Care Like Christ

Care Like Christ

I understand that you care deeply for people, but that you can find it frustrating to obtain equipping that empowers you to care like Christ.

That’s why RPM Ministries offers Changing Lives Seminars to equip and empower you to use the Bible accurately, powerfully, and lovingly in your personal relationships.

Here’s the information you need to be equipped and empowered at three upcoming Changing Lives Seminars. I’d love to see you and connect in person.

Upcoming RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminars

1. When: Saturday, September 26, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Community Evangelical Free Church, 4501 Franklin St., Harrisburg, PA 17111.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: To register online please visit: http://bit.ly/P6mlX. Click here for more information: http://bit.ly/p8bjc. To talk to a real live person contact Pastor John Heater at 717-545-1354.

2. When: Saturday, October 10, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Grace Baptist Church, 7210 Race Track Road, Bowie, MD 20715.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: Learn more at: http://bit.ly/lX5PG. To register contact Pastor Mark Tanious at 301-262-1767.

3. When: Saturday, October 31, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

*Where: Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 1615 Third Street, N.W., Washington DC.

*What: RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar: How to Care Like Christ

*Why: In one day learn how to understand people, diagnose problems, and prescribe solutions—biblically! Learn how to sustain, heal, reconcile, and guide one another to become more like Christ.

*How: Contact the Church Office at 202-667-1833 to register. Ask for Minister Charles Traylor and the Changing Lives Seminar. Visit the church website at: http://bit.ly/N35Cd.

Note: If your church, para-church group, ministry, or school would like to host an RPM Seminar or would like to have Dr. Kellemen present for you, please contact us at: rpm.ministries@gmail.com.

Note: For more information about the Changing Lives Seminar please visit: http://bit.ly/o7TxX.

Changing Lives Seminars

RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar

Do you care deeply for people, but find it difficult to obtain equipping that empowers you to care like Christ?

Are you ready to learn the art of Christ Care?

*Learn How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

*Learn How to Care Like Christ

*Learn How to Use the Bible Accurately, Powerfully, and Lovingly in Your Personal Relationships

A One-Day Seminar Presented by Dr. Bob Kellemen

Bob is a nationally-known speaker, writer, consultant, educator, and counselor. He’s the author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering, Sacred Friendships, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses. He has equipped thousands of lay people, pastors, and counselors as Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship Department (Capital Bible Seminary), as Director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network, and as Founder/CEO of RPM Ministries.

Learn Biblical Answers to Life's Seven Ultimate Questions

1. What is truth? Where do we find answers?

2. Who is God?

3. Who am I?

4. What went wrong? Why do I sin and suffer?

5. How do people change?

6. Where am I headed?

7. How can I help?

Be Equipped for One Another Ministry
as a Spiritual Friend, Biblical Counselor, and Soul Physician:

*Learn how to understand people biblically: Discover how God designed us to live, love, and relate.

*Learn how to diagnose problems scripturally: Uncover what went wrong—why do we do the things we do?

*Learn how to prescribe God’s solutions effectively: Apply Christ’s answers for our daily life problems.

*Learn how to weep with those who weep: Offer sustaining care for discouraged people—empathize with people.

*Learn how to give hope to the hurting: Offer healing comfort for suffering people—encourage people as you relate God’s truth to daily life.

*Learn how to be a dispenser of grace: Offer reconciling care-fronting for sinning people—enlighten people as you speak the truth in love.

*Learn how to disciple, coach, and mentor: Offer guiding counsel for growing people—empower people to tap into Christ’s resurrection power.

Changing Lives Seminar Schedule

8:30-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-12:00 Morning Session with Two Breaks

How to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth:
Become a Christ-Centered, Comprehensive, Compassionate,
and Culturally-Informed Soul Physician

Everyone talks about biblical counseling, but how do we make biblical counseling truly biblical? Learn how to use God’s Word accurately, powerfully, and lovingly. Be equipped to become an artful soul physician by developing a Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical model of people helping, counseling, and one another ministry that values and applies the sufficiency, supremacy, authority, and relevancy of Scripture to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

12:00-1:00 Lunch Fellowship Together

1:00-4:00 Afternoon Session with Two Breaks

How to Care Like Christ:
Become an Empathizing, Encouraging, Enlightening,

and Empowering Spiritual Friend

Everyone wants to “do biblical counseling” and to “be a spiritual friend,” but what does it actually “look like” in practice? Learn how to use God’s Word to empathize, encourage, enlighten, and empower others. Be equipped to become a skillful spiritual friend by developing the biblical soul care and spiritual direction arts of sustaining, healing, reconciling, and guiding to care like Christ.

