In
2001 SMUMC launched a group called "Mile Twenty" - a team of
people who would commit themselves to study and preparation for a
ministry of lay counseling and caring. Pastor Mark named the group after
his own experience of having run his first marathon, and discovering
that while the crowds are wonderfully supportive throughout the first
half of the race, they thin out by the time you get to mile 20.
And ironically, when you're running a marathon, it's at mile 20 that you
need the most support and encouragement.
It's
often that way in life. When you're at mile 20 in your life and
you need the most support and encouragement, it's often hard to
find. Illness, grief, separation, loss, loneliness, anxiety,
spiritual crises - these are all expressions of mile 20; they are also
most painful when you go through them alone.
We
wanted to change that, and we wanted to empower leaders to make a
difference in the lives of people who are at mile 20 in their
journeys. Jesus did this with his disciples. He called them,
trained them, and sent them out into the world to do ministry. He
couldn't do it all by himself; the needs were too great, and his vision
too large. He needed a team.
The
members of Mile 20 have met for study, prayer, discussion, and
support. Pastor Mark has trained this group of people in the key
areas of listening, praying, problem solving, skilled helping,
presence, counseling and intervention. They each have over 25
hours of training behind them, and they are now ready to be deployed for
service in Christ's name.
They
each have unique gifts and graces for this ministry. Some bring a
vocational background to this ministry as doctor, nurses, social workers
and licensed counselors; other bring the wisdom of experience and their
natural giftedness in compassion and mercy. But they all bring one
quality in common to this ministry: a sense of calling to the needs and
hurts of people.
Dave Beadles
- Pastoral Care
- Terminally Ill
- Hospice Care
|
Judy Beadles
- Relationships
- Separation
- Divorce
- Grief & Loss
- Adoption Issues |
| |
Lynelle Crane
- Hospice
- Grief & Loss |
Cindy Dunard
- Elderly
- Pregnancy Issues
- Small Children |
|
Barbara Gavin
- Hospice
- AIDS
- Homes
- Alcohol & Drug
Addictions
- Multiple ???
- Teenage Issues |
Ron Simpson
- Addiction/ Anorexia
- Elderly Issues
- Death Issues
- Family Relationships
- Adoption Issues |
|
Dave Scharp
- Medical & Surgical
- Death & Dying
- Grief Reaction
- Divorce & Separation
- Hospice |
Shannon Elliot
- Tough love on addiction
issues
- Elderly Issues
- Situational Issues |
|
Susan Patcha
- General Support
- Sick Children (Babies)
|
|
