Cyndi Wineinger, my friend and colleague, is a great blessing to me. She continually challenges me to focus on the main points of my ministry. I try to do what she says but it is hard.
For example, the most recent posts on this ministry blog have been photos taken five years ago while we were ministering to the First Responders at Ground Zero. I am not an expert on terror, politics or crisis ministry but I am an expert on counseling, ministry and integrating faith and psychology. After 911 those two areas came together and we went up to New York to see if we could help out.
My passion for people led me into caring for my peers and others who always seemed to be interested in talking with me. Even as a child I was the "Go to guy" when people were in need. That led me into teaching and then into counseling because I am passionate about both Growth and Healing.
I have three major degrees and all of them are combinations to equip me to help people grow. A major part of growth is healing. Some people cannot grow until they have had the roadblocks of old hurts and dysfunctions removed. But, even as a clinical therapist I always think about not only cleaning the wound but also about teaching the client how to be smarter, stronger and better able to prevent future problems.
For example, I am a Family Therapist that knows how to intervene in a dysfunctional system and bring better health. But that is long and hard and requires many hours to help just one family. So, what should I do? As an educator I have devised materials, seminars and workshops to teach many parents and couples how to PREVENT problems. Why wait unti there is a crisis?
I am an expert on being a change agent. I enjoy teaching pastors how to preach, teach and motivate people to change.
So, I write and teach about the integration of psychology and theology, that was my doctoral dissertation, and the relationship between spirituality and counseling. I also love to work with youth ministers and help them minister to the kids.
It is hard to follow Cyndi's advice even though she is correct. I like so many things it is hard to stay focused on one topic. Some of my friends take one topic, like pornography or shame and build everything around it. I cannot do that. I wish I could.
So, try to remember that my thing is how people and groups change and how we as leaders can help them change, grow and be healed. Everything I write will stem from that passion.
posted by Gary Sweeten @ Saturday, September 09, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home