I am sure you have heard that we now have two new counselors in our Counseling Ministry. Deana Simmons and Debbie Haynes have joined us and will be at the Roseman House serving on Mondays and Tuesdays. With them joining the team we are looking to not only provide care for our congregation and people in the community but also direct and intentional support of ministry partners such as Elizabeth’s House, The Pregnancy Care Center, Safe Harbor, and hopefully more in the coming months. Please take a minute to read the bios below. I am very excited to see where our counseling ministry is headed in the months and years ahead.
Deana Simmons
Deana Simmons was born in Alexander County and currently lives in the Wittenburg community with her husband, Rob. Together they are parents of four grown children whose paths have taken them to Wilmington, Raleigh, Boston, and Clemson, and they are overjoyed to also be grandparents to four grandchildren who live in Wilmington. Deana holds licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA), Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), and Certified Trauma Professional (CTP). She enjoys following Christ, family time, bicycling, being in nature, and learning to play the viola. As a member of Corinth Church, she serves on the Women’s Ministry Board (Community Outreach) and facilitates a Replanted group for adoptive and foster care families. Her desire for Discovery Counseling Ministry is to walk alongside others in His Truth, providing a safe, compassionate space for healing, growth, and transformation trusting God “…for such a time as this.”
Debbie Haynes
Debbie Haynes is a native of the Hickory area and currently lives in Conover. She is a widow after 45 years of marriage. Debbie has a son, Brad, who is married with three adult children, and a daughter, Jessica, who is unmarried and currently lives with her. Her family is a source of joy in her life.
In 2019 Debbie “retired” from a nonprofit ministry that God founded through her, Safe Harbor of NC. She worked there with women and children experiencing homelessness and addiction as Executive Director, then Program Director. Debbie did the bulk of teaching and spiritual counseling there in small groups and one-on-one. Debbie left Safe Harbor at God’s direction to start a ministry called Grace for Days offering Spiritual Direction and spiritual counseling, workshops, and retreats. She received training through the Genesis Process for Recovery, Grace Life International, and Sustainable Faith Spiritual Direction.
Debbie currently ministers as the Spiritual Life Mentor through the counseling ministry of Discovery. She enjoys reading, baking, biking, painting and just about anything creative. Debbie is thrilled and humbled to be a part of this great family here at Discovery.