By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA – The ministry can take its toll on a pastor and his family, leading in some cases to harmful addictions, isolation, separation from a spouse or termination from a church. But those results don’t have to happen, thanks to counseling sessions provided through Cooperative Program gifts and a partnership with Louisiana Baptists’ Pastoral Leadership Team and Granberry Counseling Centers.
Through this partnership, up to 10 visits to a Granberry Christian counselor are provided at no cost to senior pastors, church staff members or family members. Through late July, about 45 pastors, staff members or family members had seen a counselor through the service; 84 were seen in all of 2013.
Bill Robertson, director of the pastoral leadership team, said he has had numerous conversations with ministers whose marriages and ministries were saved through this counseling ministry.
“Granberry provides biblically-based Christian counseling for our people,” Robertson said. “One of the biggest differences is, in the world, they don’t start with a biblical perspective of truth and what it should be. The Bible is the Christian counselor’s guidebook and we prefer their mindset,” he said. “Christian counselors are equipped to handle spiritual issues.”
Started in 2003, the partnership with the Granberry Counseling ministry for Louisiana Baptist pastors and their dependents utilizes counselors in seven associational offices, three churches and the campus of Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe. Granberry Counseling Centers started in 1996 through a generous gift to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries, which operates the ministry.
In addition to the counseling ministry to pastors and their dependents, Granberry also offers group seminars for such issues as marriage, conflict resolution, parenting skills, divorce recovery, grief process and caregiver stress. Other counseling services include pre-marital, marital, financial, anger management and traumatic life experiences.
Kathy Eichelberger, director of the Granberry Counseling Centers since July 2009, said that all of their counselors are licensed, with the exception of one who is currently working towards licensure. Some are dually licensed as licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. The Granberry counselors represent a total of 91 years of counseling experience. She added that most of the counselors have training from a Southern Baptist seminary or Christian college and some have also served in a ministerial role.
“Since many of our counselors have theological training and prior ministry experience, they are going to better understand some of the unique challenges that come with being in a minister’s family,” Eichelberger said.
“Counselors serving at each of our locations have a real heart for families to be healthy in every way – mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically,” Eichelberger said. “They have a sense of calling to what they are doing – it’s not just a career. They are answering God’s call to care through their counseling ministry.”
Robertson understands first-hand the importance of receiving help through a counseling ministry. When he was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Monroe, his teenage daughter was killed unexpectedly. He said the outpouring of support from those who counseled him was a godsend.
Just like he received help from a godly person to cope with a traumatic experience, ministers should know the counseling through Granberry is a confidential way for someone to help them overcome a struggle.
“Going for counseling is like going to a surgeon or a family doctor for an issue,” Robertson said. “It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a vital ministry to help ministers find their way again.” “Guys need encouragement,” he continued. “They need building blocks to come back to ministry and face the ministry again.”
Shepherd’s Rest ministry
While counseling sessions offer a pastor one-on-one help, another tool offered to pastors by the pastoral leadership team is Shepherd’s Rest.
Launched in November 2009, Shepherd’s Rest provides necessary resources for a pastor to take a sabbatical for one month with an assurance that his congregation will have pastoral oversight in his absence. Since the program started, 30 pastors have participated.
While the pastor is away from his church during that month, the pastoral leadership team enlists a sabbatical pastor to preach and provide leadership. The church commits to pray for their pastor and provide him full compensation during the interim period. The pastor, who must have been serving at the church for at least three years, commits to pursuing personal revitalization during his time away.
Robertson said many times Shepherd’s Rest helps pastors gain a new perspective on ministry.
“The Shepherd’s Rest is a snap shot of what cooperative missions mean,” Robertson said. “The fact that our churches support the Cooperative Program, we are able to offer the program at no cost. When churches participate and support CP, we are able to help other pastors.”
For more information about Granberry services or Shepherd’s Rest, call Robertson at 800.622.6549. The Granberry main office can be reached at 877.345.7411. All telephone calls and email inquiries remain confidential. Granberry does not report the names of those who seek counseling through the partnership with the Pastoral Leadership Team.