Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2010 Edition

 

From Mike’s Desk

Dear Friends,

             It is so great to look back and see the path that the Lord has set for us over these past few months. God has been so faithful and has provided direction and the resources needed to continue ministering to those in need.

             As I look back and reflect on our years in ministry, I remember not just the ways and the things that God has provided for us, but I do think of a lot on the people that He has lead us to get to know. God has done some wonderful things in those lives and both Ellen and I feel so blessed to be able to be involved and to witness God’s greatness in those lives. Through all that I am often reminded of Job 9:10 “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” We are so thankful to be able to see even just a small portion of those “wonders and miracles” that God performs in the lives of those who come into our office.

                              

                                  Mike

 

“Not Here To Judge…” by Ellen

Dear Friends,

             One of the first sentences I share with my couples or female clients is that I’m “not here to judge” I’m here for you. I believe what you say. No matter how dark your past has been, no matter what you have done, we begin there.

             A single lady will long to come into my arms, just saying a simple short sentence. She will cry and I hold her and sooth her by praying on her behalf to God. “Jesus can you just wrap your arms around her and tell her how precious she is”. Jesus always comforts.

My couples cry as well. Wanting desperately to have their pain touched by Jesus. Husbands and wife's long for each other and their eyes are hopeful and expectant what will come next.

Counseling is for me a daily privilege where I can invite Jesus into every point of pain in the life's of the hurting he sends my way. Daily I find myself in His presences, seeing faces transformed and hearts made whole from years of pain.

If the heart is open to Jesus and the people are willing to follow me He will meet them every time. If the heart is set against Christ  we find the issues connected to the blockage and  together we open  the path and HIS love can flow freely into the broken heart.

I could not imagine any kind of counseling except inviting Jesus into the “Heart”. Only Jesus can heal the wounds that have damaged the heart. As I receive letters of Thanks from my clients I know that it was not I, but Jesus alone who did the healing in the heart.

                                                        Ellen

 

“New Website”

               Reaching The Heart Ministries has launched a new website. All work was done by a young lady who is learning the craft of becoming a web-designer, and she has donated all of her expertise to creating our new website.

             What we thought would have been a very costly adventure to create a new and better website, became a low cost reality by this generous gift. Not only was the startup cost very low. This young lady has agreed to maintain our website free of charge.

Every quarter we post a new testimony on our website. These are real stories, real people who have come to freedom in our office. These folks have given us permission to post their stories for others to read and be encouraged to come to freedom from their issues. All names are changed to protect privacy.

Also a new addition on our website is that folks can now donate via credit card to support our non-profit ministry.

We hope you will stop by often and see what is new, because beginning in April we will add a new page entitled “Office News” to our web pages. This page will give you month to month happenings within the ministry, things to pray for and  general updates

 

2010 Directors Retreat

               For the second time we had the privilege of attending the annual Directors Retreat. This time our office was recognized as a full functioning counseling office and association partnership with the main office.

             During our week we had opportunity to meet with the other offices located in the U.S. and Canada. We share new ideas, pray together and encourage each other in our work. Friendships are formed and vital contacts are established while we are also refreshed in the Lord.

One highlight of this years conference was: We were given a pre-view to the new material that John Regier (Founder and Director of the Caring for the Heart offices) is presently working on. John has been working on this material especially designed to be used for pre-marital couples. This coming fall the counseling book will be completed.

This new resource will greatly assist us with our pre-marital couples to focus especially on their needs and as we identify the issues that keep them from fully giving their hearts to each other.

             Applying heart counseling before marriage is a risky step. The couple is asked to lay on the table all issues from the past. Nothing will be left in the closet. We have seen in our office when pre-marital couples are willing to follow us, their hearts will come together as non other. This honors Christ and a long term relationship on an emotional level is achieved.

Connected for a Lifetime

 

What A Wife said…

A wife shared in counseling that her mother told her that she was no good...I don’t want you...I don’t need you...when she was born the doctor informed the father that he had another girl...her father immediately left the room because he wanted a boy. She checked emotional pain words like: unwanted, unloved, uncared for, not cherished all at a level of 10 of pain. She lived the next 40+ years performing for others, but never able to love or receive love.

“Jesus my parents didn’t want me as a child. I was to be a boy but I was a girl. What did that do to my heart? Jesus, did You want me to be a girl? Do you love me? Do you care about those who never get love from their parents? How would You heal that pain in my heart? Can you open my heart so I can respond when my husband and others seek to care for my heart? How would I open my heart to feel love? How can I give love to my husband/children since I never received love? …………”

 

Note of Thanks…

             “ Thank you for your ministry and for the time you’ve spent counseling with me. I have been touched by your unconditional love, acceptance, and grace. I am very thankful that the Lord put you in my life….May God abundantly bless you! You have an amazing ministry…”

 

Our Family

              It took  5 years for all of us to be together as one family. When the children grow up and live their separate lives it sure gets tough corralling them all together into one space.

             Cassandra (on far left) will be leaving for Montana to begin her schooling with Job Corps. She will be trained in Business and Dental. Christopher (next to her) is still in the Army and will begin his 3rd tour oversees. His first two deployments have been in Iraq and his next will be in Afghanistan. His duty’s will be to dispose bombs. Our son in law Chris (next to our son Christopher) has been a real blessing to us. He loves the Lord and in spite of the economy keeps his Construction business running. Joy, our older daughter (to her husbands right) is working full time at a Doctors office and she is a wonderful mother to our Grandson, Christopher. The youngest member of our family. Little Chris as we call him is already 4yrs. old, smart as a button and cute as can be. We only wish we would live closer together.

             Mom and Dad complete the picture, getting older, but counting their many blessings. Our family is one of these blessings and we praise God for our 3 children, our son-in law and grand-son.   

 

Another Note from the Heart:

             I would like to thank you much for your work. I believe you have allowed the Holy Spirit to work through you with us in a special way. We both believe we’ve been helped by relieving a great amount of pain. May God bless you and your family and ministry in every way. We love you in Christ…...

 

Needed for the office:

 

Copy machine…..cost $ 3,000

1 Safe…………....cost $ 150.00

1 office chair….cost about $ 100.00

1 piece of Furniture for our sound system….cost about $ 150.00

Thank you for considering helping with these items.

 

Reaching The Heart Schedule

 

March  2010: Made contact with 1 local church for the possibility to present a Seminar on the “Emotionally Damaged Heart” for youth and Adults.

 

April 13-19 2010 Travel to Arizona for 1 week to follow up on an office that was offered free of charge to our ministry to set up an office in Arizona.  We continue praying and seeking God concerning our possible move of the office to Arizona.

 

October 2010 Attend the first annual Caring for the Heart conference in Colorado Springs. This five day conference is designed to provide re- sources to counselors, pastors and lay people. Directors of CFTH offices (that includes Reaching The Heart Ministries) will actively participate in workshops throughout the week . During this conference the new Pre-martial material will be filmed and made available to all counselors.

 

Status of Reaching The Heart Ministries

            

             Many of you have asked about our financial situation at R.T.H.M. We deeply appreciate your commitment to faithfully pray and share in this ministry. God has led, blessed and provided through many of you.

               Would you continue praying for our financial needs of our office? If you are led to share to assist us, we will be very grateful. Thanks in advance for your prayers and gifts. If God has put the desire on your heart to partner with us, you may return your contribution in the envelope provided or give on-line at our website. All gifts are tax deductible.  Feel free to call the office if you would like any information regarding our financial status.

We remain committed to provide counseling and caring for the emotional and spiritual needs of others. R.T.H.M. is a 501 (c ) (3) non-profit and is supported by contributions of those burdened for this ministry.