I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel …, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:4-7)
These were the words of the Apostle Paul as he expressed his appreciation for the ways that others had supported his ministry. I am mindful of these same words when I think about the many supporters who are faithful to give, pray, promote, and participate in the work of The Joy House Counseling Center. From the beginning of this ministry we have been committed to providing quality Christian counseling without regard to ability to pay. A long list of faithful individuals and churches (of various denominational and non-denominational persuasions) contribute to make this ministry an important lifeline to so many people (over 250 people in 2018). The leaders and Pastors of area churches remain our main source of referrals and it is indeed an honor to serve them, their church members, and members of their communities.
I am often unsure whether or not to mention the names of these churches and pastors publicly out of concern for anonymity and my commitment to confidentiality. I do, however, wish to publicly say, “THANK YOU” to the participating churches and the staff of North Central Area Missions (NCAM). NCAM is a missions-based organization that exists primarily to serve the needs of many of the Baptist churches in Cherokee, Forsyth, Pickens, Dawson, and North Fulton counties. The reach of NCAM, however, reaches far beyond those parameters through work not only in our communities but in other nations as well.
Since 2009 I have been blessed with use of the NCAM facility in Woodstock as a satellite office for the convenience of those I serve south of the Jasper area. When I joined the Joy House team I was graciously allowed to carry that partnership forward to form what has become a productive working relationship between NCAM and The Joy House Counseling ministry.
The NCAM staff (Director, Alan Morris and Assistants, Janice Densmore and Ramona Lively) faithfully provide a welcoming atmosphere, a hug, a kind word and even a cup of coffee to the those we serve. They go above and beyond to show love, compassion, and warmth to those who come through my doors. I am deeply grateful for their partnership in the ministry. I am also confident that He who began a good work will continue that work so the needs of individuals, marriages, and families will be met through Christ-honoring counseling.
THANK YOU NCAM!
You’re the best,
Garry Barber,
To learn more about NCAM visit https://www.northcentralga.org/
