Bob Kellemen

About Bob

I know that you want to change lives. I understand that you care deeply for people, but that you can find it frustrating to obtain equipping that helps you truly to care like Christ.

That’s why I’m passionate about equipping you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth through Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

That’s why I authored Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering,  Sacred Friendships, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.

That’s why I offer “4E” Consulting to empower churches and para-churches to equip their people for one another ministry.

That’s why this site offers hundreds of free resources, book reviews, links to other ministries, Christian Best of Guides, and much more.

That’s why I offer seminars, in-services, and conferences around the country on How to Care Like Christ, Heroes of the Black Church, Women Heroes of the Faith, Cultivating Christlike Intercultural Relational Competencies, and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses.

About RPM Ministries

Most Christians care deeply but struggle to speak the truth in love. RPM Ministries exists to equip pastors, lay people, educators, students, and Christian counselors to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth through Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual direction.

Founded and directed by Dr. Bob Kellemen, he and his associates speak, write, and consult to empower the church and para-church to care like Christ. As a result, God’s people enter deeply into one another’s lives and make a significant difference in the lives of hurting and hardened people.

RPM is our acrostic for Resurrection Power Multipliers. We based this concept on Paul’s prayer in Philippians 3:10: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.” As believers in Christ, we have within us the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:15-23). God calls us to communion with Christ, connect to one another in the Body of Christ, and thus tap into Christ’s resurrection power to glorify God.

More About Bob

Bob served for over a dozen years as Chairman of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship (MACCD) Department at Capital Bible Seminary. He is now Professor-at-Large in that Department. Through the MACCD, Bob has equipped 1000s of pastors and professional counselors for biblical ministry.

In his three pastoral ministries (one as Sr. Pastor and two as Associate Pastor), Bob has equipped 100s of lay people as biblical counselors and spiritual friends. In each church, Bob launched and led the “LEAD Ministry”: Lay Encouragers And Disciplers.”

In his role as Founder and CEO of RPM Ministries, Bob is known for his Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed approach to equipping local churches for biblical counseling and spiritual formation. Through RPM Ministries, Bob has consulted with scores of churches and para-church groups, walking them through his “4E” model for launching and leading lay equipping ministries.

Bob is the Executive Director of the Association of Biblical Counselors’ Center for Church Equipping. He also serves as the Launch Director for the Biblical Counseling Coalition.

Bob is a book reviewer for Discerning Reader. He’s also the Biblical Counseling and Pastoral Ministry reviewer for The Gospel Coalition.

Dr. Kellemen received his BA in Pastoral Ministry from Baptist Bible College (Clarks Summit, PA), he earned his Th.M. in Theology and Biblical Counseling from Grace Theological Seminary (Winona Lake, IN), and he received his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Kent State University (Kent, OH). Bob is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Maryland.

Bob has authored over 75 published articles. He is also the author of five books: Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction (BMH Books), Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction (BMH Books), Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction (Baker Books), Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith (BMH Books), and God’s Healing for Life’s Losses: How to Find Hope When You’re Hurting (BMH Books).

Bob and his wife of twenty-nine years, Shirley, live in Crown Point, IN. They are parents of two adult children. Josh is 25, married to Andi, and is in his second year in law school. Marie is 21, and is a Senior at Purdue University, majoring in Chemistry. In all his free time, Bob runs daily, plays in a men’s softball league, and coaches high school wrestling.