Reflecting on 2010

By Gary Lemmon

UMCH President / CEO

     “Your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.”

     I would like to tell you a story.  Well, it is not actually a story since it really happened.  It goes something like this…

 

     In December 2009, I got a phone call from an individual who stated that he was the chairman of a local, private foundation and that they would like to give a donation to UMCH to help for counseling for abused children in our community who would not otherwise have money to pay for that service.

     Now I am not one to turn away a donation.  However, I finally stammered out to the gentleman that we didn’t have a counseling service that was open to community referrals.  I explained that we certainly provide counseling to abused youth that are in our Residential Program, Transitional Living Program, and Foster Care Program.  But, alas, abused kids that live at home in our community had to find outpatient counseling elsewhere.  I figured that I had just blown getting that donation.

 

     The next day a different member of that foundation board delivered to me a check for $2,500 to be used as needed.  I was stunned!  We do not get $2,500 donations just every day!  And we were having cash flow problems at that time.  I gratefully accepted the check and assured the man we would put it to very good use taking care of our kids.  But I had a nagging feeling that we should use that money in the way that the donors had originally wanted.  After all, they were Christian folks who had received a burden from the Lord.

     Fast forward three months to April 2010.  Under what I believe to be the leadership of the Holy Spirit and with the guidance of our Board of Directors, UMCH launched its outpatient counseling service with locations at our 27th Street facility and also in our new satellite office in Norris City.  And the $2,500 donation became our “seed money” so that we did not turn away any young person who had a need whether or not they were able to pay for their counseling.  In fact, from April through December, we served 97 clients!

 

     The Lord had provided for His ministry even before it existed or was even thought of!

     In late November 2010, I shared what the Lord had done with their donation with the entire foundation board of that group.  Like me, they gave God the glory.  But they also did something else.  They prayed and led by the Holy Spirit, on Dec.23 they gave an additional $10,000 gift to be used in our Community Connections ministry!  They said that they believed in what we are doing.

     I immediately thought of Phil. 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.

     Let me quote from the email Sarah Usery, Director of Community Based Services, sent me immediately after she received the check:  “I can’t stop crying…J  So overwhelmed.  What a blessing!”

     When I wrote a thank you note to the foundation, I told them that they had gone from being donors to becoming our partners.  And so I invite you to also become our partners.  Of course very few can give $10,000 gifts (although some can).  But we are also looking for individuals who will pray for our clients, staff, and programs.  We also need those who can volunteer their time to mentor our kids or to give whatever amount that the Lord lays on their heart.  At the time that I am writing this article, we are serving over 100 clients in our outpatient counseling program with more being added each month.  There is a tremendous need.  And to think, this time last year we did not even have this service.

    I can’t help but wonder what surprises the Lord has in store for us this next year!