Newsletters
December 2005 - Adobe Acrobat Format
Updates for 2005, 2006 and 2007
2005
What an amazing year!! We had the opportunity to experience a tremendous blessing from God. With everything that was taking place with my health and the ministry, the phrase that, "God is sovereign and good" truly came to life in 2005.
My Health: From the very beginning of the year, I had lost the ability to speak due to the "paralysis" of my vocal chord. Being a therapist, it made my job, just, a little difficult. But even with that taking place, God provided all that we needed to be able to minister to the hundreds of families who came to Pathway for help.
New Ministry: Even with the inability to speak, God laid it upon my heart and the heart of two very remarkable young men to create a new ministry called, Defender Ministries. Rev. David Staples, our "creative genius" as you will see from the web site and resources, and Rev. Jonathan Pearson (JP) a young man with a "heart for Christ", came together to create a ministry designed to minister to young people and families as they deal with the issues of Internet Pornography and sexual brokenness. You will be able to see more of the ministry at our web page: www.defenderministries.com
New Church based counseling offices: In the year, God blessed us with the opportunity to open counseling offices in other areas of Central Florida. In the South, we opened at First Baptist Kissimmee, in the South West, at First Baptist Windermere, and in the Northern part of Central Florida we were given the opportunity to minister at both Central Baptist and Westview Baptist in Sanford. What an honor to be able to work side by side with the Sr. Pastors and their staff in caring for the church family and surrounding community.
During the past year, we have had the opportunity to serve hundreds of individuals, families, and couples as they dealt with difficult issues in their lives. The problems we saw were; depression, anxiety, eating disorders, abuse, incest, pornography, adultery, separation, teenage pregnancy, ADD, and behavioral problems. What a blessing to be used of God to touch the lives of so many who are hurting. It is a joy to work with individuals and families who desire to make positive changes in their lives and families.
2006
God continued to bless the counseling ministry in 2006 in so many different areas.
Partnership with local Graduate Programs: Pathway became an "approved" internship site for both the University of Central Florida and Palm Beach Atlantic counseling programs. What this means is that Pathway now has an opportunity to work with and train professionals who love the Lord and who desire to learn how to blend clinical techniques with the Word of God. This relationship also allows us the freedom to select individuals with a strong testimony, of their love for Christ. Christian counselors who desire to impact the individuals, families, couples and adolescents who come to Pathway for help in dealing with the issues they are facing in their lives.
New Ministry: With the divorce rate hovering around 50%, a tremendous need has arisen, in providing professional Christian counseling, to the single-mom's and their children. In November 2006, we had a grand kick off for our new ministry called the Butterfly House. Beverly Knestrick is the Executive Director for this new ministry which serves the needs of Women and Children in the Central Florida area.. In August 2007 you will be able to look at the new web site as it is currently under construction. The site can be located at: www.thebutterflyhouse.org Until that time, you can read about the Butterfly House on this web site under the section called, "IN MOTION".
Caterpillar Corner: Just as the Butterfly House is designed to meet the counseling needs of the single-mom and women, the Caterpillar Corner is designed to work with the children and adolescents.. At the Caterpillar Corner, the therapists will use different forms of Play Therapy to educate, equip, and encourage the children to handle the situations of divorce, abandonment, and death of a loved one. Some of the therapeutic tools will be; sand, painting, drawing, clay, toys, puppets, and games to promote healing.
Some have asked, "Why design a counseling ministry which serves to meet the needs of women and children"? The answer is simple. One of the fastest growing populations in the U.S. is that of the "single-parent" household. The need to have a Christ centered counseling program which is designed to meet the needs of these individuals is vital.
New Church based counseling offices: Again, in the past year, God provided us with the opportunity to partner with several other churches. In Winter Springs, we are honored to work with Metro Community Church (formerly, Metro Church of Christ), and in Chuluota, we are providing counseling at River Run Christian Church, and at the Winter Park Church of the Brethren. What an honor to work with these fine church leaders and their church families.
2007
It looks as if 2007 will be one of the most rewarding years which we have ever experienced at Pathway.
New Church based counseling offices: With the year not even being halfway completed, God has opened the doors for the counseling ministry to begin serving Pastors and church families in Eustis, St. Cloud, and Melbourne. We are so excited to see God working and for Pastors to understand the importance of providing Christ centered counseling for their church families.
New Leadership: We are honored and blessed to have so many qualified professional Christian counselors associated with Pathway. To work with these fine individuals is a JOY! With my limited ability to continue providing counseling, God has allowed me to bring two other men on our staff who will begin taking on more responsibility with the ministry.
Rev. Tyler Shannon, joined the ministry after serving on a church staff in Chattanooga (Hixon), TN. Tyler is the administrator and Co-Director who will oversee the church relationships in the south/southwest area of Orlando, Kissimmee, and St. Cloud. Due to his relationship with Pastors in the Chattanooga area, Tyler is also working to assist Pathway in creating our Pastor's Retreat Center in Tennessee. You can read all about that area of ministry to the Pastors in the IN MOTION part of our web site.
Rev. Dale Ziglear will handle the administration and be the Co-Director in working with the churches in the north/northeast area of Orlando, along with Winter Springs and Chuluota. Due to Dale's relationship within the Christian Church denomination, Pathway has been given a very unique opportunity. Even though Pathway and River Run have been working together for the past few years, Senior Pastor Mike Andriano wants to "lead the effort" to create a counseling center to serve the Christian Churches throughout Central Florida.
With the support of Pastor Mike and the church family at River Run, Dale will be able to establish a counseling arm of Pathway in both the Orlando area and in Brevard County specifically ministering to the Pastors and the church families of the Christian Church denomination.
Since that time, Ron McKay, of Ministry Information Services, (321-415-2221) .