Susan Watson- Counsellor and Co-leader

 

 Susan WatsonI have been married for 37 years and have 4 children and grandchildren.  I have been in the Church from early childhood and became a member when I was 18 years old.  I struggled for many years with my relationship with God until in 1989 I truly met and fell in love with Jesus.  I was called into the work of counselling in 1991 after hearing Gwen McDowell (now Purdie) speak at the Glasgow Bible College on Christian Counselling.  I decided to train with her in Edinburgh and completed my practical and theoretical training there.  Since 1995 I have been counselling in Glasgow.  Why do I counsel?  I believe that the God I worship loves us and wants to come alongside and heal us from the hurt and pain that can affect our lives.  I enjoy the work God has called me to and I am blessed in return by God through those I counsel.

 

 

                                          Sheena Reid- Counsellor and Co-leader

 

 Sheena ReidI am originally from Kilmarnock and transferred to Glasgow in 1989 through my work in the Civil Service.  Although I had no Church background at that time I had always felt, since childhood, that I was in a relationship with God and loved Jesus.  I became a Christian at the Billy Graham Crusade in June 1991 - all a bit of a road to Damascus experience and a story in itself!  I left the Civil Service in 1993 after 20 years and shortly thereafter became involved in Dove and commenced practical and theoretical training.  I am very happily married to George who is one of Dove's directors and we are active members of Kenmure Parish Church.  It is a privilege to work in this Ministry and I have gained so much personally from my involvement.  Having received emotional healing of much in my own life I am truly blessed to work with God to bring freedom and healing into the lives of others.  I long to see counselling embraced by and functioning as part of the normal life of the Church rather than something people have to go elsewhere to receive.  My passion is to help people learn how to apply Biblical principles in their lives and enter into deeper relationship with God as that is ultimately where healing is to be found.

 

 

Celia Burns- Counsellor

 Celia BurnsI was born in Lennoxtown but spent most of my childhood in England.  I trained as a Social Worker in Edinburgh in the 80's and worked in london before returning to Scotland.  In my late 20's I became a Christian and have been married for 27years with three daughters.  In 2002, following an 'Introduction to Christion Counselling' course, I became involved with Dove and over the years of further theoretical training and practical work I am now a counsellor.  Despite the personal challenges that have been presented, I am excited seeing God at work in the area of counselling.  Fundamental to my work was an early recognition that I had to progress in my understanding of which of my life experiences hindered my own personal relationship with God.  Through this, and by addressing these areas, I am seeing an unfolding of Christ's promised freedom following an understanding of the acceptance and love of our Heavenly Father.  With God's enabling in Dove I have seen the healing and transformation that comes when clients are willing to trust God with their pain.  Away from the counselling room, I am actively involved in Torrance Parish Church and work part-time with the Citizens Advice Bureau.  I enjoy spending time at home and in the garden with my family and friends and love to walk in the wilderness places of the Highlands.

  

 

                                                                                     Susan Gilmore- Counsellor

 I was born in Dunfermline and brought up in a small Fife village.  At the age of seventeen I moved to Edinburgh to train as a nurse and eventually became a Sister in intensive care.  It was shortly after qualifying that I came into a personal relationship with Jesus and my whole world was turned upside down.  I found myself working as a volunteer nurse in Pakistan for a short time.  Over the years that followed I had some difficult and stormy times but throughout have been amazed at how God's love and grace has helped me through.  As I learned more about God it became my passion to see him free others to be who He had created them to be, just as he was doing for me. In 2008, along with my husband David and my son and daughter, we moved to Lenzie.  We have become involved in Kirkintilloch Baptist Church and are very happy there.  This change in our circumstances created an opportunity for me to become involved with Dove.  After contacting them I realised that I shared their vision.  I took part in the training programme as well as other training and am now part of the team.  It was been my joy and privilege to see God work in amazing ways in people's lives bringing healing and restoration to brokenness.    

 

 

 Valerie Robb- Administrator

 

Valerie RobbI was brought up in a Christian home and, at the age of 7, gave my life to the Lord.  Over the years God has graciously and lovingly guided my footsteps through happy times and difficult times and has used the circumstances of life to help me depend more and more upon Him.  My work background has been in clerical and administrative posts, having worked in the Civil Service and local Government.  I became interested in Christian counselling some years ago and undertook two theoretical training courses.  I was also a sitter-in on counselling sessions with Dove.  Although I loved every minute of the training, I was not convinced that becoming a counsellor was God's chosen path for me.  During 2004 God helped me understand that I should not continue with the training.  Then, in April 2005, I was invited to work in Dove as Administrator and as part of my duties, give pastoral support on the telephone.  This enabled me to use my clerical experience and also put into practise the counselling principles that I had learned.  It is such a privilege to be involved in this ministry in which God brings freedom and healing to the lives of many people.  I am married to Ian and we have three grown up children and two dogs!  We both enjoy gardening and caravanning and are actively involved in a Bible based evangelical Church. 

 

 

                                                                                                              Robert Good- Fundraiser

Robert GoodI was born in St Louis, Missouri but was brought up in Wishaw where I still live and work.  I became a Christian at the tender age of 12 years old.  I am married to Lynne and we have one daughter, Jennifer who now works with me in my food processing business.  We attend Kirkstyle Baptist Church in Carluke where we are very happy.  Over the years I have been involved with the Maranatha Centre in Motherwell, both with the choir and the youth club.  I have also been involved in community fundraising with the local authority and hope to be able to bring my experience in this field to Dove.  I am delighted to be involved in the capacity of fundraiser with Dove as I truly believe that they offer a unique and vital service to churches and the community in general.