Healthy Discipleship Team

The Healthy Discipleship Team (HDT) is made up of members of Oliver Creek and consists of therapists, medical practitioners, and ministry staff. The HDT works with the congregation to name and address emotional, mental, and spiritual issues and struggles. The goal is that by working through these struggles we, as Christians, will be healthier disciples of Jesus and better able to carry His message into the world and grow His Kingdom.

The HDT has a vision and a mission that guides our efforts in supporting the congregation.

Vision: The Spirit will continually transform us into the image of Jesus.

“For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
— Romans 8:29
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.”
— 1 John 3:2
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
— Ephesians 2:10
“For my old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the God of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
— Galatians 2:20

Mission: To help people own their story and how it fits into God's story.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in the green meadows; He leads me beside the peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
— Psalm 23
“Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, birds in the air, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth.”
— Genesis 1:26
“Blessed be the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:49

The HDT works with the congregation leaders by providing trainings on how to healthily love and support members who are still feeling trapped by sin and emotional and spiritual wounds. These trainings require the leadership to do their own healing work which prepares them to better shepherd the flock they oversee.  

 

The HDT serves the congregation by periodically providing education classes, seminars, small groups, and support groups. For those who need additional support the HDT has a list of resources of spiritual directors, therapists, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, local support groups, and local church congregations that provide Freedom Prayer sessions. This way anyone can better find help so that they do not have to feel stuck in their struggles, whether those struggles are feeling trapped in a continual sin cycle or addiction, or experiencing loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc.

 

By utilizing various support networks the HDT of Oliver Creek invites God to make us a safe congregation where people allow the Holy Spirit to move them into deeper, healthier discipleship to Jesus Christ.