DivorceCare leadership team: Antoinette Christophe, John Basel, Lillith Trewick ( Director) Dawn Basel
by Lillith Trewick
How it came to be
[callout align=”right” title=”From the participants”]
- “I loved praying before and after our meeting.”
- “The group facilitators were real, genuine, present and amazing.”
- “It brought me in touch with others. The facilitator was supportive and inspiring”.
- “It was helpful to meet others in a similar boat and hearing stories of hope and insight.”
- “It’s moved me to come closer to God and called me out of unconsciousness and the blame game.”
[/callout]I am passionately moved to help individuals heal after suffering the pain of separation and divorce. Ten years ago, I experienced this traumatic life event and know intimately the effects of loneliness, loss of hope, bitterness and anger, feelings of rejection and shame, fears for the future and daily exhaustion.
Two years ago, after moving to Houston, I felt led to build a DivorceCare ministry here at First Christian Church. With the support of my pastor, Dr. Michael Dunn, I trained and equipped three facilitators to assist with our small group. We successfully completed our first semester on April 20, 2016. God did an amazing work in the hearts of the participants throughout the program. It also spurred Dawn and John Basel, husband and wife team, to facilitate a new group at their home church, Cypress Creek Christian, this fall.
How it has changed congregational life
Interestingly, over 73% of our DivorceCare attendees were not from our church, and one-half did not profess to be followers of Christ. DivorceCare became a welcoming entrance point for participants to experience the life of our church. DivorceCare:
- brings into focus the needs and care of those going through divorce or separation.
- helps our church to grow. This is due to the fact that DivorceCare draws people from outside of our church. These “guests” often join the host church.
- introduces people to Christ.
- empowers our church to minister to many people at the same time.
- leads to healing, and at times, the restoration of marriages.
Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Our participants completed their semester of DivorceCare with the awareness of a loving and merciful God who values and desires their complete healing.
