Member Spotlight: Dr. Zarita Maddox

What an amazing year it has been. God has been so faithful to us. Despite the challenges of the times we are living in, our God still reigns, and we give Him praise.

As an International Representative and having a school for those called to the ministry of Christian Counseling, I see more and more the importance of quality training and the need for excellence in our skills and profession. The world needs what we have and it is such a challenge, at times, to relay the value and importance of the work we do.

God’s Word First School of Christian Counseling began in 2016 at the Cathedral of Love Community Church, Willingboro NJ. In 2017 we began our Florida campus in Punta Gorda Fl. It has been my goal to reach as many people as possible who feel the call to the Christian Counseling Ministry. Over the past six years we have had students graduate with their Bachelors, Masters, and this year a candidate for a Doctoral Degree.

This year I have been asked to do training for the leaders of Celebrate Recovery. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ centered recovery program based on 8 principles from the Beatitudes. I first looked into Celebrate Recovery because a minister at my church shared his journey and how Celebrate Recovery helped him with his Hurts, Hang ups, and Habits. When I inquired about it he shared with me that there was a local chapter not far from where I lived. So I decided to go to the meeting to learn more about it. My thought was that this would be a great resource for my students. I always encourage them to seek out services in their local area that they can use for referrals and support for their future clients if and when it becomes necessary.

Initially, I was expecting a drug and alcohol recovery program. I was totally shocked to find out that it really was for your hurts, hang-ups and habits. We all have them and sometimes we don’t even know to what extent and depth they affect our daily lives. So, our pastor encouraged and supported us starting a chapter at our church and I am one of the Ministry Leaders. As I have learned more about Celebrate Recovery I realized how I could assist it the road to recovery for those in the program . This is not to say that I did not have recovery needs. Although, alcohol, and drugs have never been part of my life, I have been hurt and I’ve had many hang ups and habits that by the grace of God I have overcome. What I realized is that Creation Therapy and the Arno Profile System would be a great tool and resource to support and assist in changing lives and bring hope and healing to individuals in recovery. When I was asked to do the training on Temperament for the Celebrate Recovery Leaders I put a Power Point together from Creation Therapy called Temperament:

God’s Imprint on Me. The topics I covered were as follows: What is Temperament? Definition of Temperament What’s the Difference? Temperament-Character-Personality Three Specific Areas of Temperament – Inclusion, Control, Affection The Five Temperaments – Melancholy, Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, and Supine Temperament Need Strengths vs. Weakness Why Temperament is Important How does Understanding Temperament benefit Leaders & those they lead?

The group was very interactive, asking multiple question resulting in several “Aha” moments. Many then decided to take the A.P.S. after this session. This was an amazing time for me mainly because I have been teaching Creation Theory for six years and never has any class connected the dots the way this group did. They really understood how knowing their temperament could help them in every area of their lives as well as in the lives of their family and friends. Needless to say many of them took the A.P.S.. One of the attendees asked me to go to their leadership meeting and present this same Power Point. It was the same response. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to not only take Creation Therapy but to teach it. It has made such a difference in my life and all those who complete the course.

This is just one of the ways Creation Therapy has impacted lives. We are looking forward to adding it to our Girls Mentoring Program “Dream Chasers and Dream Makers” for girls 10 years old and up as well as our Man Up program for boys 10 yrs. old and up. I am focusing on the next two generations equipping them to face the life they have been given with confidence, knowing who God created them to be, and for what he created them to do.