Contact Us:

To host or to attend an RPM Ministries Changing Lives Seminar contact us:

RPM Ministries
PO Box 270, Crown Point, IN 46308, 219-662-8138
www.rpmministries.org, rpm.ministries@gmail.com

Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

Christ-Centered, Comprehensive, Compassionate, and Culturally-Informed Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Christ's Resurrection Power

Counseling and Abuse in Marriage
Part 7: Christ’s Resurrection Power

Summary: Marital abuse is one of the most traumatic issues an individual, couple, family, and church can face. Discussing it raises hotly defended convictions. How should God’s people respond to “abuse in marriage”?

Today, in my final blog post in this mini-series, I have some words to share for various individuals and groups.

*To the spouse experiencing abuse
*To the abusive spouse
*To pastors, counselors, and spiritual friends
*To the Body of Christ

To the Spouse Experiencing Abuse

Please, do not suffer in silence. Please, do not suffer alone.

I know, sometimes telling others can mean being revictimized because they disbelieve you, minimize, give pat answers, etc.

I know, depending on the situation, you’ve been told, “This is a private, family issue.” Or, you’ve been threatened if you tell anyone else.

Still, find a safe way to tell a safe person and get help for yourself, your marriage, your family.

Even if your spouse will not seek help, you need the support of others. Even one person changing—you—changing the dynamics of the situation.

We think of abuse being from husband to wife. However, my ministry experience and the private responses to this blog tell me that many wives are being abusive to their husbands. Husbands—get help. Overcome the stigma and be a shepherd in your home by facing the issue.

We care. I care. The Body of Christ cares. Most importantly, Christ cares.

To the Abusive Spouse

You can stop. Christ’s resurrection power is available.

Get help. Go to the Lord. Go to the Word. Go to your pastor. Get an accountability partner and an accountability group.

Humble yourself before God. Face reality. Deal with your inner heart issues. Change your behavior. Renew your heart and renew your home.

To Pastors, Counselors, and Spiritual Friends

Always remember 1 Thessalonians and the two “ingredients” in Paul’s “love sandwich”:

“I loved you so much that I was delighted to give you not only the Scriptures but my very own soul, because you were dear to me” (1 Thess. 2:8).

Paul starts and ends his words with love. In between these two “slices” of life, he inserts the two fundamental “ingredients” of Scripture and soul.

Truly biblical counseling begins and ends with love. It is speaking the truth in love. It is love abounding in depth of insight.

Truly biblical counseling is not impersonal; it is not preaching at, it is intimately engaging others with Christ’s pure love.

And truly biblical counseling involves both truth and love, both Scripture and soul. Engage the abusive marital situation from the context of the Word of God, not where you preach at, but where you converse, dialogue, and trialogue (you the counselor, the counselee, and the Divine Counselor).

Don’t victimize the victim. Love the spouse being abused. Equip him or her to live with bold love.

Don’t minimize the abuse, care-front the abusive spouse in love. Empower the abusive spouse to change by tapping into Christ’s resurrection power.

Be for the marriage and be for God’s glory.

To the Body of Christ

Let’s stop the silence.

Scores of people responded to me privately saying, “It’s about time someone talked about this in Christian circles.”

Preach and teach and do small group lessons on “texts of terror” in the Old Testament—which is not silent about abuse, especially males abusing women.

Preach and teach and do small group lessons on marriage.

Preach and teach and do small group lessons on God’s compassion for those who are victimized.

May we speak the truth in love so that the whole body grows together in truth and love. So that the onlooking world marvels at the way the church honestly handles this vital issue. So that the world witnesses in real life Christ’s resurrection power.

