HARLINGEN — The Divorce Care website urges people to not “go through separation or divorce alone.”
In an effort to help those recover from these times, Treasure Hills Presbyterian Church is working hard.
Starting in February, it will be the second offering of the course at Treasure Hills Presbyterian Church.
Last month, the church completed its first Divorce Care program and its companion course DC4K, which is a program for kids and teens.
The course includes professional videos and workbooks and has been proven to be an effective way to deal with the pain and heartbreak of separation and divorce.
Divorce Care is offered at nearly 6,000 churches across the United States – Treasure Hills is the first church in the RGV to offer the class.
The curriculum is designed by more than 50 professionals in the fields of counseling, psychology and ministry.
Most have experienced separation and divorce themselves and have moved on to enjoy successful lives and careers. But, the pain and self-examination and grief necessarily must come first.
“It is a spiritually-based curriculum which means we share for those interested how spiritual resources can be helpful in the journey as well,” Treasure Hills Rev. Charlie Palmer said.
Treasure Hills Church member Larry Crow is the one who introduced the recovery program to the church leadership. He was part of a church in Corpus Christi where the program grew to more than 100 adults and children attending. The Divorce Care program was offered twice a year each year.
Palmer recounted a story Crow told about the success of that program.
A first-grade student came to Divorce Care with his mother. During the first session, he was terrified of leaving his mother’s side and going wit a room with other children.
An experienced program facilitator suggested the mother give the child the car keys. He knew she couldn’t leave without them, so h hung tightly on and went to his class.
That same thing happened to the next two sessions.
By the time they reached week four, he refused the keys when offered by the mother.
“Larry speaks first-hand he witnessed that boy healing and saw many other people experience healing and wholeness too by the time the 10 weeks ended,” Palmer said. “Fractured lives made whole again. That’s what we are hoping for as a church community offering this.”
