Giving Back to the Community I Grew Up In

When I was seeking a place to do my internship in counseling, I wanted to make sure it would be a place where I knew I could give back to the community that I grew up in. Beacon of Hope was an answer to that prayer. I had heard about Beacon of Hope when I was a Youth Pastor in the area. I found out about the good works they do and how they make sure that there are no barriers to people getting the counseling they need. Beacon of Hope gives everyone in the community equal access to counseling. I find that it is a rarity that an organization can make itself accessible to individuals from all walks of life.

My time at Beacon of Hope has shown me the many different ways that it allows people to utilize the organization for positive momentum in their life. I was lucky enough to lead a group at Beacon for the bulk of my time there. I was fortunate to encounter people I usually would not have had the chance to learn from and interact with. The individuals that I was able to connect with through different areas of counseling impacted me in profound ways. I was constantly in awe of the ways that people would graciously allow me into their lives.

The staff at Beacon of Hope continue to put God at the forefront of their organization. This allows them to serve their community to the best of their ability. I valued the ways that staff would pray for clients and others daily. It showed me what it means to live into a ministry that allows God to lead. The fruits of their labor are shown through the stories shared in staff meetings about how the clients’ lives are being changed through counseling. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Beacon of Hope for my internship. I look forward to seeing the way that Beacon of Hope continues to be a positive impact on the surrounding community and beyond.

This blog post was written by counseling intern, Kevin Maybury.