Ministers from Cameroon Attend National Conference

The Executive Director and Clinical Services Director of the African Counseling Center will be attending the 45th annual meeting of American Association of Pastoral Counselors in Norfolk later this month. The Rev. Dr. Jean-Emile Ngue and Mr. Samuel Lindjeck will be in the US during April.

They began the first pastoral counseling service and training center in Africa with the support of Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, VA, and the American Association of Pastoral
Counselors.

Presenting Workshop on International Partnership
Dr. Ngue and Mr. Lindjeck will present a workshop titled “Grace in Action: International Partnership in Pastoral Care and Counseling” at the conference. The conference theme, "Expanding Visions: Theological and Spiritual Perspectives in Practice” highlights the work of pastoral counselors in a variety of private sectors and public ministries.

A major focus of their visit will be to spend time with colleagues at Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond. Dr. Ngue is a graduate of the Institute’s Certificate Program in Pastoral Counseling.

Dr. Ngue, the Executive Director of the African Counseling Center, holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond.

Continuing Education and Consultation
Included in their stay will be opportunity for additional training and consultation with area counselors. Topics such as working with individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS, providing pastoral care to the dying, and marriage enrichment counseling will be covered. They will be meeting with the congregational pastoral care class at the School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

Dr. Ngue will be sharing about the ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church. Visiting the Virginia Treatment Center and a tour of the Virginia Capitol will round out their public activities.

Companions in Hope Team Sent in 2002
Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care sent a five-person delegation, called Companions in Hope, to Cameroon in 2002 to support the newly-established African Counseling Center. A return visit by Dr. Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre in 2007 reinforced the connection between the Richmond-based Institute and the counseling center in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Contact Informaton
Dr. Ngue and Mr. Lindjeck are available for interviews. For additional information contact Sandra Kruschwitz Hamilton, Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre, Donald D. Denton – 804-282-8332.