Dexter woman awarded for spiritualism at Pathways

Noreen Hyslop photo Jacquie Castenadas displays her award for being designated the most spiritual leader in her Pathways group.

Last spring, Castaneda found herself on the other side of the coin and in need of emotional counseling herself, the result of a crisis in her life. Funds were in short supply, though, and to seek out professional help was not an option.

"I was attending a Missions Conference in Louisiana," she recalls, "and ran into an old acquaintance who knew instantly that something was not right."

The friend, a fellow minister, had been involved with a Christian-based recovery program called, "Pathways" formed in Dallas by television personality Dr. Phil McGraw and his father, Dr. Joe McGraw. The organization has come under new directors in recent years, and with an more emphasized Christian theme.

Although her interest was peaked, Castaneda saw no feasible way to attend the program, that involves several weekends in Dallas and is actually referred to as a training seminar for dealing with emotional issues. The minister acquaintance, however, recognized her needs, simply told her, "You're going."

And she did, free of the few thousand dollar financial burden, supplied with not only the cost of the seminar, but airfare as well, for several weekend trips to participate.

"It was the most awesome experience in my life," the Dexter woman attests. "God blesses me every time I turn around," Castaneda says. "I went through the program and it was the most emotional experience, like nothing I've ever been through. We at knee-to-knee and issues were placed on the table. It was as emotional an experience as I've ever been through."

At the conclusion of the program, which Castaneda found to grant her the emotional healing she so needed, her peers in Pathways selected her to be the recipient of one of two awards that are presented at the conclusion of each training seminar.

"I couldn't have been more surprised and honored to be nominated for the Dr. Joe McGraw award, which is given to the person who the group feels has provided the greatest spiritual inspiration to the group."

"Things have a way of working out when they're placed in God's hands," says Jacquie Castaneda, who hopes to return to Dallas in the future to complete a "renewal" process with Pathways.