Lynwood Baptist Church opens professional counseling center

In the last few years, pastors at Lynwood Baptist Church noticed a need for deeper counseling than pastoral care could provide. It led them to open Midwest Ministry Care Center as part of the church's Greater Things Vision.

The counseling ministry is affiliated with Lynwood Baptist but is a separate not-for-profit entity, said the Rev. Mark Anderson, senior pastor at Lynwood. The center, which began seeing clients last week, takes an integrated approach to counseling, meaning it uses both biblical principles and the best psychological theory, he said.

He said it is a fee-based program, and rates are consistent with other counseling practices in the area. The center will work with clients on the fees, and the center is open to anyone who needs professional counseling.

Kevin Coffee is the director of counseling for the Midwest Ministry Care Center and pastor of discipleship at Lynwood Baptist. Jason Van Zee is staff therapist. He graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., with a master of arts in marriage and family therapy and counseling.

"We wanted to provide an excellent resource for people … in our area. We felt there should be more opportunities in our area for people looking for Christian counseling," Coffee said. "In the everyday functioning of pastoring, you deal with people and their problems and try to help them see what God says. The biblical truth remains our base, but we also see value in some psychological theory that doesn't contradict biblical truth."

Anderson said Van Zee hasn't seen many clients, but the center is spreading the word to physicians, churches and those who make referrals that it's open.

The idea for the center was first discussed three years ago as part of the church's Greater Things Vision, but it's been "more intentional" in the last year and a half, Anderson said.

As the practice grows, he said, specialized staff may be added, such as a counselor for adolescents and another for chemical dependency.

Coffee said staff has been in place for about three weeks; after opening Oct. 1, "all in all, it's pretty favorable."

Anyone who would like to make an appointment at the center may call 334-3964.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 2935 Lynwood Hills Drive