John MacArthur
Grace to You Ministries; Pastor, Grace Community Church

I have spent the greater part of my ministry defending the inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of the Word of God. There was a time when this defense was necessary only against those outside the church. Today, sadly, many who claim to be within orthodox Christianity have abandoned a firm stand on Scripture. This tragedy is seen in all aspects of church ministry, but most readily when when it comes to counseling. Instead of running to the one source that provides answers for heart issues--Christ and His Word--church leaders have become enamored with psychology and worldly philosophy. The need today, therefore, is a return to and a proclamation of clear biblical truth within evangelicalism. I am encouraged to hear of the formation of the Association of Biblical Counselors. This new organization is committed to true biblical counseling. Their efforts to promote biblical ministry, along with the resources they will provide and the fellowship they will foster, are a welcome addition in the battle to guard the truth that has been entrusted to us.

 

David Powlison
Journal of Biblical Counseling

God made human beings to work together, not alone. So the sanctification of any individual is always a group project, not a solo achievement. And the development of any organization is always a group project. And the transformation of any good idea into a fruitful mission is always a group project.

Biblical counseling was simply a good idea 35 years ago. Since then it has become a fruitful mission around the world, a growing movement of God's people. Many organizations have been created, serving many purposes. Church ministries and counseling centers do hands-on work of loving well. Schools and training centers equip the next generation. Professional organizations uphold standards of excellence by accrediting and supervising counselors, counseling centers, and training sites. Journals and book publishing further articulate our model and methods.

As this worldwide group project has expanded, we've needed an organization whose sole purpose is to bring like-minded people together. The time is right for an Association of Biblical Counselors. ABC will serve as a meeting place. ABC will serve as a clearinghouse for information. ABC will serve as a reference point for men and women who want counseling ministries to prosper in the grace of Jesus Christ.

 

Jerry Falwell
Founder and Chancellor, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia

"I have great respect for the Association of Biblical Counselors because of their deep commitment to the fundamental truths of the Word of God and their application to life's deepest problems."

 

Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder and CEO, Joni & Friends

When a diving accident left me a quadriplegic, I was desperate for insight and answers, help and hope. I found that hope through the wisdom of a biblical counselor who pointed me to the Word of God. That's exactly what the Association of Biblical Counselors is doing and I applaud their efforts.

 

Howard Eyrich
President, Birmingham Theological Seminary, Chair of the Department of Biblical Counseling FELLOW, NANC Associate Pastor, Briarwood Presbyterian Church

Having been an advocate of Biblical Counseling since 1970, it gives me great pleasure to lend my endorsement to the Association of Biblical Counselors. The biblical counseling movement will be greatly enhanced by the efforts of this organization to bring together the scatter forces of those who are committed to the sufficiency of the Word of God in the enterprise of overcoming the effects of the human condition and refocusing hurting people upon the glory of God in their lives. Though expressed in different ways, the common theme of these practitioners is that the answers to life?s contingencies can only be found in the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and implement by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Randy Patten
Executive Director, National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC)

Jesus Christ and His Word are superior to the world's philosophies and procedures when it comes to handling the problems of life and living. Christians need to learn how to wisely use the Scriptures in helping friends and relatives get real answers to real problems. The Association of Biblical Counselors is one of the new voices calling people who are weary of the world's husks to carefully think about the principles and procedures of biblical counseling. I look forward to many people becoming NANC certified counselors who were first exposed to Christ-centered, Scriptural counseling through ABC.

 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Author; "Revive Our Hearts" Radio Host

In a day when so many are being drawn in and led astray by counseling that is ineffective at best and dangerous at worst, there is a crying need for counseling that is truly biblical and Christ-centered. The Association of Biblical Counselors provides a connecting point for those who are seeking to fill that need, as well as offering resources to assist them in their efforts.

 

Martha Peace
Biblical Counselor; Author: The Excellent Wife

As a biblical counselor to women I know there is a great need for all Christians to know that God's Word has the answer for their problems. Most people that I meet have no idea what it means that the Scriptures and our Lord Jesus Christ have provided for us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness? (2 Peter 1:3). Christian counselors want to help people, but the help they give needs to be done God's way and for His glory. The Association of Biblical Counselors is an organization to help counselors find the resources they need in order to do truly biblical counseling.

 

Ed Welch 
M. Div., Ph.D. , Director - School of Biblical Counseling, CCEF

After attending the first Association of Biblical Counselors conference I saw the timeliness of such an organization. I had the opportunity to meet and be sharpened by people I would not otherwise encounter. I realized that an association can encourage and challenge us, and it can also yield greater influence than any one organization. Sign me up.

 

J. Ligon Duncan III
Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi, USA; Past Moderator, General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America; President, Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals; Convener, Twin Lakes Fellowship; Adjunct Professor, Reformed Theological Seminary; Chairman, Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

In our confused and confusing world, we need clear voices helping us to counsel wisely, compassionately and biblically in the churches. Unfortunately, many in the field of Christian counseling provide services from the perspective of worldview that has been essentially borrowed from the wisdom of this passing age, with a few biblical texts and ideas sprinkled in. What a blessing then to have an association of counselors that is committed to promoting a robustly biblical approach to counseling, is unwavering in fidelity to sound doctrine, and is international in scope. May the Association of Biblical Counselors be used to cultivate a new generation of counselors with a high view of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, a high view the church, and high view of the ordinary means of grace (the Word, sacraments and prayer).

