Statements
Mission
Encouragement Ministries, Inc. is a Christian ministry committed to support and encourage individuals and their families as they deal with a crisis. Originally formed as a hospital ministry focusing on patients and their families, we maintain our commitment to serve patients in a medical crisis. Through the years, we have had the opportunity to work in crisis situations outside a hospital environment. Our goal is to serve with compassion as a need arises and to encourage people as they discover and rely upon their deep spiritual resources in Christ for dealing with a crisis.
Background
In 1990, Encouragement Ministries was formed. During the first ten years, the ministry was under the oversight of a local church. In 2001, Encouragement Ministries incorporated as a non-sectarian, nonprofit charitable organization governed by a Board of Directors and by-laws. We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Individuals referred to Encouragement Ministries are seen on a regular basis. As we deal with people in crisis our work relies on the spiritual practices of compassionate listening, meditation on scripture, prayer, and counsel. Russ Corley founded Encouragement Ministries. He received his PhD from Ohio State University in Communication. This theoretical perspective permeates our approach to Christian ministry. We believe that people need to be heard and deeply understood. Their personal beliefs provide a starting point that determines how our relationship unfolds. That relationship creates a unique dialogue about then meaning of their faith as a crisis unfolds and resolves. In that relationship, we explore important questions, issues, emotions, and decision-making in ways that respect the person's personal beliefs. Our ministry is Christian in its orientation and is communication driven?listening creates common ground and generates a dialogic exploration of what it is to trust God when everyday life is challenged by an unexpected crisis. Pat Ward received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Lipscomb University. She taught in public schools for three years prior to joining Otter Creek Kindergarten and Preschool. After teaching there for five years, she was named director of the program. She remained in that position for thirty-four years. Through many years she worked with children and with their parents. As those families experienced tough situations and difficult questions, Pat's loving presence and wise counsel became a ministry. For eleven years she worked for Encouragement Ministries part-time during the summers. As her sense of calling to ministry deepened, she joined the Encouragement Ministries full-time in 2017 and expanded our outreach to families and women in crisis.
Impact
Daily, Encouragement Ministries works with patients and their families often in a hospital context to help them cope with the emotional and spiritual challenges of an illness, an accident, death, or a similar circumstance. Since Pat Ward has joined us, we are increasingly involved with individuals and families outside of hospitals. Two significant goals for the current year: 1. Maintain our level of service to people through daily face-to-face interactions in the development of personal relationships. 2. Broaden the donor base and exposure of the ministry as Pat continues her outreach to women's groups at multiple churches and her work in training others how to encourage in their own community circles. Two most significant accomplishments of the past year: 1. Our efforts at quality pastoral care including situations inside and outside the hospitals. 2. Our expanded our efforts to serve as an educational/training resource for churches and church leaders.
Needs
Encouragement Ministries provides care and counseling to families in need, whether that's a medical, physical or emotional need. Our greatest need this year and in coming years will be the expansion of the ministry beyond the current staff and the current geographic area. As fewer churches provide pastoral care, it is imperative that the needs of struggling people be met outside of the organized church. Encouragement Ministries strives to fill that void. We can only do that through the generosity of our supporters. There is no charge for our services to the patient or families.
CEO Statement
Encouragement Ministries began in 1990. During the 14 years before that, I worked as a minister for two churches. I came to the realization that one of my great passions was working with patients on an interpersonal basis as they dealt with a hospital crisis (i.e. illness, accident, life support issues, conflict resolution, decisions about treatment and death, etc.). Hospitals are often intimidating and dehumanizing places that generate fear, anxiety, and stress. We strive to be a compassionate Christian presence in that situation. Our model is the ministry of Jesus to suffering individuals. We find his spiritual teachings on love, forgiveness, trust, etc. as important and relevant for people dealing with a hospital crisis. My PhD is in Communication. We combine a communication perspective with our commitment to relationships: We believe that a supportive and empathetic relationship unfolds and develops over time as we listen, understand, explore issues, prove to be a trustworthy friend, share relevant scriptures, and pray with a patient. Our approach is qualitative, not quantitative. We work by referral and we work methodically, trying to know the patient as a person and to encourage family and friends as they provide support and deal with their own stress. Our desire is that a patient experiences being supported and loved in the name of Christ. We do not charge patients for our services. Our work is supported by those who believe in the value of what we do. We believe that listening to our patients is the key to knowing what they need from us. Being heard is often one of the first steps to healing. We provide support in all types of crisis being called by 2 Corinthians 1:3-5: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we ourselves have received from God." Russ also serves as the Senior Minister at Madison Church of Christ. That work has opened opportunities to speak in various contexts about churches in crisis, pastoral care, and spiritual formation.
Board Chair Statement
Encouragement Ministries is a unique, intensive, interpersonal Christian ministry focused on the need for personal, face-to-face relationships in a world of social media. The board has eight members. Our website has increased our visibility within the social network community and given us new media outlets in which to increase our effectiveness in the market. We hope to further our visibility via more social media outlets to reach a younger demographic.
Service Categories |
|
| Primary Category: | Human Services - Family Counseling |
| Secondary Category: | Religion- Related - Christianity |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Nashville hospitals with a focus on Vanderbilt, St. Thomas West, St. Thomas Midtown, Centennial, Southern Hills, Skyline. and Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, TN. Working with families in the Nashville area when they are dealing with medical, physical, family and emotional crises.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Williamson |
