An indication on the wall at Marion First Church of the Nazarene (Marion Naz) says the downtown congregation is “a church within the coronary heart of town with a coronary heart for town.”
Spend a few minutes with Senior Pastor the Rev. Steve Estep and also you shortly notice that is rather more than only a catchphrase or advertising instrument. His deep, intensely private want to serve the neighborhood via a broad vary of ministries has resulted within the church’s newest enterprise referred to as Hope for Well being Counseling and Clinic.
Nonetheless in its fledgling levels, the clinic on the downtown campus of Marion Naz, situated at 233 W. Church St., provides counseling companies for people affected by psychological well being and substance abuse points.
“The mission of Hope for Well being is to present holistic well being companies − psychological well being, counseling, well being care, and social companies − in a Christ-centered setting to the underserved inhabitants of Marion and surrounding communities,” Estep mentioned. “In quite a lot of methods it is going to complement the good issues which can be already occurring. Now we have some nice Christian counselors in Marion, however there’s extra want than there are sources. We’re not making an attempt to switch anyone, it is not a contest, we simply see this as one other layer of help to an underserved inhabitants.
“One of many issues that makes it distinctive is that it’s unapologetically Christ-centered. Our people that are available in (for counseling), until they only say, ‘No, we do not need that,’ all people will probably be prayed for.”
For the previous seven years, Marion Naz has been providing Have fun Restoration, a Christ-centered 12-step program that meets every Thursday on the church campus. That ministry serves greater than 200 folks weekly.
Estep mentioned prayers and planning for Hope for Well being began in August of 2021, when he “shared the imaginative and prescient for a Christ-centered psychological well being/counseling clinic with the congregation of Marion Naz,” which in flip spurred additional discussions after which vital motion on the subject.
“Dr. Roxanne Oliver was in attendance that day and instantly supplied her help to assist develop and implement the plan for Hope for Well being,” Estep mentioned. “We subsequently started to recruit a board of administrators and analysis what can be wanted for this imaginative and prescient to grow to be a actuality. In January 2022, we had our first board of administrators assembly, started the method of securing 501c3 standing, and recruiting potential suppliers. Instantly after our inaugural assembly, board member Vaughn Sizemore related us with Columbus lawyer Rick Bruner. He supplied to assist us professional bono and by April of 2022 we had been formally a 501c3 group.”
Native advisor Theresa Lubke, former govt director of the Marion Household YMCA, has been aiding the board of administrators within the growth of short- and long-range objectives and submitted a grant software to the Hillman Basis on behalf of Hope for Well being. She can be serving to the board of administrators analysis different grant alternatives, Estep mentioned.
To date, the congregation of Marion Naz has donated $10,000 to get the challenge began. The Marion Neighborhood Basis awarded a $10,000 grant to the counseling middle. Most not too long ago, United Method of North Central Ohio awarded a $5,000 grant to Hope for Well being. United Method Govt Director Amber Wertman introduced the verify to Estep final Wednesday throughout a quick ceremony on the church.
“There’s simply an terrible lot of want (for counseling companies in Marion County) and never sufficient sources,” Wertman mentioned. “(Hope for Well being) placing your time, efforts, and abilities into this implies loads for the neighborhood. (United Method) desires to assist in any means we will. (The $5,000 grant) is an preliminary funding, however I am certain as the necessity grows and folks uncover that it is an excellent useful resource, I believe it will be affluent and useful to the neighborhood.”
Estep mentioned the monetary donations have allowed Hope for Well being to arrange workplaces, purchase gear, buy a safety system, rent a part-time biller/credentialing specialist, and subscribe to an EMR (digital medical data) supplier.
“There may be nice synergy being created by these pals in our neighborhood who’re completely satisfied that Hope for Well being is becoming a member of the trouble to deal with the psychological well being wants which can be so prevalent in Marion,” Estep mentioned. “Now we have been inspired by different native counselors, together with the Dan Ward Counseling Group, who’re doing nice work for the folks of Marion, however know first-hand the hole between the necessity for Christ-centered psychological well being companies, and the sources accessible to satisfy that want. We’re enthusiastic about serving to meet these wants in our neighborhood and seeing people, {couples}, and households discover hope and assist in the title of Jesus.”
Denise Thiel and Vanessa Jones run the day-to-day operations of the clinic. Thiel serves as appearing director of operations and Jones is the executive assistant.
Counseling staff members embody Brandi Spaulding, Ph.D., LICDC, who focuses on particular person, couple, and household remedy, and dependancy counseling; Murphy Stansberry, a licensed substance abuse counselor; Kim Turner, LISW-S, Cornerstone of Hope Grief Help, a licensed EMDR therapist, with years of expertise offering care and disaster intervention to various populations; Warren Hastings, facilitator, Cornerstone of Hope Grief Help; and Dave and Cindy Gossard, facilitators for the PAL (Mother and father of Addicted Cherished Ones) Help Group.
Hope for Well being is presently open every Wednesday from 1 to eight p.m. Spaulding is obtainable to supply counseling classes every week. Stamsberry is presently accessible to supply substance abuse counseling one Wednesday every month. The Gossards are facilitating the PAL Help Group and Turner is facilitating the grief help group.
Estep mentioned the board of administrators hopes to capitalize on the present momentum of Hope for Well being with the purpose of constructing a bigger base of suppliers and companions for the clinic.
“We’re striving to create a properly rounded studying setting for future suppliers,” Estep mentioned. “We’re presently wanting into partnerships with native faculties and technical colleges to see how college students may be built-in inside the clinic.”
For details about Hope for Well being Counseling and Clinic, name 567-213-5090, or electronic mail data@hopeforhealthmarion.org. Data can be accessible on the web site hopeforhealthmarion.org and the Hope for Well being Counseling and Clinic Fb web page.
Electronic mail: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter
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