeper level as we reprocess the painful memories. If you want to see what life would be like without memories, just look at an Alzheimer’s paent or speak to a family member of someone that has that disease. Throughout the scriptures God had His people do things to help them remember how God had been faithful in the past, and to s mulate the next genera on to ask ques ons. We find an example of this in Joshua 4:6 “Let this be a sign among you, so that your children ask later saying, “What do these stones mean to you?” During my involvement at LCM, I am grateful for the memories I have of seeing God at work in the lives of many people as well as in my own life. I would not want to give up those memories, both painful and happy. 1
godly.” Come—pay a en on—you who are thirsty. You spend your money on what is not bread. You spend your money on things you do not need to find life. You labor and are not sa sfied. God is not impressed with money, labor or efficiency. His invita on is for the one who is thirsty. Thirst leaves us with a choice—God or self-induced solu ons. In my “comings and goings”—as I do small tasks around the house such as folding the laundry, washing dishes; in the quiet moments of my day, as I have conversa ons that leave me confused and wan ng; as I am aware that my thoughts are tumultuous—I need to stop and acknowledge thirst. What am I thirsty for in this moment, in this situa on? “Come, you who are thirsty. Come
to the water! Why do you spend money for that which is
not bread? You labor for that which sa sfies not? Listen
diligently to Me, and eat that which is good and let your
soul delight itself in fatness.” Isaiah 55:1a–2
‐Naomi Zimmerman I woke up s ll mulling a conversaon that had happened the day before. I thought I had voiced my concerns well but felt cut off, confused and sad. My thoughts were in turmoil as I contemplated where I go from here. I wanted to get it right. But no, it didn’t turn out as I an cipated and I was le to deal with confusion, anger, sadness . . . “Come, everyone who is thirsty,” I read. Tears welled up in my eyes. That’s it! I am thirsty. In this present situaon I am like the dry, parched land. I am cracked and broken. I feel ugly and barren. I am wan ng. Where is the life for this situa on? What is the refreshing water that I desire and long for? Life is full of situa ons that leave us thirsty. To breathe is to thirst. Jesus, in His dying moments, lips cracked, mouth parched, tongue swollen, expressed with words audible for those close to hear—“I thirst.” I desire something. I am wan ng. We all know physical thirst but are slow to recognize the daily thirst that is within our hearts and our spirits. We become so consumed with order, efficiency, discipline and involvement. Our living becomes mechanical and habitual. We don’t understand our thirsty cries. Worse yet, we deny that we thirst. To thirst would be an indica on of weakness or possibly sinfulness. Ul mately, it would acknowledge our humanness. Several verses in scripture refer to “thirsty land”—
brown, barren, cracked, powdered dust, grit—these are just a few words that give this a picture. A person who denies thirst is wandering about in a dry and barren land. A person who is too busy and too produc ve to think about their own “wan ng” becomes restless, detached and lifeless. Jan Meyers in her book The Allure of Hope says, “We no longer live from the hope of glory (Christ in us) but from a hope set on our prowess to be great Chris ans. An odor of staleness fills our lives as the object of our longing becomes our proficiency, our commitment, our stand on various poli cal and moral issues, rather than a yearning for Christ Himself.” She goes on to say that, “we spend lots of energy structuring our worlds, our lives, our relaonships in a way to convince ourselves that we are just fine, content. Then we put a Chris an label on it and call it When things go wrong, as they some mes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is hard with its twists and its turns, As everyone of us some mes learns, And many a failure turns about When they might have won, had they stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. O en the goal is nearer than, It seems to a faint and faltering man, O en the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out The silver nt of the clouds of doubt And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So s ck to the fight when you're hardest hit, It's when things seem worst that you must not quit! -Anonymous 2
