Launch Letter
Imagine for a moment what it must have been like for Adam and Eve before the fall — perfect union with God, nothing inhibiting them from connection with Him or each other. How beautiful and fulfilling that must have been! However, to one degree or another, we have all experienced the reality of brokenness and lost connection. The relational impact of living in a fallen world impacts us all, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or age, pre- and post- pandemic!
I am reaching out to tell you about a new and exciting ministry called Designed2Connect. Our mission is to come alongside people in Northern Virginia and equip them to find deeper connections with God, others and themselves by providing funding for clinical counseling, training and spiritual direction. Will you please take a few minutes to read the following letter explaining our passion and mission?
If the current global pandemic has highlighted one thing, it’s our longing for connection. By now, we’re all familiar with the void we feel when we can’t hug, laugh, share and cry with each other—much less, have the space and opportunity to share in person our hearts with those we trust.
I learned from an early age to make sure everything looked good on the outside, but not to let anyone see what’s really going on on the inside. Growing up in a dysfunctional home life, I never saw what it looked like to connect authentically. It wasn’t until many years later in my first year of marriage that I saw a picture of God’s heart for community through my church in Charlotte, NC.
Recognizing there were barriers in my own heart keeping me from authentic connection was life-changing. When I realized the full meaning of being fully known and fully loved—no matter how messy I was on the inside—enabled me to grow closer to God and to others.
I believe this type of transformational freedom should be available to all, which is why I started Designed2Connect.
Our mission is to come alongside people in Northern Virginia and provide the resources they need to pursue healing and growth. We seek to do this through funding, training and spiritual direction.
Funding: Targeted giving to professional Christian clinical counselors and counseling centers in the Northern Virginia area to subsidize the cost of counseling for those in need.
Training: Focused instruction in small and large groups to equip people to nurture healthier and more life-giving communities.
Spiritual Direction: One-on-one guidance to foster relational growth, even amidst uncertainty and hardship.
Northern Virginia is among the top five most expensive places to live in the U.S. As a result, many people who need counseling services find them cost-prohibitive. Making a way for people to access high-quality Christian counseling is a core focus of our mission. We partner with like-minded Christian counselors who believe in our mission to grow people in connection.
We regularly audit our counselor and counseling center partners to ensure our funding is used effectively and appropriately, as our Board is committed to accountability and integrity.
Will you prayerfully consider joining us in our mission to equip people to connect deeper with God, others and themselves? We believe that God is at work here in Northern Virginia, and we are excited to labor alongside Him with Designed2Connect. You can learn more from our website Designed2Connect or you can email me at Margaret@designed2connect.org. We would welcome your prayerful and financial partnership in this new ministry! Recurring or on-time donations may be made at our website.
We are so grateful for people like you who are making the vision of Designed2Connect a reality!
In Christ,
Margaret Whisler