Our Purpose, Mission, Vision, Values, and Beliefs

Our Purpose

Growing and Healing Ministries exists to "help Christians grow and heal, and become more like Jesus Christ... in their character, and in their impact on the world."

Our Vision

A Christian community that is strong, healthy. and healed; and growing toward God's purposes in their life.

Our Motto: "It's never too late to grow. It's never too late to heal."

Our Mission

• To use a variety of innovative means and methods to connect with people.
• To produce written, audio, and video resources that are easy to understand, reach people where they're at, and help change their life for the better.
• To conduct workshops and seminars, and engage in preaching and teaching activities that foster the awareness of our vision, and impact the direction of the attendees' life.

Our Values

• To follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in all things.
• To carefully apply sound Biblical principles to difficult and painful life situations.
• To cooperate with God in his passion to see us become more like Christ in this world.
• To bring glory to God in all we say and do, and through the changed lives of our clients.
• To communicate simply, honestly, directly, authentically, and impactfully.
• To have loving compassion for Christians who are in pain or experiencing difficulty.
• To respect our client's responsibility to make their own life decisions, and experience their own consequences, without coercion.
• To work in unity with churches and pastors, as well as with other counseling and coaching organizations.

What we Believe

• We believe there is one God, and that he is revealed in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
• We believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son, who provided an example of how to live in this world, and who also made it possible for us to have an unhindered relationship with God.
• We believe that God cares about us, and hurts when we hurt.
• We believe that God has created us to live in community, one with another, and not as "lone ranger Christians."
• We believe that emotions are a gift from God that tell us what we need to pay attention to. Feelings themself are not a sin, although it is possible to sin as a result of the feelings.
• We believe that inner change of our character takes time and relationship, and that God expects progress, not perfection.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit is in charge of our growing and healing process. We, as professionals, only try to enhance what he is doing. We do not replace him, stand in his way, or detract from his work.

Affiliates

These are Christian Counselors and Coaches that we trust.

Peggi Wegener: Peggi practices at Mandarin Christian Counseling Center, a group private practice of Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselors who are committed to integrating our Christian faith into the counseling process. We are respectful of the diversity within the Christian community and will be sensitive to how each individual and family will want their faith brought into the session. We provide individual, couple and family therapy to address a wide range of issues. Please see our website for details. http://www.jaxchristiancounseling.com/


The Onesimus Connection: Counseling center founded by Bill Nichols who specializes in Anger and Sexual Addiction. http://www.theonesimusconnection.com/

Carol Meade: Carol is a Life Coach specializing in heart issues. Carol's practical perspective and intuitive insight help you find ways to apply God's Word in your everyday struggles. Carol's clients say she is "a soft place to land in a harsh world". Her passion is to use kindness to escort your soul in it's brokenness to find freedom, fullness, and an upward-bound intentionality. carol@carolmeade.com

Bill Shea: A Life Coach who specializes in sexual integrity and marriage issues. (509) 669-6959 NextStepLifeCoach@gmail.com

Christian Counseling Services: Julie Davis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides direct, growth-oriented, productive therapy for Individuals, couples, teenagers by phone, email or face to face. She specializes in disordered eating and women's issues. http://www.juliedavismft.com/


Oasis Counseling Services: Founded by Bill Taylor,M.A., M.Div., this agency offers counseling services to adolescents and adults, individuals and couples regarding relationship, addiction, & sexual issues from a distincitively Christian perspective. Real Lives...Real Change...Real Hope! http://www.OasisCounseling.us/

What is "Christian" Counseling

Christian Counseling can dramatically help you grow, heal, and become more like Christ.

A Christian Counselor is one who:

• Has love and compassion for you and your struggles.
• Is gifted by God with such gifts as knowledge, wisdom, discernment, and mercy.
• Believes in and practices the power of prayer.
• Believes in and relies on the leading, comforting, and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
• Acknowledges and utilizes the truth of God's word.
• Is more concerned about the shape of your heart and the content of your character than with any particular behavior or decision.
• Cooperates with God's main goal... helping you become more like Jesus.
• Encourages the timid, warns the lazy, helps and supports the weak, and is patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
• Has an active and intimate relationship with God, and gets help for their own issues as needed.

