By: Ernsesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S.
FORWARD BY FRANCES J. HARVEY, OFFICE MANAGER
This month we are blessed to hear from one of Turning Point counselors with a heart for those who have suffered from abuse in their lives. Ernesto recently went on a 3 week mission’s trip to the Philippines and God used him in a mighty way! Ernesto shares with us the tragic story of a young Filipino girl that suffered abuse as a child, but through the compassion and caring of those like Ernesto and others, and her salvation in Christ, she is overcoming the past and living for the “Glory of God”!
Child abuse affects lives all over the world! It has no discrimination! It attacks millions of children that have no way of protecting themselves and it’s handed down from generation to generation! It is time for us to stand firm against this demon and stop the cycle of destruction! God holds precious our children, they are a gift from Him and we too need to protect and nurture them to grow up and live a life that will Glorify God! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Ernesto, call us at 1-800-998-6329 and ask our call center to help you. Ernesto has locations in Brea, Seal Beach and San Pedro.
I DO IT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
by Ernesto Segismundo, Jr., M.S.
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in clinical psychology, I’ve developed a passion for learning and developing skills to help people grow emotionally, relationally and spiritually. I worked for a non-profit organization providing counseling for women and their children who have been physically, sexually and emotionally abused. I also accumulated hours counseling adolescent at-risk male with criminal backgrounds and who also have an array of mental and emotional problems. With my educational and professional experiences I learned one very important thing - everything I do, I do it for the Glory of God.
This past January 2008, I had the privilege of teaching psychology and spiritual counseling to college students and Christian leaders for a three day seminar held at the First Baptist Church of Manila in the Philippines. I was part of a very special team that consisted of educated and dedicated individuals representing Ocean View Baptist church of California.
There were three components of the mission team
While I was in the Philippines I was touched by the stories of people who suffered for years of psychological emotional torment because of their past experiences of childhood abuse. (For the sake of this article I will change the names of those in the stories)
Jane is a beautiful 19 year old girl, who is a member of the church choir and regularly teaches Sunday school. Jane is very shy. Yet a glimpse of her smile can light up a room. When Jane was 7 years old she was sexually assaulted on numerous occasions by a family member and a neighbor. She told her story in graphic detail to me and I felt overwhelming sorrow mixed with anger for Jane. Jane reported that she experienced self-doubt, confusion, and body image issues. She also felt depressed and angry. She remembers that she was always in trouble and had difficulty concentrating in school. At a young age, Jane believed no one cared for her and isolated herself from social interaction. Jane was afraid to tell anyone about her abuse, including her mother. When Jane was 13 years old she finally told her mother and her mother accused her of lying. Her mother even accused her of fabricating the story for attention. At 14, Jane became a Christian and started attending church regularly. Jane admitted that she started attending church to find peace from the memories of her sexual abuse. She said the memories of her abuse tormented her for years. She was fearful of being judge.
I helped Jane develop the courage to join a support group with people who have similar experience. In the Philippines, there are many cases of unreported child sexual abuse. Filipinos have difficulty talking about the topic of sex, let alone sexual abuse against children. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is common in the Philippines but there are not enough resources to help survivors of child sexual abuse.
Besides teaching Christian counseling and marriage seminars, I also assisted the First Baptist church of Manila to lay the ground work for community support groups for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I trained teachers and church leaders on how to provide emotional as well as spiritual support for the survivors. I was blessed to be a part of a community wide discussion on addressing the issue of sexual abuse and prevention. Pastors and other church leaders agreed to pray for and implement a specific training manual for teachers and leaders for their church and surrounding community.
I once studied under a supervisor who told me that counselors and therapists are “sales people— and the product they sell is HOPE.” That is, hope that one day, hopeless people will be free from the memories of their abusive past. Hope that one day hopeless people will forgive their abusers. And hope that one day hopeless people will see themselves a God sees them.
Please pray for the First Baptist Church of Manila
If you have suffered from child sexual abuse, or abuse of any kind, or know of someone who has, call TODAY! We offer TENDER HELP FOR TOUGH PROBLEMS and God desires healing and wholeness for you. Ernesto is available to see clients in Brea, Seal Beach or San Pedro. If these areas are not convenient for you, we have over 30 locations throughout southern California! Call us TODAY at 1800-998-6329 or 99-TODAY to schedule an appointment or go to our website at www.TurningPointCounseling.org.
We
do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom
of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No,
we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God
destined for our glory before time began.
I Corinthians 2:6
It
is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of
faith we also believe and therefore speak
II Corinthians 4:13
On
the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
I Thessalonians 2:4
Jonathan,
David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe.
I Chronicles 27:32
Ahithophel
was the king's (David's) counselor.
I Chronicles 27:33
"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
Job 12:13
And
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever - the Spirit of truth.
John 14:16-17