Member Spotlight

DR PHYLLIS M. SIMPSON

Dr. Phyllis M. Simpson is a Certified Member of the Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling (SACC) and has just become an International Representative (I/R) on October 18, 2022. She is also a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor-Advanced-Certified with the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA) since July 21, 1922.

The Missing Links in My Ministry

I am an ordained minister of the Gospel of Christ and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor. The CEO and Founder of Phyllis M Simpson, LLC, a Christian Counseling, Transformational Life Coaching and Leadership Development Consulting ministry located in Orange Park, Florida.

The Call: While seeking the Lord in 2016 about the next chapter in my life, I felt the call to reinvent myself after working over 30 years in the corporate environment. Immediately I was introduced to the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, an organization that trains and equips leaders to lead. As an Executive Program Member, I am a Maxwell Method Certified DISC Behavioral Analysis Consultant and certified to coach, train, and facilitate (individuals and groups) in leadership development, personal growth, and professional skills. This is where my exposure to life coaching and leadership development training began. I joined their organization to be trained and equipped to build my business, however, God had plans beyond what I could ever ask for or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

As I was seeking God's direction for finding clients, the Lord spoke to me these words, "You don't have to look for clients, I will send them to you" and over a two-year period, I was divinely connected to a Christ-Centered, nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform lives by empowering the community to thrive and have a sustainable future through their Self-Sufficiency Program using their care coaching model.

Once I came on staff, I began to see why the Holy Spirit connected me to this ministry, because I truly didn’t have to market for clients, they came directly to the organization. I was asked to revamp their care coaching program. While I was acquiring my PhD, I was introduced to the Arno Profile System (APS) which was the answer to revamping their care coaching program.

Our vision and mission aligned. I am a servant leader passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, empowering them to discover their potential, passion, and purpose. I serve others by helping them deal with their past as well as close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. I see my God-given vision/mission and Mercy’s God-given vision/mission colliding (a vision within a vision). The vision that Mercy have is a God-size vision and requires several volunteer life coaches. Now God has given me His vision and desire to train other life coaches, but how do I accomplish it? I knew that the answer was in the heart of God.

Mercy Support Services (MSS) is in Middleburg, Florida. We are a Christ-Centered, nonprofit organization, that is built on the premise, “A Hand Up, Not a Handout," guiding individuals and families from a temporary crisis to permanent self-sufficiency. Using a tiered model/program life coaching approach, Mercy provides a high-level accountability program that equips and empowers clients to a place of self-sufficiency through our Temperament Christian life coaching and financial coaching methods. Total program time could range from six months to four years, depending on the barriers, goals, and the client’s determination to be self-sufficient.

How and when it all started. My Christian Life Coaching ministry began January 2018. In April 2018, my husband Paul and I felt led to retire from our corporate jobs in Illinois and relocate to Orange Park, Florida. This is where I was introduced to Transformational Christian Life Coaching and was certified through Dream Mentors International, Orange Park, Florida. While practicing and developing my coaching skills, I felt something was missing as I encountered some clients who appeared to be stuck in their past. During my training I learned not to coach beyond my capacity, which I knew I wasn’t trained and equipped to coach, so I was introduced to Jacksonville Theological Seminary and found out that they were the missing link, I enrolled in their Ministry of Christian Counseling program.

During 2019-2020 I was pursuing my Doctor of Ministry of Christian Counseling and once again, I felt something was missing. After having a conversation with Dr. Vick, II (JTS Academic Dean), he informed me that the path I should take was completing my PhD as a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor through JTS along with the National Christian Counselors Association (N.C.C.A.).

During 2021-2022 is when I was introduced to “Creation Therapy” which was also the missing link in my life coaching and now counseling ministry. As I became acquainted with “Creation Therapy,” I grew in self-confidence as well as the Holy Spirit’s ability to work in and through me to coach and counsel God’s people, fully understanding that the outcome was His responsibility.

After, receiving my PhD, I attended the NCCA annual conference in 2022, which was in Sarasota, Florida, where I met Erin Baran and Dr. Robert Duncan. Again, I realized that there was another missing link and that was becoming an International Representative, which positioned me to train others on “Creation Therapy” as well as Group Coaching.

So once again, I was introduced to another missing link and that was being a Certified Temperament Life Coach, which I just completed a week ago May 2023. I discovered that the relationship with Dr. Robert Duncan is the most critical missing link to fulfilling God’s will. We have partnered because of his long-held vision that aligns with my vision and he will be mentoring me to help customize a group life coaching model that will address the future need of Mercy Support Services in expanding their life coaching program to support the Mercy Village.

This Temperament Christian Life Coaching and Counseling model is an enhancement to my ministry. I work with people who have no vision for living, lacking direction and fulfillment in their life so I help them discover their purpose, passion, and potential.