Through life experiences, everyone at some point in their lives will give counseling or advice to their family and friends. This life experience can help show others how they too can succeed and survive obstacles they may face. The best information that anyone can share is the word of God. By utilizing God’s word, one can present truth without partiality and prevent a distortion of doctrine. When meeting with someone, having them to read God’s word and search the meaning themselves, allows them to have confrontation in a loving biblical way.

Trinity Baptist College offers a counseling proficiency in Church Ministries. The courses teach you how to understand and apply God’s word in a counseling setting with the skill, integrity, authority and compassion as a counselor. This biblical counseling program equips pastors, associate pastors, teachers, missionaries, youth pastors and lay-ministry leaders to work in various ministries. These ministries can include rescue missions, homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, and crisis hot lines.

A frequent question asked by students concerns the qualification upon completion of this course of study. This degree is not structured to meet state requirements for licensing; however, this is a great foundation for those continuing work in a master’s counseling program, which does assist one in preparing for licensure of counseling. The program offers a 20 credit hour track concentration through lectures, practical counseling experience in the classroom, and the application of counseling skills with a solid biblical foundation in a practicum program. There is also class work and outside assignments that will empower one to implement his or her skills and knowledge immediately.

The counseling program emphasizes the importance of using the word of God as the authoritative standard for counseling soul problems (Prov. 12:15). Proverbs 19:20 teaches that with counsel and instruction, we grow in wisdom and maturity. This growth prepares students from diverse backgrounds to provide practical, straight-forward counseling that is Christ-centered, salvation-centered, church-centered and Bible-centered.

Through counseling, one not only gains insight and knowledge to help others, but what is learned can benefit the individual and help in any ministry that God places before you.