Uniontown church offers Divorce Care
Abundant Life Church in Uniontown is offering a new support group for district residents called Divorce Care. “For someone going through a separation or is newly divorced, this is a place where somebody can heal,’ explained Dan Duritsa who facilitates the program for Abundant Life. “It’s a support system of sharing everything. It’s private so you can let it out. I tell people what’s said here, stays here.’
Duritsa of McClellandtown came to Divorce Care through his own need. He has been divorced three years and was separated two years before that.
“I didn’t know where to go, what to do or who to talk to,’ he noted. “A painful divorce is very hard.’
Duritsa first learned about Divorce Care from reading the newspaper. He attended a program offered at Waynesburg Church of the Nazarene.
“I liked it so much that I kept going back,’ he said.
Eventually, the Waynesburg program disbanded and Duritsa attended Divorce Care programs at Wooddale Brethren Church near Connellsville and New Hope Assembly of God in Elizabeth.
“I saw what it did for me so the Lord laid it on my heart to help other people,’ Duritsa said. “I was introduced to Abundant Life and asked Pastor Nick Cook if he would like to have Divorce Care.’
Duritsa said the program works with a series of 13 tapes that are Christian based. The counselors on the tapes have years of experience, he noted.
“Everything they’re saying pertains to you,’ Duritsa said. “They help you through it plus there’s the support you have there. You see so much that you have in common that you feel you’re not alone.’
There is no charge for the program, which is offered Thursdays from 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. at the church, located in the South Union Township fire hall. It is open to both men and women.
Divorce Care started Jan. 16 and is a 13-week program. But Duritsa said, “It’s never too late to join’ and noted the program will be repeated.
He said, “A lot of people don’t want to come forward. They want to hide and go through it themselves. They’re embarrassed.’
Duritsa said he felt that way, too.
“You think you’re the only one going through the pain and the hurt,’ he said, “but other people are facing the same thing.’