Having recently transitioned from Acting Director to Executive Director of Cornerstone, I would like to thank our supporters and provide a brief but long-overdue update of where we are as an organization.
To our supporters…I fully understand that your past and/or present support for Cornerstone was most likely connected to your love and friendship with Bob and Linda Uhle. Likewise, it was our friendship with Bob and Linda that pulled my wife Krista and I into the Cornerstone mission – she as a Life Coach and me as a Board Member. Like all of us who knew Bob Uhle closely, there is still a hole in our hearts that he once occupied as truth-speaking friend, encourager, jokester, and brother in Christ.
Reflecting over the past two and a half years, I’m amazed at how God has worked through a series of significant events too numerous to list, and how God was working in the previous years to prepare all of us for these events. Several years ago, Bob began floating the idea of my succeeding him as Director of Cornerstone. At first I couldn’t see a path. I was 15 years into a successful career with a good company and the thought of walking away was overwhelming, perhaps even irresponsible. I told God it would take a miracle on His part for Bob’s vision for me to materialize.
But God had a plan. Today, Cornerstone occupies a beautifully remodeled 4,000 square foot facility on Bethel Road with 13 counseling offices, 15 counselors, 3 coaches, and 7 interns. We have remained true to the mission that Bob and Linda advocated for Cornerstone:
- Help hurting families and individuals, regardless of financial means – We provide high-quality Christian Counseling and Coaching, regardless of an individual’s insurance coverage or ability to pay. In 2019, Cornerstone provided $183,000 in no-cost or low-cost counseling and coaching to 325 families. Hurting families and individuals are getting the help they need with parenting and marriage, anxiety and depression, addiction and substance abuse, and many other areas.
- Promote Christian counseling and coaching in Central Ohio – We provide internship opportunities for Counselor Trainees who have completed their educational requirements to complete their required 600 hours of supervised counseling. This enables them to obtain their Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation and begin their own practice.
- Share the Gospel – Each month, about two-thirds of our counselors, coaches, and counselor trainees report that they have had an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ at least once as part of their practice. Many clients have received Christ or come to a deeper understanding of His love, grace, and healing as a result.
Our leadership team consists of Tracy Whiteside, LPCC-S, who serves as Clinical Director. Tracy oversees our Counselor Trainees, performs a long list of administrative duties, and provides supervision for our interns while maintaining her own practice. She also teaches weekly as a professor at Ashland University. Our Coaching Director is Krista Cassell, BCALC, who oversees coaching practices and development, and uses her hospitality talent to ensure that our clients enjoy a beautiful and relaxing environment. I am blessed to say that Krista is also my wife of 29 years. Finally, I left my employer after 17 years, became part owner of a remodeling company, and now split my time between entrepreneur and Executive Director of Cornerstone.
Bob was right, miracles happen.
John Cassell, Executive Director
