Serendipity
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” Heb.10:24,25 (NIV)
In 1979 a group of young mental health professionals attending Evergreen Baptist Church in Los Angeles began meeting as a support group. Each member had independently found their way to worship at Evergreen. They represented about 10% of Evergreen’s congregation at the time. Recognizing a divine significance because of their numbers, Pastor Cory Ishida encouraged this group to meet regularly for spiritual and professional support. They became known as the Paramythians, a Greek word for “caregivers”.
The “Call” to Serve
“I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…” Ezek. 34:16 (NIV)
The Paramythians became a unique resource to Pastor Cory and his pastoral staff. They provided professional guidance for complex emotional and relational problems that the pastors often encountered as shepherds to Evergreen’s growing membership. When on-going professional help was indicated, the greatest challenge for these pastors was finding Christian therapists for their members. A counseling program that was sensitive to spiritual issues and the nuances of Asian American culture was needed. Over time, it became clear to the Paramythians that the Lord would use their expertise to meet this need.
A Step of Faith
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jer. 29:11 (NIV)
In 1983 Evergreen Baptist took a decisive step of faith by establishing the Evergreen Counseling Service with two marriage and family interns from Fuller Theological Seminary as its first counselors. The Paramythians actively developed this program by providing the necessary clinical supervision and oversight for the interns and by monitoring the response to such a service with the hope of eventually expanding the program to the larger Asian American Christian community.
By 1985, with the additional partnership of Gardena Valley Baptist and Cerritos Baptist Churches, Evergreen Counseling Service became the Asian American Christian Counseling Service (AACCS). Incorporation followed in April of 1986 along with AACCS establishing itself as a non-denominational, not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.
Enlarging the Vision
“Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family…” Isaiah 54: 2-3 (MSG)
Since its modest beginnings with two MFT interns operating out of an office in Alhambra and the bridal room of Gardena Valley Baptist Church, AACCS grew to include an average of 25-27 part-time counselors and therapists, including Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Licensed Psychologists, MFT and MSW Associates, and Licensed Professional Counseling Associates.
While initially serving only English speaking Asian Americans, bi-lingual therapists proficient in Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish began to join AACCS. In its 34 years of operation, there were offices in six locations, including primarily Alhambra, Torrance, Cerritos, and Culver City, and satellite offices for periods of time in West Covina and Newport Beach. AACCS maintained a policy of non-discrimination and adhered to the highest ethical and professional standards of practice.
Over the decades as AACCS services grew, the need for dedicated financial support from churches and the Asian American Christian community at large continued to be a challenge. The Officers of the AACCS Board provided significant day to day administrative functions due to the lack of funding for a full-time Executive Director and other administrative positions. In 2014, after considerable prayer, the Board of Directors began discussions with Dr. Kuo-Liang Lin, President of Logos Evangelical Seminary, to explore a possible partnership. Through a remarkable alignment of circumstances, Logos and AACCS believed its organizations offered mutual provisions for a greater good and began a period of additional prayer and negotiations.
In August 2015, AACCS announced it would join hands with Logos Evangelical Seminary. This ushered in a new season of hope for AACCS to reach the greater network of Chinese American Christian churches, a group which was difficult for AACCS to access with its services, and the possibility of increased financial support these new relationships could bring. For Logos, AACCS offered the seminary an opportunity to accelerate the development of its family ministries program and bring much needed mental health education and training to its network of pastors and seminarians. AACCS’ name and mission would remain the same, while Logos would invest in the formation of a new 501(c)3 organization to govern the agency.
In December 2015, Logos established New Dawn Christian Family Services, Inc. and received its 501(c)3 designation in June 2016. By January 2017, AACCS was officially acquired by New Dawn.
An Appointed Time for Everything
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven… A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
It has been an amazing journey of faith and obedience for the former leadership of AACCS as well as with Logos and the newly formed New Dawn Board of Directors. While some of the aspirations for the merger were met, the financial challenges remained. With sadness, Pastor Cory Ishida, founding pastor and the 2020 New Dawn Board Chair believed it was time for AACCS to close its operations after 34 years of serving the Asian American Christian community. The reasons for closing are multi-layered and are further discussed and clarified in the FAQ page of this website.
Rejoicing for What God Has Done
While AACCS has finally succumbed to long-standing financial challenges, it is notable what we were able to accomplish with limited financial resources. In her closing message, Iris Wong, Executive Director, writes that we were …” poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10)
“Sing to the Lord a new song: for he has done marvelous things…” Psalm 98:1
Please join us in giving thanks for more than three decades of service to the community and in service to our Lord, Christ Jesus.
