Today we’d like to introduce you to Tennyson Smith.
Hi Tennyson, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Vital 2 Life Ministries. a 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization, was birthed in the Fall of 2019 out of a deep personal tragedy. Our family faced the unimaginable when our eldest daughter was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance. We knew she would need extensive therapy, but the high cost of counseling in Katy left us feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. In a remarkable act of kindness, someone from our local church offered to counsel our daughter for free, and for as long as she needed. During this time God laid a calling on Tennyson’s heart to launch a counseling ministry; one that would increase accessibility, affordability, and breakdown the stigma surrounding mental health in the body of Christ. What begin with a few clients on Fridays quickly flourished.
Then, just as were gaining momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But, to God be the glory, we embraced the power of the pivot. We transitioned to virtual sessions, ensuring our clients continued receiving the care they needed. To our surprise the pandemic spiked our client roster. About a year later Vital 2 Life Counseling became a hub for the National Christian Counselors Association and started welcoming students aspiring to become Licensed Pastoral Counselors. Our client roster grew steadily, as did our reputation in Katy, Brookshire, and Fulshear.
By our second year, we expanded our services to include a Single Moms and Widows Ministry(now called Sisters in Strength); hosting back to school events, holiday grants, Mother’s Day outings and even small home improvement projects. By year three we added additional counselors enabling us to serve a larger demographic and even more families. For three wonderful years our little office inside of a house off of FM 1463 in Katy became a sanctuary where we could serve clients and provide community outreach. We relocated to our current location in Fulshear in Spring 2024.
Our guiding scripture has always been inspired by Matthew 18:12, “Chasing After the One!” We have never turned anyone away regardless of their ability to pay. We would not have been able to do that without the longstanding commitment and dedication of our partners that keep this ministry afloat.
Within the last year Vital 2 Life Ministries embarked on an exciting new chapter with the soft launch of our church. Today we are thriving and growing as a multi-faceted organization: a counseling ministry, a church, and a school dedicated to serving and uplifting our community through faith. hope, and the love of Jesus Christ. We could not be more honored and humbled at how God has built this ministry.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
From the moment we began, we encountered hurdles—securing a location, building a base of clients, and finding ways to make our presence known in the community. Identifying partners who shared our mission wasn’t always straightforward, and just as we found our footing, the pandemic brought challenges we never could have anticipated.
One of the most profound difficulties has been carrying the emotional weight of walking with people through some of their hardest seasons, often feeling that our efforts still fell short. We have stretched ourselves thin—connecting clients with community resources, covering each need in prayer, and holding space for their struggles—while longing to see God’s people experience lasting freedom. Wanting to pour ourselves out fully while being limited by our own humanity has been both a blessing and a spiritual burden.
Yet, every step has taught us what it truly means to “Chase After the One”—to love with sacrifice and give of ourselves for the good of others. Though the path has been tough, each challenge has strengthened our ministry, deepened our commitment, and affirmed that pursuing God’s heart for His people is always worth the cost.
Our ongoing, everyday struggle is finances. As our ministry has expanded, so have the needs of those we care for. Still, since our launch in 2019, we have intentionally kept our counseling fees the same so that support remains accessible. Over that same period, consumer prices have climbed nearly 25% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because of this, our ministry depends greatly on the generosity of our community—especially through our annual fall fundraiser—to meet our budget and continue offering care without financial barriers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Vital 2 Life Ministries, everything we do is grounded in service and shaped by God’s leading. More than a decade ago, Tennyson felt God calling him out of Corporate America and into full-time ministry. My own background spans 25 years in healthcare—including nursing and respiratory therapy—allowing me to bring both professional insight and compassion into this work. Pastor Tennyson provides counseling for marriages, families, groups, and individuals, while my focus is on crisis and trauma care, as well as individual and marriage counseling. Together, we pour ourselves into kingdom work, community outreach, and faith-based support, helping people walk through some of life’s most difficult seasons.
We are deeply grateful for all God has accomplished through a ministry that truly began from nothing. We obtained our 501(c)(3) status in the midst of the global pandemic, even at a time when most government offices were shut down—a clear sign of God’s provision. Every client we meet, every program we create, every life transformed, and every person drawn closer to the kingdom reflects His direction and the faithful individuals He has brought alongside us.
What truly distinguishes our ministry is that we serve wholeheartedly for the Lord. We embrace people just as they are while helping them recognize God’s presence within themselves and move toward healing and freedom. We remain committed to standing with people in their struggles—walking beside them, supporting them, and guiding them toward genuine salvation and restoration. At our core, we are simply servants, motivated not by personal accolades, but by faith, love, and obedience to the calling God has placed on our lives.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
As a 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization, Vital 2 Life is called by God to be different. We offer affordable counseling to all those who are in need. We have never, and will never turn anyone away who is searching for help. We don’t offer “christian” counseling, we offer biblical pastoral counseling through the word of God. We believe that the word of God is vital to life. That the word of God alone has the power to heal those who are in pain, guide those who are lost, and put back together those who are broken. Most often, those who are in need of counseling are held captive by a false reality that leads to hopelessness. Or they know that something is wrong but they don’t know what it is or how to fix it. Our job is to lead them to the word of God that speaks truth to their hearts. If they accept the truth in their hearts, then their mind will follow.
Pricing:
- $85 per session for adults
- $60 per session for teens
- $170 per session for marriage counseling
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vital2life.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onechasers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chasingafterthe1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vital2lifechurch
