Terrorism, war, economic crisis, border security, rising health costs, loss of jobs and foreclosures. How are people coping with all these stressful situations in our world today?

I talked about this with Rev. Alan Kuykendall, a certified pastoral counselor and interim associate pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea.

I asked if he had seen a rise in the number of people seeking counseling because of all the troubling situations that surround us. He couldn’t say just how many are seeking help, but many of them are having problems because of the economy.

He pointed out that Matthew 6:33 says that if we seek first God’s kingdom, the things we need would come to us. But most people today are more worldly–minded than God-minded, he said.

“Sixty-five per cent of our county is not churched,” said Kuykendall.

He said a relationship with Jesus Christ really makes the difference in lives.

Quoting Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” he reminds people that if they want to change their lives, they may need to change the way they think.

Quoting further, he pointed out that we are told to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but to think of others, too. A vertical relationship with God, he said, helps people have horizontal relationships where they reach out to others.

“We have (recently) seen an increase in benevolence,” he said.

Which, according to Kuykendall, might indicate a ray of hope.

Rev. Alan Kuykendall may be reached at 678-9928.