AACC Day Two Reflections: Community

AACC Grace and Truth World Conference: Day Two Reflections--Community

Here’s a recap of Thursday at the AACC World Conference.

Conferences like these are never only about the content, as important as that is.

They are also about community.

I was able to connect with many students and co-workers from Capital Bible Seminary’s MACCD (MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship) department. Had a great time reconnecting with Professor Chris Boucher and his whole family. Also spent some wonderful time with Terri Polm who was our full-time mentor of women and with Jim Nestle who was our full-time mentor of men. Met up with two dear friends, Pastor Harry Pilson and Sister Olivia Pilson—Olivia is one of our women mentors.

Many of our student graduates/alums stopped by at the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network (BCSFN) booth. It’s always so encouraging to hear how God is using people to impact others. I wish I could list every name.

Sister Ellen Barney and I talked for a long time. Sister Ellen was in the first two years of our program and has always been such an encourager. She also has trained lay women every year in LEAD: Lay Encouragers And Disciplers. Their church uses both Soul Physicians and Spiritual Friends to equip their women for one another ministry.

The World Conference is also always a great opportunity to reconnect with men and women from around the country and the world who also are equipping others. Had a great time at lunch with Dr. Ian Jones from Southwestern Seminary, a great time at dinner with Dr. Steve Greggo from Trinity. Spent time during the day with my good friend Dr. Eric Johnson from Southern Seminary, with Dr. Phil Monroe from Biblical Seminary, Dr. Miriam Parent from Trinity, Dr. Ron Hawkins from Liberty, and so many others.

Today, I will be off soon to hear Dr. Larry Crabb present a plenary message on the impact of Trinitarian theology on biblical counseling. It will be a special privilege to close that plenary session in prayer, since I studied under Larry at Grace Seminary. His personal mentoring, friendship, teaching, and writings have impacted me in many ways.

Then I’ll race off (lots of racing here!) to present my track session on How to Practice Comprehensive Biblical Counseling: Implementing a Dozen Dreams. We’ll be looking together at ways to ensure that our counseling is Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed.

A full day will follow after that. Lord willing, I will share about it on Saturday morning.

Thanks for following the journey.

Bob

Grace and Truth: AACC Day One Reflections

Grace and Truth: AACC Day One Reflections

For me, this is really "day two" as I drove down Tuesday (6.5 hours). Tuesday afternoon/evening was fun reconnecting with fellow AACC folks...and trying to remember how to get from Point A to Point Z at the Grand Ole Opry. Personally, I prefer counseling conferences hosted in a local church...for many reasons. But that's just me.

Wednesday started for me with praying over and reviewing my presentation. I facilitated a three-hour pre-conference on how to develop a biblical counseling method/model. As I always do, I had many built in times for small group interaction to discuss and apply what we were learning.

The group in attendance was very encouraging, very engaged, very hungry and thirsty for relevant, practical ways to use God's Word to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide God's people.

People have already asked, "Is this available in written form?" Yes. Actually, what I presented today is half of my typically day-long seminar on How to Care Like Christ. I have manuscripted that entire seminar, word for word, into an e-document of 20,000 words. How to Care Like Christ: Using the Bible Accurately, Powerfully, and Lovingly in Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation. You can get it at: http://bit.ly/DEKwc

I then spent most of the afternoon at the BCSFN (Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network) Booth in the Exhibition area. It was a great chance to meet new friends, to reconnect with old friends, and to tell people about the BCSFN which is one of the Divisions within the AACC.

Then in the evening kick-off plenary event, the music was inspiring with Charles Billingsley, New Song, and Amy Grant. Dr. Tim Clinton shared his heart, including, "tragedy is when we spend our life in things that do not matter." Pastor Piper concluded the evening with his signature focus on the glory of God's grace. He challenged all pastors, counselors, and lay people to make counseling all about God and not about us.

The day also was a blast in reconnecting with Capital Bible Seminary students and faculty in the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship (MACCD) Department.

Today I'll be introducing all the BCSFN Track speakers, meeting with friends, and attending several other events.

More later.

Bob

Core Equipping Course Goes Online

Be Equipped by the Book Online

I am excited to announce the first ever Capital Bible Seminary (CBS) online distance education (ODE) course.

I will be teaching Discipleship Counseling I (DC I) as an ODE course from February 4 to May 2, 2008. DC I is our core course which equips pastors, counselors, and lay people to think biblically about soul care, spiritual direction, and biblical counseling.

The online edition of DC I enables students to take the course from the comfort of their homes, on their own schedule, while actively engaging other course members and the professor through the course web site. Enrollment is strictly limited to the first fifteen qualified students. Because of pre-class assignments, the last day to enroll in this course is January 18, 2008.

To receive a copy of the DC I ODE syllabus please email me at bob.kellemen@gmail.com. For more information, or if you have questions, please feel free to contact me.