One of the mantras we hear each Sunday morning and throughout the week at Park is “Get Connected, Stay Connected”. This is woven into the fabric of the New Testament community. It’s how we grow and mature as Jesus followers. We came across it recently in our daily Bible reading, “And they continued together in the apostle’s teaching and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayer” (Acts 2:42).
And that’s why we have Community Groups that gather weekly – to “Get Connected and Stay Connected”. For those of us who belong to a Community Group, this experience pays off, so let’s keep doing it (and if not, get connected)!
But what if you find yourself in a more challenging situation?
What if you find yourself either with persistent problems like anxiety and depression, or in a full-blown personal or family crisis – when you need more attention than connecting and sharing with your Community Group? While you lean on your Community Group leader and members, also
consider reaching out to the team of Park Cares.
Park Cares consist of 4 team members (2 women, 2 men) who have professional training and personal experience to meet one-on-one with you. We also can facilitate sessions with your family members or friends to help with issues like forgiveness and reconciliation. All sessions are confidential, and they are of no financial cost to you. The Park Cares team is called to be God’s agents of healing, both for this local body of believers and beyond within Monmouth County.
If you’d like to make an appointment, just go to Park Cares at parkchurchnj.com, and indicate your interest on this quick form. A Park Cares members will then contact you.
We at Park Cares seek to live out the inspiring mandate that the apostle Paul penned in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Brian Croak
Park Cares Coordinator
Raised in Monmouth County, Brian currently resides in Asbury Park. For 5 years he served in campus ministry at Rutgers University and then received his mDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. Brian has served as pastor of 4 Presbyterian churches in NJ, and then pursued another passion of his, counseling. He recently graduated from Cairn University with a M.S. in counseling. Brian's pride and joy are his 3 children, Justin, Christina and Dylan. Brian is a long time Kansas City Chiefs fan, and can now check a decibel piercing visit to Arrowhead Stadium off of his bucket list (he went to a Chiefs game there in December 2018!) - as well as a recent Super Bowl trophy!