Over the past six months, The Ridge has been laying the groundwork to launch counseling services for people in our communities. The need for mental health care is huge. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness. And, according to the "Mental Health Matters" Bartholomew Co. initiative, 24.4 adults out of 100 experience fair or poor mental health. 22.5 children ages 5-17 experience fair or poor mental health. 

As we have talked with local care providers like Love Chapel in Columbus, Bread of Life in Greensburg, and Good Samaritan in North Vernon, mental health came up as a huge need so consistently it gave us pause. How can we be a part of meeting this need to help people right where they are, and show them the love of Jesus? 

Recently, we've launched some opportunities for care groups like Reboot Recovery and Celebrate Recovery. The Ridge is also looking to start offering both one-on-one and group counseling in our local communities in the very near future. I’m happy to say that we are well on our way to being able to begin these opportunities, and I know you've been praying, too! 

Know that we are proactively partnering with other non-profits and organizations so we can come together and engage in the current mental health needs. Physical needs, spiritual needs, and mental/emotional needs are all intertwined, and I believe we need to cultivate healthy relationships with other people who are looking to do similar work in the area of mental health. 

Today, we are beginning our search for someone to fill our Director of Counseling role. This will be a part-time position to start with the potential to pick up more hours as our clientele and referrals expand. I’d love to find someone who is known to us or other Ridgers. Do you know someone who might be interested in applying for this position? Check out the job description here. 

Keep praying for God to guide this vision to do whatever it takes to reach our community for Christ, and if you have any questions about how you can be a part of what is happening, let us know!

Whatever it takes,
Adam