Today we’d like to introduce you to Tennyson Smith II.
Hi Tennyson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was working in the ministry for a church helping people process emotional, spiritual and physical needs. Then my daughter was violently raped by an acquaintance of hers. She had lost hope and felt as if no one would understand her in addition to feelings of guilt and judgment from individuals.
I had already been assisting a few people to process similar feelings because of a similar indecent violation through rape. I heard God say, I want you to leave the 99 and to go after the 1 person that feels misunderstood, lost, spiritually exhausted, judged, lonely and need to feel Christ love tangibly.
This was based on the scripture in Matthew 18:12″What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?. He clearly stated that I want you to walk with each individual in the midst of the fire while representing the Love of Christ. ( Daniel 3:23-27 )
So, I worked to become a Licensed & Insured Clinical Pastoral Counselor and we ( My wife and I ), worked with a company to establish a 501C3 and started Vita 2 Life Counseling & Community Service Ministry to meet each individual at their point of need.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I have walked this ministry out with a compass and not a map. I did not have a blueprint on how to actually make the vision manifest. Starting anything minstry during a Pandemic while everything is shut down in addition to leaving a fulltime salary could be seen as reckless when you have a family. There were a lot of sleepless nights wondering how I will take care of my family but I had to trust God. I literally had to depend on Christ to bring clients for counseling services in addition to donors to help move the vision forward. I was determined to obey what I know God asked to me to do which was to chase after the 1. I wanted it to be a Non Profit ministry that offered affordable Christian Counseling on a sliding fee scale and free community programs. The dilemma was how to make this happen while government offices were shut down in 2020.
After much prayer God allowed us to miraculously set up a board and recieve our 501c3 status during the pandemic while everything was pretty much shut down.
Now I had to figure out a safe way to help people while not being able to meet them face to face in person. While it was challenging at first we were able to help people via zoom in reference to counseling.
Consequently, I had to begin forward thinking which required us to start searching for an office space for 2021 which is our first official full year of being open. That presented challenges because alot of places in the Katy area were extremely expensive and we were a start up with minimum revenue through counseling and donations.
By the grace of God and the generosity of amazing donors were able to raise enough money to pay for a single office space inside a house located in Katy.
As you know, we’re big fans of Vital 2 Life Counseling and Community Services . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Vital 2 Life is a 501c3 Non Profit ministry created to show the love of Christ by offering resources spiritually and physically.
We specialize in Christian Counseling and Community Support programs. We are known for our affordable Counseling, Community Prayer and our work with Single Mom and Widows within the community.
Our Christian Counseling fees are far below market value in addition to offering Counseling on a sliding scale fee.
We give away over $3000 in free Counseling a month.
We truly want to serve the individual while serving Christ.
We believe that every 1 matters and no one is left behind.
I am grateful that God has sent donors that believe in the Vision. I could not do what God has allowed me to do without Donors believing in the vision God gave us called Vital 2 Life.
We are here to meet a need and to be a solution.
Our affordable Christian Counseling has broken down the hurdle of financial challenges which has allowed many people to receive Christian Counseling which previously was out of their reach.
Our single Mom and Widows programs have helped ladies by offering free counseling services, Handy Man services for their homes, in addition to monetary support, gift cards, schools supplies and toys for Back to School, Thanksgiving & Christmas.
We offer a community prayer line on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30am which typically last 15-20min.
We are always seeking to Partner with individuals to help support the vision via one-time donations or monthly reoccurring donations.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
First I would tell them to pray and hear from God. Then I would ask them to write down the vision and find one person that will pray and believe God with you about the ministry or business. Pray this bible verse according to Matthew 18:19″Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
Pricing:
- Individual Session $85
- Marriage Counseling $170
- Group Therapy 4-8 People $70 Per Person
Contact Info:
- Email: info@vital2life.org
- Website: vital2life.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chasingafterthe1
Image Credits
A Picture in Time Photography – Robin Newton – 281-460-8708
Colt Melrose Photography- coltmelrosephotography.com
