Equipping Counselors for the Local Church
Yesterday I sent the twelve chapters to P&R Publishing for my sixth book. The title is: Equipping Counselors for the Local Church: The 4E Ministry Training Strategy.
We’re working toward publication/release by September/October, 2011. Just yesterday I sent out invitations to write endorsements/recommendations. I’m thankful that within twenty-four hours, over a dozen leading pastors, authors, and professors have agreed to write recommendations.
Here’s a bit about Equipping Counselors for the Local Church.
Writing on Purpose: My Purpose
My purpose in writing Equipping Counselors for the Local Church is to assist leaders like you to equip people confidently, wisely, lovingly, and biblically. I want this book to be like a personal conversation with your private consultant—coming alongside you, walking step-by-step, hand-in-hand, to equip you to fulfill your Ephesians 4:11-16 calling to empower the Body of Christ to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.
My purpose in writing is also to launch a revolution in every member disciple-making. The book’s 4E Ministry Training Strategy offers a 21st Century best-practices manual for Christ-centered, church-based, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed mobilization of the priesthood of all believers. It assists churches to become places not simply with biblical counseling ministries, but of biblical counseling. My goal is not the production of yet another program or yet another ministry on the sidelines. My goal is the promotion of a congregation-saturated mindset of every member ministry with an entire congregation passionate about and equipped to make disciples.
Writing with a Focus: The Outline
To accomplish these purposes, here’s the chapter-by-chapter outline.
Introduction: Want to Change Lives?
Section One: Envisioning God’s Ministry
Chapter 1: More Than Counseling: Catching God’s Vision for the Entire Church
Chapter 2: Examining Heart Health: Diagnosing Congregational and Community Fitness
Chapter 3: Dreaming God’s Dream: Becoming an MVP-C Congregation
Chapter 4: Living God’s Calling: Jointly Crafting Your Biblical Counseling MVP-C Statement
Section Two: Enlisting God’s Ministers for Ministry
Chapter 5: Shepherding the Transformation: Cultivating a Climate for Ongoing Ownership
Chapter 6: Mobilizing Ministers: Nurturing a Family and Building a Team
Section Three: Equipping Godly Ministers for Ministry
Chapter 7: Competent to Counsel: The Résumé of the Biblical Counselor
Chapter 8: What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?: Part One—Theology and Methodology in Biblical Counseling
Chapter 9: What Makes Biblical Counseling Biblical?: Part Two—Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Fellowship in Biblical Counseling
Chapter 10: Equipping Competent Biblical Counselors: Transformational Training Strategies and Methods
Section Four: Empowering/Employing Godly Ministers for Ministry
Chapter 11: Overseeing Ministries for God’s Glory: Organizing the Organism
Chapter 12: Practicing Ethical and Legal Wisdom in Ministry: Caring Carefully
Appendices: Practical Equipping Resources
Some Samplers
For a few sampler of the focus of the book, check out these past blog posts.
4. Leaving a Legacy of Loving Leaders
5. Congregational Diagnosis: The SWORD Heart Exam ©
Read some of the samplers…pumped! Looks like it’s going to be very practical. This is my heart for my church! This is biblical discipleship in action! Thanks for doing the hard work!