Every meaningful movement begins with a
simple idea and people willing to say “YES.”
Anew Day officially began in 2006. At the time, it consisted of three board members, a handful of volunteers, one therapist, an idea and a desire to make an impact on a hurting community. The original founders of Anew Day set out to support teens who were struggling by offering them counseling free of charge.
They saw that deep wounds were forming early in the lives of the people around them and wanted to provide a place where hope could be encouraged and healing could begin.
But God’s plans were bigger than they imagined.
When Anew Day opened its doors, the floodgates opened, but not in the way they were expecting. They found that those in need of support were not just teens, but also adults carrying childhood wounds. Almost immediately, a waitlist began to form. The need in the community was clear, and God used a small group of people who stepped out in faith to make an impact on the mental health needs of the community.
From the beginning, the heart of Anew Day has been its volunteer Lay Counselors. For twenty years, these dedicated men and women have donated their time to provide counseling services free of charge. Their willingness to serve has made healing accessible to many who might otherwise have gone without support.
The journey, however, has not always been easy. Like many nonprofit organizations, Anew Day has faced seasons of financial uncertainty. In one such season of hardship, the situation was so dire that Anew Day nearly closed its doors. The need for services remained great, but the resources to sustain the ministry were limited.
And yet, once again, God moved. Through the faith and generosity of supporters who believed in the mission, Anew Day remained open. The challenges that Anew Day overcame turned into seasons of growth.
As Anew Day overcame each financial challenge, one of the remaining limitations was the number of counseling rooms. For many years, the number of clients that could served was limited by facility size. Over time, Anew Day outgrew its building, not once, but twice. Each move represented an opportunity to expand capacity to care for more people.
Ultimately, Anew Day moved into its current facility with 14 therapy rooms, including a specialized teen room and sand tray room. These changes have given clients access to more clinicians and allowed us to serve more individuals at one time. The waitlist that was once overwhelming shrank dramatically.
The commitment and faith of Anew Day’s early founders has led to an incredible impact on the community. In the last year alone, Anew Day served 276 individuals, providing more than 2,000 hours of therapy. Those 2,000 hours represent intentional, consistent time devoted to individual clients, ensuring that they receive the steady support necessary for long-lasting healing.
What began as a simple “yes” has become a twenty-year legacy of faith in action.
And we know that God has not finished writing the story of Anew Day. As we celebrate twenty years of healing, we look forward with anticipation to the ways we will continue to grow, serve and bring hope and healing to our community in the coming years.