RPM Logo

Connect through the VineLine

Connect through The VineLine

Are you ready to be equipped? Then receive RPM Ministries’ free monthly e-Newsletter, The VineLine. For your personal subscription, email us at rpm.ministries@gmail.com with the subject line: “Please Add.”

What do you get in each issue of The VineLine? Every issue you receive:

*Links to free ministry equipping resources that empower you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

*A timely, engaging article that relates Christ’s Word to your daily life and ministry.

*Updates about RPM Ministries’ speaking, writing, and consulting.

*News of note about what’s happening in biblical counseling and spiritual formation in the church and para-church.

*An opportunity to share your praise and prayer requests with a community of people who care.

*Special offers with major discounts on RPM Ministries’ equipping products.

What’s Up with The VineLine?

Many people have asked how I decided on The VineLine as the name for our e-newsletter. One hypothesis is that the Chicago Cubs used to have a magazine called The VineLine, named because of Wrigley Field's famous ivy-covered walls. Truth be told, that was part of my inspiration, being the diehard Cubs' fan that I am!

One novel idea was that it came from the song I Heard It Through the Grapevine! Well, the idea of keeping connected and communicating that is association with that imagery is intriguing, however the overall meaning of the song doesn’t quite fit the RPM image.

Abide in the Vine

No, the true source of the name The VineLine comes from John 15:5. “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Okay, “Great verse,” you say, “but how exactly does that connect to RPM Ministries?”

Ah, that leads to another little debate. People often want to know if RPM stands for “Revolutions Per Minute,” like “How many RPMs does your car have?”

Well, there is something of a play on words there with the concept of power. But . . . there’s more to it . . . much more.

What some people don’t realize is that RPM Ministries stands for:

Resurrection
Power
Multipliers

The Power of His Resurrection

And resurrection power multipliers comes from the theme verse for RPM Ministries: Philippians 3:10, where Paul says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection . . .”

Keep following the logic here. Think about another key aspect of RPM Ministries: "Equipping you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.”

Paul knows that it is Christ’s power that changes our lives. In fact, he prays in Ephesians 1:18-23, that we could be enlightened to know the incomparably great power at work in us who believe, that power is like the working of God’s mighty strength which he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead!

As new creations in Christ, we have the same power residing in us that raised Christ from the dead!

“But, but, but . . .,” we mutter and sputter, “then why in the world do we so frequently live such defeated lives!?”

Exactly!

The Creation of Adam

Here’s the final piece to the puzzle.

We live defeated lives because we are not tapping into Christ’s resurrection power. We must commune with Christ and connect with the Body of Christ if we are ever to experience Christ’s resurrection power and thus live victorious lives.

That’s why RPM Ministries is all about comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation. Being formed into the image of Christ is the ultimate goal of all biblical counseling, of all biblical ministry. We want our inner lives increasingly to reflect the inner life of Christ.

We do that only as we connect to Christ’s resurrection power.

The RPM logo of The Creation of Adam (the picture of God’s hand reaching out to touch Adam’s hand) represents this concept. I bet you never realized that!

People have often wondered why Michelangelo painted Adam’s hand so limp and lifeless. Because he was lifeless! Michelangelo was depicting Adam just before God breathed into him the breath of life.

Without the breath of God, without the touch of God, without the resurrection power of God, we are lifeless. Defeated. Dead.

We must abide in the Vine. We must tap into the power already resident within us. We must connect to and commune with Christ.

The VineLine

The name of our monthly newsletter captures the mission, vision, passion, and commission of RPM Ministries. Through The VineLine we want to connect you to Christ’s resurrection power so your life can change and so you can change lives with Christ’s changeless.

Dr. Kellemen Launches RPM Ministries Full-Time

Dr. Kellemen Launches RPM Ministries Full-Time

Friends,

I’d like to share with you a decision that I’ve made after much prayer and consultation. After thirteen years of ministry at Capital Bible Seminary (CBS), effective July 1, 2009, I will no longer be serving as the Chairman of and full-time Professor in the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship (MACCD) department. I will remain connected to CBS as Professor-at-Large where I will offer key classes as visiting professor and present equipping seminars as a guest lecturer.

