Something to Celebrate! Healing Bridges Opens

Friends,

We have been praying, discerning, collaborating, and working toward the vision of a community Counseling Center for the greater Clemson area since 2019. That dream is a reality as of July 1! God has provided. Through a partnership with Greenville Counseling Group, a qualified, licensed director and counselor have begun work. Healing Bridges has two offices: one at the Clemson Free Medical Clinic, and another at Clemson United Methodist. Mental healthcare will be accessible and affordable. For more information, go to their website: https://www.healingbridgescounselingcenter.org/.

Counseling has been a tool in our family toolbox for many years. As a family member and a pastor, counseling has helped me clarify, heal, and be challenged to grow, so that I can be fully who God created me to be. With the sudden loss of family to suicide, a counselor helped me heal from trauma and grief. In times of crisis or anxiety, Chuck and I sought the help of counselors to make us better parents to our children. Our personal involvement helped us see the need for our own community. Not everyone has the tools to seek help. Many cannot drive 45 minutes away during a workday to make appointments. Some cannot afford the cost. Healing Bridges will fill that gap.

When our Session asked the question, “What does our community need and how can we serve?” we remembered our history of being a place of healing with a Pastoral Counseling office. We knew we had members with skills and expertise to bear. With the help of medical mission funds, Mission Endowment funds, and invested churches this community effort has resulted in a partnership. This faith-based community center welcomes all wherever they are on the journey, so that they might experience new life and hope!

Christ offers us a healing bridge. He crossed heaven to be present on earth to show us healing, mercy, and love. He also showed us how to serve. Thank you to all the faithful servants over the years who have invested in this mission. Thank you to those Fort Hill disciples serving on the Board now: Hack Trammell, Chair, Robert Miles, and Stacey Miller.

In Christ’s Care,

Laura Conrad, Pastor