We were not designed to be "lone ranger Christians." We need each other, and all the gifts that are available in the body of Christ.

As Christian Counselors we believe that the primary place that most ministry happens is in the local congreation. However, at times, the needs may be so pressing, or the resources so scarce, that enlisting the help of someone who is especially skilled and available is the best option.

If we were to use medical terms we could consider the church to be akin to a "Family Practice Doctor." Professional Christian Counselors would fit more in the role of:

• Urgent Care Center
• Emergency Room
• Hospital
• Rehabilitation Center
• Specialist

They are all needed. One is not more important than the other. There is a time and season for them all.

Is this your season for a Christian Counselor?

Our Purpose, Mission, Vision, Values, and Beliefs

Our Purpose

Growing and Healing Ministries exists to "help Christians grow and heal, and become more like Jesus Christ... in their character, and in their impact on the world."

Our Vision

A Christian community that is strong, healthy. and healed; and growing toward God's purposes in their life.

Our Motto: "It's never too late to grow. It's never too late to heal."

Our Mission

• To use a variety of innovative means and methods to connect with people.
• To produce written, audio, and video resources that are easy to understand, reach people where they're at, and help change their life for the better.
• To conduct workshops and seminars, and engage in preaching and teaching activities that foster the awareness of our vision, and impact the direction of the attendees' life.

Our Values

• To follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in all things.
• To carefully apply sound Biblical principles to difficult and painful life situations.
• To cooperate with God in his passion to see us become more like Christ in this world.
• To bring glory to God in all we say and do, and through the changed lives of our clients.
• To communicate simply, honestly, directly, authentically, and impactfully.
• To have loving compassion for Christians who are in pain or experiencing difficulty.
• To respect our client's responsibility to make their own life decisions, and experience their own consequences, without coercion.
• To work in unity with churches and pastors, as well as with other counseling and coaching organizations.

What we Believe

• We believe there is one God, and that he is revealed in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
• We believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son, who provided an example of how to live in this world, and who also made it possible for us to have an unhindered relationship with God.
• We believe that God cares about us, and hurts when we hurt.
• We believe that God has created us to live in community, one with another, and not as "lone ranger Christians."
• We believe that emotions are a gift from God that tell us what we need to pay attention to. Feelings themself are not a sin, although it is possible to sin as a result of the feelings.
• We believe that inner change of our character takes time and relationship, and that God expects progress, not perfection.
• We believe that the Holy Spirit is in charge of our growing and healing process. We, as professionals, only try to enhance what he is doing. We do not replace him, stand in his way, or detract from his work.

Coach Doug's Bio

Doug was born in Syracuse, New York, and has also lived in Boston, Canada, France, and currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. He is 48.

Doug has a Master’s degree in Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as Bachelor's degrees from Houghton College and Bethany Bible College in Psychology, Religion, Education, and French. He is currently earning a PhRD in Christian Counseling at Logos Christian College and Graduate Schools.

He was a pastor in the Wesleyan Church for several years and worked for New Life Ministries for over seven years. Steve Arterburn proclaimed him, "One of the best coaches we've ever had." He made a CD about Life Coaching with Steve that you may listen to here.

Clients affirm his wisdom, compassion, acceptance, spirituality, and transparency... as well as his direct, gentle style. He combines the knowledge of a professor, the insight of a therapist, the effectiveness of a coach, the wisdom of an elder, and the heart of a pastor.

He specializes in counseling those who are weak, insecure, hurting, and in difficult marriage relationships. He also specializes in Coaching Pastors and Ministry Executives.

He is an active father of 3 children: Justin is 19, Olivia is 16, and Rebecca is 13. He is a member of Christ's Church and an active participant in Celebrate Recovery.

His email is doug@growingandhealingministries.com.