RPM Ministries 2.0

I am following God’s leading to expand RPM Ministries. Myself and a team of fully-equipped and highly-qualified colleagues have laser-focused our mission.

It is our passion to equip God’s people to
change lives with Christ’s changeless truth
through speaking, consulting, and writing
on comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed
biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

Speaking: Changing Lives Seminars

Through day-long or half-day seminars, and through one-session presentations, RPM Ministries will equip pastors, lay people, and Christian counselors to grow through biblical truth related to daily life. Every speaking opportunity includes engaging PowerPoint presentations, interactive group discussions, personal applications, and ministry implications.

1. What to Do After the Hug: How to Care Like Christ

Be equipped to use the Bible accurately, powerfully, and lovingly in biblical counseling and spiritual friendship.

2. God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting

Be equipped to journey with hurting people through the eight stages in the biblical healing process.

3. Heroes of Black Church History: Celebrating the Legacy of African American Christianity

Christians of all races learn how to apply the legacy of the heroes of Black Church history to life and ministry today.

4. Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competencies: A Christ-Centered TEAM Approach

Be equipped to develop four championship TEAM skills to relate harmoniously and minister powerfully in our culturally-diverse society.

5. Heroines of Church History: Celebrating Life Lessons from the Legacy of Christian Women

Be equipped to apply the legacy of women heroes of the Church to life and ministry today.

Consulting: “4E” Ministry Equipping

Through RPM Consulting, we provide biblical wisdom to churches and para-church organizations. Christian leaders are passionate about equipping lay counselors, care-givers, and spiritual friends. However, most leaders are terrified about the process—fearing legal issues, quality of care matters, training material questions, and supervisory difficulties.

Step-by-step, we empower you to equip your people for the work of the ministry. Learn how to envision God’s ministry, enlist God’s ministers for ministry, equip godly ministers, and empower God’s ministers.

Writing: Changing Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

I’ll continue my writing ministry with:

1. Daily blog posts on Changeless Truth for Changing Times: http://rpmministries.blogspot.com/

2. Free resources on my web site (over 50 already!): http://www.rpmbooks.org/free_resources.html

3. Weekly updates on my RPM Ministries Facebook page (join today): http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=131391165161

4. Books such as Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, and Beyond the Suffering: http://www.rpmbooks.org/orders.html

5. New Books

That’s right, look for these two exciting new books:

a. Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors (July, 2009, BMH Books, co-authored with Susan Ellis).

b. God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting (December, 2009, BMH Books).

6. The VineLine: This is our monthly e-newsletter with free resources, to-the-point equipping, community-building, and ministry updates. If you would like to be added to our growing e-list, email us at: rpm.ministries@gmail.com.

Prayer Partnership

Your prayer support is greatly appreciated.

1. We’ll likely be transitioning from a sole proprietorship to both an LLC status and a 501 C 3 status.

2. We need to be wise in what to say “Yes” to and what to say “No” to. We want to keep our laser focus. Already for 2009 we only have three open weekends left for seminar ministry. If you are interested in having your church host one of these final three events, email us: rpm.ministries@gmail.com or call: 219-662-8138.

These are exciting days. Thank you for being a friend, supporter, and partner in ministry.

In Christ’s Grace,

Bob

A New Friend, An Old Issue, A Fresh Perspective

A New Friend, An Old Issue, A Fresh Perspective

Yesterday, as I was putting the finishing touches on my updated Mission, Vision, Passion, Commission (MVP-C) Statement for RPM Ministries, the phone rang.

Thirty minutes later I had a new friend. During our talk, my new friend and I commiserated over the state of current Biblical/Christian counseling. Like me, my new friend bemoaned the fact that extremism seems to rule the day.

Either we have people claiming to be Christian counselors who do not build their models of counseling on the Bible, or people claiming to be Biblical counselors who do not relate to those who disagree with them in a Christlike way.

Hmm . . . Christian counselors who are not so very Biblical. And Biblical counselors who are not so very Christian.

Disappointing indeed.

It's an old issue. Sadly, few seem to be able to combine truth and love in Biblical/Christian counseling.

The ironic part? This issue of comprehensive truth and love was exactly what my updated RPM Ministries MVP-C Statement highlights.

