Interview with Lois Nordling, MSW.

EMI: Lois, please tell us how you came to be involved with EMI?

Lois: While I was finishing my MSW (Masters in Social Work) in 1986, I began my EMI training.  The courses coincided beautifully, allowing me to bring Christ into the process since I was in a secular university.  I was especially fed by Renewing the Mind. Learning how not to be controlled by emotions, but to rethink my beliefs in a Christ-centered process has been truly freeing. 

EMI: Over the 20+ years, you’ve been instrumental in introducing EMI training to several churches across the country. What prompted you to encourage the church leaders and congregation to consider EMI?

Lois: I was living in San Mateo, California, when I first started EMI training. My son and his wife were also involved. During one of the visits to Cincinnati for EMI training, I was asked by a pastor in Pennsylvania to come and facilitate Listening training at his church.

Later, while living in upstate New York, I opened a counseling center at a church. The congregation was feeling the need for the people to be equipped to come alongside each other for help and counsel. It was apparent that the lay members would be helpful in one-on-one relationships. So I introduced EMI to the pastor. A team including the pastor and his wife came and received training from EMI and began to teach the core relationship series (Listening for Heaven’s Sake, Speaking the Truth in Love, and Renewing the Mind) at the church. These trainings were very well received. We even had a group from a church in Massachusetts come for the training.

After my pastor retired a few years later and attended another church in New York, he asked if our team would lead EMI training there, which we did.

Most recently, after moving to Grand Rapids, I mentioned EMI to our Minister of Congregational Life.  She expressed an interest and a group of 6 of us went to Cincinnati last month for their LIFE seminar weekend.  We were so blessed. As many times as I have taken these courses, they continue to teach me. Our group grew together and we now hope to bring EMI to our church here in Grand Rapids.

EMI: How have you seen EMI training benefit each congregation?

Lois: Each of the churches that I have been involved in saw a need for lay people to be available to each other, but without some training in listening effectively, this would not be possible. In fact, it could be inappropriate.  EMI offered practical, biblical and effective training for all the congregations I was involved in.

I do believe that it is advisable to re-train folks at regular intervals since we are all fallen and tend to slip back into old patterns of communication.  A refresher course helps to overcome that.

EMI: Some of our readers may be faced with roadblocks in introducing EMI training to their congregation. What encouragement or advice can you offer these readers?

Lois: Introducing EMI to a church takes patience.  It took dropping hints at first, a little more information, and finally the leaders began to ask questions which I was happy to answer.  I gave my books to each leader and that convinced them.  But it cannot be rushed.  Each leader absorbed the material at his/her own pace.

EMI: Any final words you would like to share?

Lois: Our group was ‘blown away’ by the teachings and fellowship and the spiritual growth we experienced at LIFE seminar. After almost 2 weeks, the talk is still very enthusiastic. Everyone who attended is still marveling at how practical and biblical the teaching was. It was a deeply meaningful time for all. And though some of us did not know each other that well before, we are very close now. We are thankful to EMI for a meaningful time together.

Lois Nordling was licensed in NY as a Certified Social Worker (now retired). She worked for Schuyler County Mental Health Agency, at the Couseling Center at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and then at the Heart to Heart Counseling center operated out of a local church. She served as Chair of Elders for 3 years at her church until Sept. 2009. Currently she volunteers teaching ESL and is involved in music ministry.

EMI can help your church sharpen vision, improve ministry impact, grow relational health, develop effective leaders. Contact Pam Ping or call 513-742-1100 or 800-EMI-GROW (364-4769) to find out how EMI can partner with you in advancing God's kingdom.