Monthly archive: December 2014

CHATTANOOGA, TN – (December 8, 2014)

 On Saturday, December 6, a group of Richmont Graduate University staff members and Henegar/CBI therapists participated in Chattanooga’s MainX24 Adult Big Wheel Championship. The race, which benefitted the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County (CAHSE), consisted of an adult-sized tricycle race.

 “We loved getting to participate in a fun and unique event that showcases Chattanooga’s Main Street community,” said Richmont Admissions Counselor, Tom Sanders.

 The MAINx24 event runs 24 hours and features a parade, several races, and an open house with small businesses. The event is growing in popularity as funds raised are in support of the Center’s work serving children who have been physically and sexually abused though and helping them therapeutically.

 “The best thing about the big wheel event is that you get to be kids again for the sake of benefiting kids,” said Ed Doreau, a therapist at Richmont’s Henegar/CBI Counseling Center. “You race a goofy and cumbersome big wheel around a track all while laughing and cheering each other on. The best part is that the event helps kids who need to get back in touch with their own childhood because they have lost some of it to trauma. It’s a beautiful and simple example of redemption in action.”

 The team of four Richmont racers and one organizer had a fantastic experience and are already looking forward to competing again next year!

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ATLANTA, GA – (December 3, 2014)

Dr. D. Jason Hayes, Assistant Clinical Professor of Counseling at Richmont, along with master’s student and Pastor, DeVon Mills, are collaborating to create “Ministry and the Mind.”  Intended to act as a parachurch ministry, Ministry and the Mind will educate and equip pastors and lay-leaders to better assist congregants struggling with mental health issues, addictions, and other life events that necessitate pastoral counseling. This also includes helping pastors know when they should consider, and how to go about, making a referral to a professional counselor.

“Today, like never before, pastors are facing complex emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs in their congregations,” said Dr. Hayes. “The goal of Ministry and the Mind is to equip pastors to know how to best meet these multifaceted issues.”

The two will offer their first training workshop, Effective Pastoral Counseling in a Defective World, on Saturday, February 21, 2015. The workshop will cover topics such as “Who Comes to Church?” which examines the prevalence of mental illness, addictions, and survivors of childhood abuse in the general population and what that looks like in a local congregation.

Similarly, Dr. Hayes’ session on the Millennial Generation will address issues unique to working with this population. Regarding the Millennial Generation, the Pew Research Foundation states, “They are more ethnically and racially diverse than older adults. They’re less religious, less likely to have served in the military, and are on track to become the most educated generation in American history.”

Other topics to be discussed during February’s workshop include an introduction to basic counseling skills, what authentic relationships look like in regard to counseling, and a question and answer session. The workshop will also be recorded and DVDs will be available for purchase shortly after.

 “The composition of the church has shifted dramatically over the past few years,” said Pastor Mills. “Dr. Hayes and I feel it is imperative that the local pastor be as educated and well equipped as possible in order to address the myriad problems affecting those who attend their churches.”

The workshop will begin at 9:00a .m. and end at 2:00 p.m. Registration is $50.00 per person and includes lunch. To register, read details and download directions for the February 21 training visit: http://ministryandthemind.com.

We have a day dedicated to giving thanks and today, Giving Tuesday, is a day for giving back.

Richmont Graduate University is joining with charities, families, businesses, and students around the world to dedicate today to celebrating generosity and giving back. Would you join us by making a special gift to Richmont?

The community we enjoy at Richmont isn’t accidental – it’s intentional and effective. The Lord has faithfully guided our administrative steps, spoken through our faculty, and encouraged our students as they answered His call on their life. We are humbled and grateful for His many blessings.

In turn, we are committed to “giving back” to the communities where we have campuses. We do this by professionally training students as counselors and ministers while also hosting a network of counseling centers that provide an average of 24,000 counseling sessions every 12 months. Our students and professors also continue to receive national recognition through their test scores, research initiatives, publications, and conference presentations.

Your gift this Giving Tuesday will create financial margin that allows our mission to continue to thrive.

This fall, because a friend of the university has generously contributed the final $200,000, we are now $500,000 away from finishing our $2.1 million goal of transitioning the Atlanta campus to its new location. While this relocation budget is in addition to our daily operating costs we are looking forward to having a permanent home in Atlanta like the faculty, staff and students enjoy in Chattanooga. For alumni who support the university this winter, your gifts will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to a $10,000 matching grant from the Alumni Advisory Council.

Your gift matters to us! As millions around the globe participate in Giving Tuesday would you consider joining them by giving to Richmont? You can give online now via Richmont’s web site. After you do, share it with your friends via #GivingTuesday.

We continue to have wonderful opportunities to advance God’s work of healing, restoration and transformation in the lives of individuals, churches and communities. Thank you in advance for giving generously to support what the Lord is doing through Richmont.