In summary:

RPM Ministries exists to change lives with Christ's changeless truth through writing, speaking, and consulting focused on comprehensive, compassionate, culturally-informed Biblical/Christian counseling and spiritual formation.

It's not rocket science. It shouldn't be this hard. It shouldn't be so rare.

My new friend and I long for the day when Biblical/Christian counseling "integrates" truth and love.

My guess is, so do you.

My suspicion is, many people are growing weary of these "counseling wars."

My hunch is, many of us want to find a community of Christian/Biblical counselors who love the Word of God and who love the people of God.

I'd be glad to hear from others like my new friend.

In fact, I'm sure there are many who would like to hear from each other. Perhaps we could build a community of loving/truthing Christian/Biblical counselors.

Let's share our stories. Let's share our horror stories of not feeling like we fit anywhere because we refuse to join one "camp" or another. And then let's share our encouraging stories of our commitment to comprehensive, compassionate, culturally-informed Christian/Biblical counseling.

The VineLine 1:1

RPM Ministries: The VineLine

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the first “edition” of The VineLine: the e-newsletter of RPM Ministries.

The VineLine is not your normal ministry mailer that says, “Pray for me and send me money!” It’s not wrong to ask for prayer and financial support, and I will ask for prayer (see below), but I want The VineLine to be different. I want to connect and give.

Connecting:

I’m wanting The VineLine to connect you to each other. If you have a prayer request that you want me to pray for privately or that you want me to share publicly in the next emailing of The VineLine, then please send me your request (rpm.ministries@gmail.com).

Giving:

I’m wanting The VineLine to give—to provide you with resources. So, each email “issue” I will highlight a link to my free resources and a link to one of my Truth for Life blogs.

What Is RPM Ministries?

You’ll see those links just below. But first, some of you may be wondering, “What in the world is RPM Ministries?” Well, for the “full version,” go to www.rpmbooks.org (we’re in the process of changing the address to www.rpmministries.org).

Here’s the Readers’ Digest version: RPM is an acrostic for Resurrection Power Multipliers, based upon Paul’s prayer in Philippians 3:10. “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.”

RPM Ministries exists to equip you “to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth” through the ministries of soul care and spiritual direction.

I seek to fulfill this calling through my writing (books, articles, free resources, book reviews, and my blog) and speaking (seminars, conferences, preaching, and teaching) ministries.

Links to Free Resources:

Now, for your free resources:

1. To read about Olympias—truly a champion in the “spiritual Olympics,” go to: http://www.rpmbooks.org/2008/03/spiritual-sister-to-church-father-much.html.

2. To enjoy four detailed PowerPoint presentations on Beyond the Suffering go to: http://www.rpmbooks.org/free_resources.html. Then move down to Beyond the Suffering documents and look under “All-Day Seminar PowerPoints.”

Prayer Partners and Spiritual Friends

Once again, if you have prayer requests, either public or private, please email me at rpm.ministries@gmail.com.

Here are a few ministry prayer requests and updates.

1. Please pray for tonight’s broadcast on CDR Radio of my radio interview about Soul Physicians—that people would be excited and encouraged about biblical counseling.

2. Please pray for the March 31 radio interview with KGFT Radio about Soul Physicians—that people would be excited and encouraged about biblical counseling.

3. Please pray for my April 10 American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) Pre-Conference (Three Hour) Presentation on “What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?”

4. Please pray for my April 12 AACC Presentation on “Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction.”

5. Please pray for my April 20 Sunday message (three services) at Faith Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN on 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 on “Biblical Sufferology.”

6. Please pray for my April 27 Sunday message at New Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, Indiana on Psalm 1:1-6 on “Blessed Is
the Man.” This is the sixth anniversary service for Pastor Charles Floyd, II.

7. Please pray for Susan Ellis and me as we are co-authoring Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Feminine Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors. Our research is complete, and the first three (of thirteen) chapters have been written.

Thanks for being my spiritual friend.

If you know of others who you think would enjoy The VineLine, please forward it to them and/or ask them to email me to be placed on the group email list.

If you would, for any reason, prefer not to receive The VineLine, I understand. Please simply email me back with a subject line of “Please Remove.”

In Christ’s Grace,

Bob