 

Tommy Nelson
Denton Bible Church

In our day there is a clouding on the nature of man and an even greater clouding on his "oughtness" and ability to change. Only the Christian counselor can offer real solutions. The Association of Biblical Counselors provides that basis and the expertise our day needs.

 

Stuart Scott
Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Professor and Department Coordinator of Biblical Counseling; Boyce College

I am blessed to be a part of an institution (Southern Seminary) that is seeking to be faithful to God's Word in the area of counseling. I am also excited to be associated with another group (ABC) coming on the scene that will stand and labor for the authority and sufficiency of God's Word. For many years the clarion call to counsel biblically fought to be heard. Today, amongst the still confused state of even Christian counseling, there is an increasing desire among God's people to find discipleship/counselors who do not compromise His Word. There are more and more opportunities to provide what is needed to assist the church in establishing a solid foundation and ministry of counseling. The Association of Biblical Counselors will no doubt be a great vehicle to do just that. May God's richest blessings be upon this association as it seeks to remain faithful to God, His Word and it's ministry to His people.

 

Steve Gallagher
President, Pure Life Ministries

I believe the Association of Biblical Counselors offers believers a wonderful opportunity to become involved in the lives of hurting people. This organization connects you with other counselors who have learned the secret of using the powerful truths of Scripture to help those in need.

 

Wayne Mack
Strengthening Ministries International; Past chairman of the Biblical Counseling department at The Master's Colleg; author; conference speaker; NANC board member; FIRE board member; Fara De Gracia board member and co-pastor of Grace Fellowship Church of the Lehigh Valley

As a person who has been a part of the biblical counseling movement since the early 1970's, it has been my joy to see God raising up gifted people who are committed to the sufficiency and superiority of God's Word for understanding people, their problems and the solution to whatever problems we encounter in life. As I have traveled throughout the USA and in many foreign countries conducting counselor training courses and seminars, I have been greatly encouraged by the increase in the number of people who are part of this movement, the variety and quality of resources that these people have developed and the establishment of quality biblical counseling training centers all over the USA and even in foreign countries. For some time, I, along with others, have thought that there was a need for someone or some organization to do the hard work of cataloging the people, resources and training availability of the biblical counseling movement so that efforts will not unnecessarily be duplicated or overlooked by people who have the same basic concerns and commitments. It is my hope that the Association of Biblical Counselors will be that centralizing agency for promoting all of the resources, materials, training, schools, etc for Biblical counselors and that it will serve as a unifying/rallying point for the whole movement. By so doing, the right hand of the biblical counseling movement can know what the left hand is doing and vice versa.

 

Thomas Schreiner
Professor of New Testament and Associate Dean for Scripture and Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky

We desperately need as Christians to understand Christ's Lordship over every arena of life. Jesus Christ is not only the Lord over the Church, but over politics, economics, art, theater, and also psychology. As believers, therefore, we need to think through the biblical implications of Christ's lordship in counseling. We can be thankful to God, therefore, for the Association of Biblical Counselors since they are applying the Scriptures to the emotional and psychological problems we face.

 

Sam Williams
Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Association of Biblical Counselors is an important element in the recovery of a genuinely Christian cure for the soul. Christian counseling that is Biblically driven and Christ-centered is, like many things Christian, a community project. The ABC will provide a network for connecting like-minded counselors, churches, and their resources. I heartily recommend it to both students and pastors.

 

Mark Driscoll
Preaching Pastor, Mars Hill Church

"... a very useful, gospel-centered, Bible-saturated, and Jesus-exalting help to the care of our people at Mars Hill Church.

 

Robert W. Kellemen
Executive Director, Biblical Counseling Coalition; Chairman, MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, Capital Bible Seminary; Founder, RPM Ministries

Truly biblical counseling is comprehensive (theologically-sound as it addresses people, problems, and solutions), compassionate (relationally loving as it ministers to people who are suffering and sinning), and culturally-informed (competently ministering in our multicultural society). The Association of Biblical Counselors, under the dynamic leadership of Jeremy Lelek and Brad Hambrick is on the cutting edge of just such comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling. Through numerous avenues they are equipping the Body of Christ to speak the truth in love.

 

Daniel Akin
President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

The ultimate need of every person is to know God, love God, and obey God. Both the mind and the heart need the instruction, direction, and admonition of the Scriptures. The Association of Biblical Counselors is committed to the sufficiency and the primacy of the Word of God in addressing the needs and hurts of human life. They believe the answers people need is found in the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. I gladly commend the formation of this organization. Its time has come, and I believe God will bless wonderfully the fellowship, teaching and resources that this association will provide.

