The story of the African Counseling Center begins with African pastors who gave sacrificially to support one of their own in a year of study in the US, so that he could return home and share what he learned with them.
GRACE AT WORK
What difference can one person make?
Rich in traditional wisdom and culture, Africa is a continent of contrasts. War and political turmoil have displaced millions; one in three persons are undernourished; 24.5 million live with HIV/AIDS; crime, alcoholism, unemployment, and poverty take a high toll. You have heard statistics like these so often that they may barely make an impact any more. It's tragic, after all, but what can one person do?
This is a remarkable story of what one person by God's grace, accomplished. The American Association of Pastoral Counselors and our Atlantic Region joined with one man to make a difference, bringing hope, knowledge, and professional clinical training to Africans who face these threats every day.
The story begins in Cameroon, West Africa. A group of churches selected one pastor, Rev. Jean-Emile Ngue, and provided the means for him to do graduate seminary training in the United States for one year. Supporting a student in America demands sacrificial giving in a country where the average pastor makes only $100 a month. For the first time Rev. Ngue learned about pastoral care and counseling, an unknown field in Africa. He realized that pastoral care training would be a tremendous help to his fellow pastors and their congregations. Without guaranteed support, he began three years of doctoral work with a focus on pastoral counseling at The School of Theology at Virginia Union University, in Richmond, Virginia, in partnership with the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare). His doctoral project adapted Western pastoral care and counseling to the African context. He wrote, "my desire is for an African Counseling Center to be a healing place where people can learn to trust God, to trust their Africaness and to trust themselves again."
While in the States, Jean-Emile became an active member of AAPC and particularly the Atlantic Region. Many in our region came to know him and appreciate the sacrifices his family and fellow ministers were making.
After graduating in 2000 and returning to Africa, the dream of a pastoral counseling center remained foremost in his heart. One year after his return, the African Counseling Center in Yaounde, a city to two million people, became a reality. An AAPC Mission Advance Grant provided seed money and the Atlantic Region followed up for the next several years providing critical financial help to establish the first service and training center of its kind in Africa.
Dr. Ngue called together a board of directors that includes pastors, church lay leaders, seminary representatives, medical and social workers, and members of the government. As director he receives no salary so the center can employ a full-time clinical director and part-time counselors. In a country with over 60% unemployment, they operate on very limited funds, but provide amazing ministry given their financial resources. They literally pray for God to supply money for rent and small salaries every month. Students and two professors from the nearby Protestant Seminary give their time and services, as do several recent graduates and pastors. The ACC has recently become a training location for graduate psychology students from the University of Yaounde who come to learn about the discipline of pastoral counseling.
The ACC provides services including counseling for families, marriages, pre-marriage, teenage crises, drug addition, career decisions, and spiritual issues. It provides monthly pastoral counseling training for pastors. The ACC sponsors a weekly radio program, aired on a popular Christian station in the capital city of Yaounde. Counseling staff members provide pastoral counseling instruction and inspiration. Counselors are available to speak to listeners during programs and often provide follow-up service at the center.
The center has a special ministry to families faced with HIV/AIDS, providing counseling during the parent's illnesses and ongoing care and education expenses for surviving children. There is tremendous need in a country where an increasing number of children now head households following the deaths of both parent to AIDS. Like many other pastors, Dr. Ngue cares for 9 AIDS orphans in addition to his own 4 children
Dr. Ngue's journey clearly demonstrates that even one committed person can bring about dramatic change. One AAPC region can share the vision and enter into a transforming partnership. You can share in this story of grace, rooted in light, hope and love. You can pray, give what you are able, and share this story with friends and colleagues. Like Jean-Emile Ngue, with God's help,
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
What difference can one person make?
Rich in traditional wisdom and culture, Africa is a continent of contrasts. War and political turmoil have displaced millions; one in three persons are undernourished; 24.5 million live with HIV/AIDS; crime, alcoholism, unemployment, and poverty take a high toll. You have heard statistics like these so often that they may barely make an impact any more. It's tragic, after all, but what can one person do?
This is a remarkable story of what one person by God's grace, accomplished. The American Association of Pastoral Counselors and our Atlantic Region joined with one man to make a difference, bringing hope, knowledge, and professional clinical training to Africans who face these threats every day.
The story begins in Cameroon, West Africa. A group of churches selected one pastor, Rev. Jean-Emile Ngue, and provided the means for him to do graduate seminary training in the United States for one year. Supporting a student in America demands sacrificial giving in a country where the average pastor makes only $100 a month. For the first time Rev. Ngue learned about pastoral care and counseling, an unknown field in Africa. He realized that pastoral care training would be a tremendous help to his fellow pastors and their congregations. Without guaranteed support, he began three years of doctoral work with a focus on pastoral counseling at The School of Theology at Virginia Union University, in Richmond, Virginia, in partnership with the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare). His doctoral project adapted Western pastoral care and counseling to the African context. He wrote, "my desire is for an African Counseling Center to be a healing place where people can learn to trust God, to trust their Africaness and to trust themselves again."
While in the States, Jean-Emile became an active member of AAPC and particularly the Atlantic Region. Many in our region came to know him and appreciate the sacrifices his family and fellow ministers were making.
After graduating in 2000 and returning to Africa, the dream of a pastoral counseling center remained foremost in his heart. One year after his return, the African Counseling Center in Yaounde, a city to two million people, became a reality. An AAPC Mission Advance Grant provided seed money and the Atlantic Region followed up for the next several years providing critical financial help to establish the first service and training center of its kind in Africa.
Dr. Ngue called together a board of directors that includes pastors, church lay leaders, seminary representatives, medical and social workers, and members of the government. As director he receives no salary so the center can employ a full-time clinical director and part-time counselors. In a country with over 60% unemployment, they operate on very limited funds, but provide amazing ministry given their financial resources. They literally pray for God to supply money for rent and small salaries every month. Students and two professors from the nearby Protestant Seminary give their time and services, as do several recent graduates and pastors. The ACC has recently become a training location for graduate psychology students from the University of Yaounde who come to learn about the discipline of pastoral counseling.
The ACC provides services including counseling for families, marriages, pre-marriage, teenage crises, drug addition, career decisions, and spiritual issues. It provides monthly pastoral counseling training for pastors. The ACC sponsors a weekly radio program, aired on a popular Christian station in the capital city of Yaounde. Counseling staff members provide pastoral counseling instruction and inspiration. Counselors are available to speak to listeners during programs and often provide follow-up service at the center.
The center has a special ministry to families faced with HIV/AIDS, providing counseling during the parent's illnesses and ongoing care and education expenses for surviving children. There is tremendous need in a country where an increasing number of children now head households following the deaths of both parent to AIDS. Like many other pastors, Dr. Ngue cares for 9 AIDS orphans in addition to his own 4 children
Dr. Ngue's journey clearly demonstrates that even one committed person can bring about dramatic change. One AAPC region can share the vision and enter into a transforming partnership. You can share in this story of grace, rooted in light, hope and love. You can pray, give what you are able, and share this story with friends and colleagues. Like Jean-Emile Ngue, with God's help,
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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