A Vision for the Entire Church
Where do you turn when you’re hurting? Where do you go when you’re struggle with a besetting sin?
For nearly 2,000 years, the answer was: “I turn to the church, to my pastor, and to my brothers and sisters in Christ.” However, since the advent of modern secular psychology, the answer far too often, even for Christians, has been, “When I’m hurting, I turn to the world of psychology.”
For nearly 40 years, the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC) has been helping to turn back the tide. NANC has led the way in demonstrating that God’s Word is sufficient for dealing with our suffering and our sin.
That passionate focus continues Monday October 4 to Wednesday October 6, 2010 as Faith Baptist Church hosts the NANC Annual Conference. The theme this year is More Than Counseling: A Vision for the Entire Church.
When people think of biblical counseling, they often think only of a pastor in an office in a formal setting with parishioners. But this year’s NANC theme reminds us that biblical is what God calls every believer to do. Ephesians 4:15 tells the story. We are to speak and live Gospel truth in love so that every person matures in Christ—becoming more like Christ by clinging to Him in our suffering and turning to Him for victory over sin.
Conference keynote speakers this year include Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Tim Lane, Executive Director of the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation; Nicolas Ellen, Pastor Community of Faith Bible Church; Steve Viars, Sr. Pastor Faith Baptist Church; and Brad Bigney, Sr. Pastor Grace Fellowship Church.
Additionally, over 60 workshop sessions will equip the over 1,200 participants. Conference sessions range from a biblical view of forgiveness, to mood disorders, to counseling children, to the importance of prayer in counseling, to a biblical view of emotions, and much more.
Over two dozen exhibitors will provide participants with access to scores of biblical counseling resources. Among those will be BMH Books with free biblical counseling resources and books such as God’s Healing for Life’s Losses, Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, Beyond the Suffering, and Sacred Friendships.
NANC Executive Director, Randy Patten summarizes this week’s focus. “Our speakers will seek to demonstrate how the theological truths that undergird our commitment to biblical counseling should impact every area of a church’s life and ministry.”
For conference updates on Twitter follow #NANC.
Join the Conversation
Where do you turn when you’re struggling with suffering and facing besetting sins?
