Do you want to build a strong Apostolic family in today’s world? The Apostolic Family offers practical advice from Apostolic professionals to help you do just that. This resource provides guidance for navigating modern challenges while keeping faith at the center of your home—a principle that not only transforms families but also individuals seeking spiritual renewal.
For Marion Pietz, that transformation began nearly forty years ago when she walked into Porter Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Porter, Texas.
A native of New York, Pietz had very little knowledge of the Pentecostal movement. On that Sunday she knew her life could not continue its current path. A counselor struggling with her own substance abuse issues, Pietz met Jesus Christ through the power of His Spirit during that service. Her life immediately changed. Pietz knew she had found what she had been missing.
This life-changing moment not only reshaped her spiritual life but also redefined her professional life as well. Combining her counseling expertise with Apostolic principles, Pietz opened a private counseling practice just north of Houston, Texas. She began speaking at area churches, providing training for corporations, and eventually launched her own ministry, Humor Therapy.
Her efforts reflected a belief central to Apostolic counseling: that true healing involves addressing both spiritual and emotional needs.
Shortly after, Pietz began receiving requests from pastors to assist with situations in their churches. She felt God leading her into something deeper. Her work reflected the teachings found in resources found from Pentecostal Publishing House like Lifeline: A Pastor’s Resource for Families in Crisis (Volume 1), which provides practical, Scripture-based guidance for navigating family crises.
Apostolic Resources
As Pietz’s practice grew, so did the need for Apostolic-specific counseling services. Out of this urging, Pietz formed the Center for Apostolic Counseling (CAC) for the purpose of providing a safe place for Apostolics to seek help for their mental and emotional health. The CAC’s work is grounded in the belief that emotional healing must align with biblical principles. This teaching is shared in more detail in Dr. Doty’s Apostolic Counseling Volume 1, which offers guidance on navigating mental health challenges while fostering spiritual growth. For more advanced strategies, Seven Secrets of Mental Health explores actionable techniques that pastors and counselors can use to support those they serve. Eventually Esmeralda Delgadillo joined the practice as an intern. Delgadillo was a minister and pastor’s wife who began taking on Apostolic clients to help local churches. For several years, these ladies ministered, counseled, taught, and assisted pastors with difficult situations.
The CAC plans to continue expanding its network across the nation so they can provide services to all Apostolics in need. Share on XIn 2018, Chad Parker joined the team as a counseling intern. Parker spent many years working with children and families at Tupelo Children’s Mansion as a social worker and also served as the executive pastor at Royalwood Church. He began working to set up the CAC as a 501 (c)(3) organization.
The CAC has a three-fold mission:
- To provide counseling and therapeutic services from an Apostolic worldview by state-licensed mental health professionals.
- To be the primary resource for pastors by providing mental health education, workshops, and seminars, and to be a referral source for those who need a place to send their constituents.
- To act as a networking center for all Apostolic state-licensed therapists and mental health professionals, while also providing client referrals to those in the network.
A key aspect of the second mission listed above is equipping pastors to navigate the challenges of supporting individuals facing depression and anxiety. These struggles, while pervasive in a dark and broken world, are not insurmountable. With guidance from the CAC and valuable resources from Pentecostal Publishing—such as A Light in a Dark Place by Carlton Coon—pastors are empowered to provide both spiritual encouragement and practical support, helping individuals find healing and renewal when they encounter depression.
The CAC reached another important milestone in 2019 when the United Pentecostal Church International officially endorsed the organization.
Today, the CAC network includes thirteen licensed mental health professionals in eight states, serving a growing demand for counseling and pastoral support. This includes a program for ministerial restoration in the South Texas District, which aligns with the CAC’s mission of promoting spiritual and emotional health. Through this network, the CAC has processed over a hundred inquiries for services from fifteen different states. By expanding its reach, the CAC will continue to serve as a lifeline for Apostolics in need of professional, faith-based care.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the CAC’s services, you may contact the network for a referral by visiting apostoliccounseling.org. For individuals who cannot attend in-person sessions, the CAC offers telemental health services (distance counseling), ensuring that Apostolics everywhere–regardless of location–have access to the care they need.
To learn more about the Center for Apostolic Counseling, visit their website at apostoliccounseling.org.
Chad Parker is a licensed master social worker and licensed professional counselor, as well as a board certified telemental health provider. He specializes in working with families from all backgrounds. Chad also is an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International. He is available to conduct seminars and training sessions on topics such as marriage, parenting, and leadership.
(A version of this article was used for the Family Ministries newsletter.)