 

Tim Harkins 
Lead Pastor - Outreach and Caring Ministries, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship 

The world church desperately needs training in theologically sound, biblically grounded counseling. More and more, what we see fall under the name, "Christian Counseling", leaves out the power of God and His Spirit. True heart change, that which leads to transformed living, is grounded in the presence of God's Spirit within each of us as believers. Expanding the network, training, and resourcing of Biblical counseling around the world would prove to be an extremely effective tool for the Church. I applaud and commend those working to bring together an Association of Biblical Counselors! Let's work together to help make this happen!!

 

Gary L. Hearon
Executive Director, Dallas Baptist Association

For at least thirty years, one of the great verses from God's Word used often to sustain and encourage me along the journey has been Psalm 119:165, Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can cause them to stumble.  The one thing most desired and needed by society today, yet conspicuous by its absence from our culture, is genuine peace--- that sense of quiet, serenity, and tranquility that can come only from a sure and secure relationship  with God the Father through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Strong exposition of God's Word through faithful teaching and preaching which are supported, underpinned, and authenticated by counseling drawn from biblical precepts and principles is the one way to recovery for our nation in general and for God's people in particular.  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14. 34).  I am grateful for the Association of Biblical Counselors, and I commend their good work to all who long to experience the peace that only God can give and that is based solely on the knowledge of and obedience to His Holy Word, the Bible.

 

Bob Deffinbaugh
Teaching Elder, Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, TX

I have long heard Christian counselors talk about the "integration of psychology and theology," and yet Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Surely this principle applies to ministry, as well as to money. The Association of Biblical Counselors believes that psychology must be subordinate to theology. Here is ministry that is biblically motivated, and biblically directed, and I commend it highly.

 

Dave Foran
Executive Director, Bible.org

Bible.org provides "Trustworthy Bible Study Resources" to millions of people around the world for free. We believe the local church is God's primary institution for caring for the body of Christ. The Association of Biblical Counselors focused attention on counseling needs within the body of Christ is desperately needed in a world that has turned to other sources besides God's Word for solving life's challenges. It is a biblical and noteworthy goal to move the responsibility back within the walls of the local church and to equip pastors, church leaders and every believer to provide comfort and counsel to those in need.

 

Dan Truitt
Director of Training and Staff Development, Marketplace Ministries Inc.

Marketplace Ministries Chaplains provide biblical guidance to thousands of employees in businesses where they serve across the U.S. They are committed to the sufficiency of Scripture as the foundation for the help and direction they offer. The Association of Biblical Counselors provides a welcome and greatly needed resource for our chaplains. I anticipate the ministry of this association will be multiplied many times through the lives of chaplains in the marketplace.

 

John Sherwood
VP CW

In serving God's servants throughout the mission world, we have worked hard to provide reliable resources for the hurting. It has often been frustrating to locate excellent counseling resources clearly grounded in God's Word. The Association of Biblical Counselors can serve this need as a networking fellowship of biblical counselors, and as a means of enhancing tools and skills for the benefit of us all. I look forward to this partnership.

 

Rev. Mbusa Thaluliba
ALARM: Congo

For more than 10 years the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the theater of tribal clashes and civil war. Pastors and even counselors have been caught unaware by the many problems and need to be equipped in dealing with trauma, stress, fear, despair, loss of property, loss of loved ones, calamities, poverty, hatred, and facing the unexpected. Pastors and counselors are themselves traumatized by the situation that is still going on in the country. An Association of Biblical Counselors is most needed at this time when everybody is in need or direction and help. Biblical counseling is most needed and most welcome in Africa in general and particularly in war torn countries like ours.

 

John Babler
Associate Professor of Pastoral Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

True Biblical Counseling is growing in the Christian church as more people come to a realization of the sufficiency and superiority of the Scriptures for counseling. At the same time, many are realizing the ineffectiveness of the predominant approach to Christian Counseling that attempts to integrate the "best" of the behavioral sciences with counseling ministry. The need for a clear voice to challenge the Church and individual Christians to counsel and minister God's living Word rather than the world's wisdom is great. There are many organizations, churches, ministries, and individuals committed to Biblical counseling, but no unified voice by which these impact the church and the culture. The Association of Biblical Counselors provides an opportunity for those committed to the sufficiency of Scripture and Biblical Counseling to fellowship, strengthen and develop skills, and more effectively impact the Church. Won't you join us?

 

Eric Mitchell
Assistant Professor of Biblical Backgrounds & Archaeology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

What an encouragement it is to see the launch of the Association of Biblical Counselors. It will be a timely help for those committed to Scripture as the authoritative and sufficient source for all counsel, as well as for the equipping of Christians to counsel from Scripture. May God bless your efforts!

 

Paige Patterson
President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

The heart of the biblical message is salvation and new life in Christ. That new life is not only just Heaven but also victorious and fulfilled life, which brings the deepest satisfaction to life's otherwise frustrating venue. The Association of Biblical Counselors is an organization deeply committed to assisting unbelievers to find life in Christ and believers to find the fullness of the joy that the Bible promises when its tenets are followed. May God bless the ministry of this important association.