|
Through the years, LCI has published newsletters to keep our friends updated on the work of our ministry and the stories of the many volunteers who assist in our mission. These newsletters hold a treasure trove of inspiring stories so we share them with you here. We will highlight a particular story from time to time and we hope that you will look through these newletters for additional encouragement! |
||
| This story is taken from the December 2008 LCI News. If you’ve ever wondered whether counseling can truly help or change someone, surely you will be a believer after you read about the impact Dan Allender’s teaching had in Barbara Giuliano’s and Bill Clark’s lives, and how this impact continues to “pay it forward” in the lives of so many others. |
ArchivesDecember 2008 June 2008 December 2007 June 2007 December 2006 June 2006 December 2005 June 2005 November 2004 December 2003 |
|
LCI began with a relationship.A remarkable friendship that started in 1980 between Dan Allender, counselor, and his client, Barbara Giuliano. As God began healing Barbara, Dan saw a gift in her and began creating opportunities for her to use that gift by getting involved in the broken lives of others. Her reluctance gave way (as Dan continued to push!) when she began to see God stirring hope in the hearts of the hurting, through her own redeemed life. When Bill Clark began to oversee this process for Barbara, another friendship was forged and the vision of lay counseling began to come into focus. Through relationship and regeneration, LCI began and continues to grow.
LCI counselors and friends gathered on the afternoon of Oct 25, 2008, at McLean Presbyterian Church for a warm time of honor, celebration, and stories. Dan Allender was honored for his profound impact on our lives as a counselor, teacher, author, and Stories were shared by six LCI counselors impacted by Dan, Bill, and Barbara. Through the stories, we were able to glimpse the “trickle-down” effect in these second and third generations of LCI counselors, now entering the lives of others in “brokenness and boldness.” Daphne Rappaport was one of the six who shared her story. Daphne said, “I wanted to give Dan a picture of the ‘chain of healing’ that lay counseling put into motion in my life. To begin meeting with Barbara at such a crucial time in my life and to be given the gift of tender acceptance rather than judgment allowed me to seek God’s face and His healing. And, it now gives me the chance to join others in their journey and offer the tenderness of Christ.” Becky Allender, Dan’s wife, said, “To hear the stories of those transformed by LCI-trained counselors was an afternoon unlike any other. It was one of the highlights of my life and the words spoken will be held with honor and kindness forever.” The last 40 minutes of our time together was given to Dan to speak from his heart. He opened by telling us how God had begun his morning with the idea of “surrender.” His own choice to “surrender to honor” became a theme for others as Dan then turned to honor Dan also gave a very personal and loving tribute to his wife, Becky, as well as Debbie (Bill’s wife) and Lou (Barbara’s husband) for the price they pay as spouses of those involved in this kind of counseling ministry. One attendee said, “It was sweet and Dan also exhorted the LCI community to recognize that the “the church is starved for brokenness and boldness.” We are to walk into people’s lives with the gospel, having courage and taking risks, admitting our sin and failure to love. We are to be a community of delight”— delighting in one another and recognizing the Father’s delight in us. “Delight is foreign to most of our experiences of God,” he reminded us. “The absence of criticism is not the presence of His wild, sweet delight.” Barbara later reflected on our memorable afternoon together saying that it felt “God-touched.” It was amazing to watch how it all unfolded with creativity and warmth that could only be attributed to God. Martha Peterson, one of the six who shared, said “Everyone’s words blessed me and I left smiling and praising God.” She was not the only one. |
||
