An Evening of Blessing

For some, Tuesday, April 5th, was the day after the North Carolina Tar Heels, an ACC team, won the NCAA championship. For more than 700, it was the evening to attend the 6th annual fundraising banquet for Associates in Christian Counseling—the other ACC.

After a meal and wonderful music provided by musicians from First Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, Dr. Joe Verga, ACC’s executive director, spoke. In his remarks, “One Day at a Time,” he described life. “Some days we would love to be able to repeat, while others stop our world in its tracks. The day when you get yanked off the train of life,” he said, “is the day for which the staff at ACC was created.”

Since ACC opened its doors in the fall of 1991, over 7,000 people have been seen and clients have received over $1,000,000 in subsidized services. “The client assistance fund which helps those without insurance or with limited resources has a longer waiting list than ever before. Sadly,” he said, “this means that those in crisis, but in need of CAF, have to wait for help.”

Ruth Graham, the guest speaker for the evening, shared her story of having the world yank her off the tracks and the part counseling played in healing brokenness. Ruth is the 3rd child of Billy and Ruth Graham. “I am Billy Graham’s daughter,” she stated. “That is part of what I am, but it is not who I am.”

Using the framework of the Biblical story of the prodigal son, Ruth shared a time when she identified with the older brother in the parable. “I felt like I had been run over by a truck, had it back up over me again, was bleeding in the road, and everyone was running over to check on the condition of the driver!” Self-righteousness, led to depression which led to thinking about suicide. Sometime later, willfulness and being headstrong, led to choices which made her identify with the prodigal. Being welcomed into the arms of both her earthly father and her heavenly Father, made her realize the prodigal’s story is truly about the role of a loving father. Years later, it was her turn to play that role to her pregnant, teenage daughter.

“Failure is not final,” she emphasized. “As my father told me, ‘All of us live under grace and do the best that we can.’ Our brokenness is a sweet fragrance to God. He redeems the ruins of our lives. He does his best work in our chaos and struggles. Christian counselors are channels of healing and compassion. They are trained to integrate Truth with the whole person.” In conclusion, Ms. Graham said, “Investing in Wall Street doesn’t pay eternal dividends. Investing in ministries like ACC does.”

For more information on Ruth Graham, visit www.ruthgrahamministries.com