nity, but in being ministered to by it. If we are to help others, we must recognize our own needs, and it is a wonderful thing to find God filling them through His people. I hope that I may be able to give back a li le to the community that has given so much to me. -Michael Hochstetler It is an incredible privilege to become part of the team at Life Counseling Ministries! I have been asked to introduce myself to the Life cons tuency and to share a bit about my personal journey. I am a nave of southern Virginia, and currently live with my wife, Caia, and our three-year-old son, Caleb, in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. I grew up surrounded by extended family and by the lovely woods of Cumberland County, Virginia. I was brought to faith in Christ by my parents and nourished in that faith by my grandparents and through the teaching and fellowship of a small Mennonite congrega on. A er working in construc on for years and a ending classes at Faith Builders, I was involved in prison ministry in South Carolina. In 2009 I married Caia and we moved to Berea, Kentucky where I earned my Bachelor’s degree at Berea College. In 2013 we moved to Myerstown where I earned a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Evangelical Theological Seminary. For the past two years I have seen clients at the Marriage and Family Center of Li tz and at Oasis Counseling in Lancaster. I joined the team at Life Counseling Ministries in April, and I connue to see clients at Oasis. In pursuing a voca on in counseling, I find that God has given me a deep passion for rela onal healing and reconcilia on, and I have felt especially drawn to working with struggling couples. Working at Life Counseling Ministries is something of a dream come true. My desire has always been to work among the Conserva ve Anabap sts. This dream has a li le to do with counseling, and a lot to do with the journey God has been taking me on over the past several years. The years that I spent pursuing an educa on were a painful me of soul-searching and confusion as I struggled to understand my place in God’s Kingdom. During those years we had few connec ons with the Plain People because of where we lived at the me. This period of searching and confusion le me with a much deeper apprecia on for the heritage I was born into, and I began hungering to reconnect with my spiritual roots in a deeper way. As I write these reflec ons, I realize that the “dream come true” lies not so much in ministering to the commu-
We are extremely thankful for God’s provision for us at the ministry through the years. We are grateful to all of you who have supported us through prayer, encouragement and finances. As I have been looking over the financial history of the organiza on, I am increasingly aware of the blessing of people who are commi ed to giving to the ministry on a monthly basis. We are and will con nue to pursue ways that will make that easier for you to do. We have added a “donate op on” on our website where you are able to donate a one- me amount or set up a monthly contribu on. You can contribute using your credit card or by having it deducted directly from your bank account. If you would like to have a monthly dona on deducted directly from your bank account, you can call the office and the secretaries will assist in se ng that up. Friends of Life Counseling Ministries have contributed to a $35,000 matching fund through the summer and fall months. Any financial gi that you give to the ministry will be doubled through these months. If you would like to join in this opportunity, you can use the enclosed envelope to send your contribu on to the office, or go to our website and contribute online. Thank You. For those of you who are interested in suppor ng Life Counseling Ministries through estate planning, we collaborate with Anabap st Founda on and Mennonite Founda on for those services. -Mark Schlabach 3
 Praise God for the donor who donated funds to pur-
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chase four new computers and video equipment.  Praise God for volunteers who have donated me and labor in the work of Life Counseling Ministries.  Praise God for Michael Hochstetler who joined the staff team as a counselor.  Pray for the Ladies’ Summer Intensive Group  Pray for couples who are struggling in their marriage.  Pray for those going through financial hardships.  Pray that God will give Life Counseling Ministries’ staff wisdom as they counsel many hur ng people.  Pray for Godly wisdom for the Board as they give direcon to Life Counseling Ministries.  Pray for the upcoming seminars that God will use His Word to accomplish His will. Father/Son Retreat - July 7-9, 2016 Rocky Mountain Men’s Retreat, July 30–Aug. 3, 2016 Core 1 Lab 1, Nov. 10-12, 2016; Jan. 19-21, 2017; March 16-18, 2017 Return Service Requested
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1746 LANCASTER, PA Life Counseling Ministries
250 Meadow Lane
Conestoga, PA 17516
Life Executive Board
Lynn Zimmerman, Board Chairman
Larry Rutt, Treasurer
Titus Martin, A sst. Chairman
Glenn Hoover, A sst. Treasurer
Kenneth Kauffman, Secretary
Amos Stoltzfoos, Board Member
Clair Nolt, A sst. Secretary
Life Counseling Ministries is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organiza on established to provide financial, marriage, individual counseling, workshops and seminars. This newsle er is published quarterly and is available to interested persons at no cost. Life Staff
Daniel & Emma Beachy, Counselor/Domestics
Sam & Cathie Gingerich, A dministrator/Counselors
Mark & Starla Schlabach, Director of Development/Counselors
Norma Martin, Office Manager
Elaine Yoder, Counselor
Joshua Strickler, Counselor
Darla Hackman, Counselor
Naomi Zimmerman, Counselor
Hannah Beiler, Counselor
Dave Myer, Counselor
Michael Hochstetler, Counselor
Lois Groff, Receptionist/Secretary
- New Flooring for the lobby, stairs and hallways - Beef Hamburger (frozen in 2 lb. packs) - Beef Roasts (Individually packed) - Frozen Veggies (frozen in quart size zip lock bags) (Corn, Green Beans, or peas) 4