Nearly 30 years ago, Kent Mattox founded Caring Counseling Ministries with the mission of making mental health, substance abuse, and marriage and family counseling affordable to everyone.
He ensured that CCM followed a Christian model in counseling, finances and the respect and love we give those who come to us. Second Baptist Church in Marion saw the value in his mission and graciously gave us a building to house our operations.
As the community needs grew, so did the agency. And after more than 50,000 counseling sessions and countless groups and Bible studies, we were busting at the seams.
In 2014, Kent retired and I took over as director. I felt my mission was to find CCM a new home of our own. However, finding a location that would fit our budget and needs seemed an impossible task.
Last year I was drawn to a scripture that said, "Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord?" I felt that verse was a promise for the agency. God also led me to begin studying the Israelites and their journey to their Promised Land. As I studied, I felt a growing urgency to look for a new location.
On the weekend of the solar eclipse, we found it, and we signed the deal for our new property. On Dec. 22, we packed up everything in the building I fondly thought of as Old Faithful and moved to our new location. Our Promised Land. Our new location is at 11264 Illinois Route 37 in Marion, and we will begin counseling out of there on Tuesday, Jan. 2. That's three properties south of Dee's Pets.
One of our dreams with this move is to be better able to serve the needs of the community. The property has enough room to meet our current needs; and with two large outbuildings, we have room to grow. One of our plans is to use these to house other ministries (like Second Baptist did for us), as well as Christ-centered recovery meetings.
Jesus told us the Kingdom of God was at hand. If you have read any of my articles, you know I see the Kingdom as one that operates on the love of God and His desire to see people healed and free. This move will better enable CCM to take part in advancing God's Kingdom.
I wrote this article with two purposes in mind. I wanted to update you on where to find us, but I also wanted to encourage you to never give up on your dreams. It says in Ephesians that God can exceed anything you could ever dare to dream or hope.
If you don't believe me, stop by our new facility and ask to take a tour. If He can do that for a little mental health agency with a faith-based business model, He can do it for anyone!
• CRIS CORZINE-MCCLOSKEY is director of Caring Counseling Ministries in Marion.
