How May I Help You?
Text of the following article is printed in a small brochure and used as a hand-out for people outside the church who come to me for counsel. Its purpose is to set expectations for the person making the request, and clarify my position as a Christian minister. You may use it if it will benefit your ministry.
Life is full of problems that challenge us for solution. Some of these are small and relatively easy to solve. Others can take on life-dominating proportions. During a difficult time it can be very helpful to have someone to talk to and give advice.
I'm sure that your problems are very real. I appreciate your confidence in coming to me for help. I do have limited resources and time, yet I would like to help as many people as I can. I find it very useful to explain my position and the source of help I can offer from the beginning. With that intent, I present the following information to help you decide if you wish to come to me for counsel.
I. As a Christian minister, my firm belief is that many of the problems we face are related to intentionally or unintentionally living our lives away from the guidance of the One who created us. I speak of the Creator of the universe, God. Understanding this, we must bring ourselves back into His guidance or we will continue to frustrated with problems that defy solution. Please understand that I will seek this guidance for you if you decide to come to me for help.
II. I believe that God has communicated with humanity through the book we call the Bible. I believe the Bible is the word of God and that it holds the practical solutions we need to live life successfully. It is my firm conviction that the truth contained in the pages of the Bible is far superior to any psychological or philosophic belief system man has created. This conviction guides my practice and my counsel. I will, therefore, use the Bible, not psychotherapy, in any sessions we have.
III. I believe that nearly 2000 years ago a man walked the earth who came to give us an understanding of God that was never before fully given - nor has never since been as fully given. That man was Jesus Christ. He was, as he claimed, the only begotten Son of God. He told us and showed us what God is like. I live my life according to His teachings and believe others should do the same. I will stress the practicality of these teachings as they relate to your life in our counseling sessions.
IV. I believe the foundational issue of our being is our relationship with God. To come to Him is to find the answers that have eluded us. To depart from Him is to go into darkness and misunderstanding. Know that in the course of any time we spend together, you will be asked about your relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have never understood what this is about or how it relates to life where you live, I will do my best to explain it to you in a tactful, non-embarrassing manner.
If you find any of the above statements unacceptable to your belief system or your intentions or are not interested in considering their validity, please understand that I probably cannot help you. If such is the case, I kindly suggest you seek other guidance. I feel that being open with these things will save your time and mine should we be unable to establish a compatible counseling relationship.
It is possible that you may not be opposed to any of the above items, but may be understandably cautious about such an approach to your problems. If that is the case, I suggest that we have one session together and you make your evaluation on the outcome. I will not push you to accept anything you are unwilling to receive.
If, after considering these things, you are interested in further help, I will be glad to offer it as my time and resources allow. There is no charge for the service. I receive my living from the local church where I serve as a minister. If you wish to help defray the cost of my salary, you may direct a gift to that source.
Sincerely,
Dave Redick
Dave Redick is the Pulpit Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon. He may be reached at dave@preacherstudy.com .