By Mary Owen
Betty Jo Steele and Deborah Climer strongly believe in living in God’s healing touch.
The Silverton women embrace their belief daily through their new counseling service, LIGHT Ministries, which opened in May in the Hartman Building.
“It’s a ministry that flows out of our heart, to help people in their Christian walk,” Steele said.
Both women agree the ministry grew out of their faith and God’s leading for their lives. They met at Silverton Friends Church, have ministered to others much of their lives and decided to pursue their passion for counseling by earning advanced degrees from George Fox Evangelical Seminary.
Steele’s forté is pastoral counseling – helping those who are hurting, grieving or struggling with life circumstances, changes and decisions.
“I counsel people by using God’s Word and the direction of the Holy Spirit,” said Steele, also a part-time dental hygienist and chaplain at Silverton Hospital.
Steele has a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral studies from George Fox University and a master’s in Christian ministries from its seminary. She is also an ordained Evangelical Friends (Quaker) pastor who loves to search scripture and pray with her clients as well as looking to Christ to provide Godly counsel and discernment for their lives.
“I offer a bit of guidance and a listening ear,” she said. “God uses those things in my life to give me insights into helping people.”
Climer, part-time youth pastor for Silverton Friends, uses her master’s degree in spiritual formation to help people seek a more Christ-like life
“A spiritual director serves as a guide in the growth process,” she explained. “I encourage, inspire and affirm the growing spiritual relationship of a person seeking to deepen their life as a follower of Jesus Christ.”
Climer is trained to use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Enneagram personality type survey along with other tools to help her clients discover their potential as Christians.
“Helping people to figure out who they are in Christ helps them with their relationships, jobs, dealing with friends, family and kids, to help them live fully as a person under God, is what I love to do,” she said.
Giving people healing and hope is the basis of LIGHT Ministries, Steele and Climer agree.
“There are so many wounded people out there,” Steele said. “I can come alongside and help people out of those stuck places to move forward in life.”
While Steele desires to do more preaching, Climer wants to lead workshops and group sessions. Their goals and ideas for building their “business ministry” just meld well, they agree.
“This is an outreach to the community,” said Steele.
Both women are well-connected in the community. A former Silver Falls School District board member, Steele now volunteers on the district’s finance committee. She also referees for the YMCA soccer program. Climer also volunteers for the school district.
“We believe that head, heart and behavior work together,” Steele said. “That what we aim to help people with.”
For now, the two see clients by appointment only, fees are on a sliding scale.
“We’re very affordable – and flexible,” Steele said. “We’ll work around your schedule.”
For information, call Climer at 503-559-3529 or Steele at 503-873-2660.
