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History
The work of the Pastoral Care and Counseling Center began in Wilkes County in September of 1982, as a faith based ministry of counseling to those hurting and disoriented from the disappointments of life. The center was a satellite office of the Life Enrichment Centers of Western North Carolina headquartered in Morganton, NC, an office of the School of Pastoral Care at NC Baptist Hospital. Housed in the facilities of First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, Diane Moore began the work as a part-time operation. The congregation soon recognized Diane's effectiveness in ministry and ordained her to the gospel ministry.
In May of 1984, the Department of Pastoral Care of North Carolina Baptist Hospital conducted an agency audit that indicated the need for increased administrative support and clinical services at the Wilkes Center. Following those recommendations, a local Board of Directors was formed and the agency was incorporated under the name of The Pastoral Care & Counseling Center of Wilkes, Inc. The agency has a non-profit, tax-exempt status. Rev. Lawson Horton, Director of Missions for the Brushy Mountain Baptist Association served as the first board chair.
Having grown to a full time ministry, the board recruited the Rev. Dr. S. Steven Duncan to become the executive director and he and his family moved to Wilkes in January 1985. Over the course of eighteen years the demand for services grew steadily. Dr. Duncan did the work of a true pioneer by serving as administrator, fund raiser, and therapist, and though the going was slow and tedious, the effectiveness of the ministry touched many lives in very meaningful ways. However, in the Spring of 2003 Dr. Duncan became ill with an unusual disease and was placed on medical leave. In November of 2003, after eighteen years of distinguished service, Steve passed away leaving the community stunned and bereft. Two interim therapists from CareNet, Inc. were recruited to see clients on a limited schedule, one of whom was the Rev. Bryan Hatcher, who also served as agency executive director.
Initially, the office for the Pastoral Care & Counseling Center was housed at the First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, NC. In June, 1997, it moved on the campus of Wilkes Regional Medical Center in a building commonly referred to as, "The Nurses building", adjacent to the hospital. The site was provided through the Health Foundation, Inc. Under the leadership of board member Conley Call, the site was modified to include a ramp access to meet the needs of handicapped individuals coming for counseling. In November, 2003, the office moved to Suite 106 in the Medical Arts Complex of W.R.M.C.
Support of the center has been vital. The Center has maintained a strong relationship with Baptist Hospital CareNet, Inc. a non-profit subsidiary of Wake Forest university Baptist Hospitals, Inc. Supporting churches and organizations include Atonement Lutheran, Cornerstone, First Baptist of North Wilkesboro, First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro, St. John Baptist de La Salle Catholic, St. Paul's Episcopal, Wilkesboro Baptist Church, Cornerstone Church, the Wilkes Ministerial Association, and the United Way of Wilkes.
Recognizing the need to ensure credibility, in the year of 2000 the board, under the leadership of John Q. Myers, searched for a nationally recognized authority, and was introduced to the Samaritan Institute in Denver, Colorado. The Board of Directors recognized that the Samaritan Institute was able to set the standards of excellence the local board wanted for this ministry. A task force was formed and began the self-study process. The Center adopted the standards and became accredited by the Samaritan Institute in 2003. This process was started under the leadership of Steve Duncan but came to fruition under Bryan Hatcher's administration. Board member, Margaret McMahan is credited with bridging the gap between these two administrators and doing the hard work associated with accreditation.
Since 2003, Pastoral Care and Counseling of Wilkes has become a center with multiple part-time therapists. Rev. Bryan Hatcher continues to serve as the Executive Director. Having come to Wilkes from CareNet of Baptist Hospital, Rev. Hatcher served previously as a pastor and received training qualifying him as a Licensed Professional Counselor. In addition, Randy Johnson and Bonnie Torella each carry a part-time clinical case load. Mr. Johnson and Ms. Torella also hold certification as licensed professional counselors.
In October of 2007, the center celebrated 25 years of ministry to the people of Wilkes. The Pastoral Care and Counseling of Wilkes continues as an inter-faith ministry to serve the whole person by improving their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. While celebrating the past, the focus is on the horizon of the next twenty-five years of ministry. The vision grows for expanding ministry to the counties contiguous to Wilkes, and beyond. The reader is admonished to render thanks to the One who calls to service provides grace for the ministry of healing, and leads to new opportunities that lie ahead.
