Editor’s Notice: This week’s mini-series on the Grace and Reality Weblog offers annual updates from a number of of the key biblical counseling organizations. On this ultimate article, Christine Chappell offers an replace on the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship. In different contributions to the sequence, Jeremy Lelek presents an replace on the Affiliation of Biblical Counselors, Brian Stenson shares in regards to the Christian Counseling and Training Basis, Jeff Christianson offers an replace on the Worldwide Affiliation of Biblical Counselors, and Dale Johnson offers an replace on the Affiliation of Licensed Biblical Counselors.
“The Netflix of biblical counseling.” That’s what one convention attendee known as the Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship earlier this 12 months. It was a contemporary tackle our on-demand video assets. In truth, the remark made our workforce members smile. IBCD has lengthy been considered a trusted coaching heart within the biblical counseling motion—actually, our expansive assortment of digital content material has helped to solidify that standing. However to listen to this specific perspective was encouraging. We’ve labored arduous to enhance our subscription performance in recent times by the launch of IBCD Join. By God’s grace, the brand new platform at the moment serves hundreds of energetic customers as they search accessible, reasonably priced, self-paced coaching in gospel care. (And to make certain, our video subscriptions are literally cheaper than Netflix!)
Updates to Our Care & Discipleship Course
With main web site overhauls now behind us, our workforce is re-energized. As we glance to the longer term and search God’s will for brand spanking new tasks, we’ve additionally thought-about tips on how to enhance upon a few of our popular-yet-dated assets. This previous September, we took an enormous step towards the latter by launching an in-person coaching sequence at Cornerstone West LA. The intention of this four-part sequence is two-fold: over 100 persons are getting geared up to supply gospel care of their native church by attending these periods, and we’re filming contemporary talks to exchange a few of the older recordings in our coaching curriculum. We plan to combine these new movies into our Care & Discipleship Course whereas additionally preserving a few of our “traditional” content material.
Translated Coaching Assets
One other method we’ve improved upon current content material is thru the interpretation of our complete Care & Discipleship Course and 6 commentary movies into Spanish. Entry to those assets shall be made obtainable to IBCD Join subscribers in early 2025. As well as, we proceed to companion with people and organizations around the globe to deliver biblical counseling to native church communities. A lot of our coaching assets are being utilized totally free in locations like Madagascar, Ukraine, and China. We depend it a blessing and privilege to steward our soul care content material on this method. The worldwide growth of gospel care is superb information for folks of each nation, tribe, and tongue.
New Remark Video
Maybe one of many choices for which IBCD is greatest identified (apart from internet hosting the most important free audio useful resource library within the biblical counseling motion!) is its commentary movies. Thus far, we’ve launched commentary case research on subjects akin to home abuse, bipolar dysfunction, pornography, regrets, consuming issues, and on a regular basis struggles. We’re now happy to share that we’re including a model new case research to the gathering in 2025! The subject? Disgrace. Filming has already wrapped with Dr. Jenn Chen and we sit up for seeing this venture come collectively over the following few months. This new product will improve our sturdy commentary library by demonstrating tips on how to minister God’s Phrase to these dwelling with disgrace. IBCD Join subscribers may have quick entry to this content material upon its launch.
2024 Summer season Institute Recordings Launched
For those who’re beginning to sense that IBCD Join is now the key hub for our premium digital content material—you’d be proper. A lot of our newest assets are funneled into the subscription platform for the advantage of our customers. For instance, all of the plenary and breakout session recordings from our 2024 Summer season Institute are actually obtainable for our subscribers to stream. Nonetheless, these convention audios is not going to be launched to most people till mid-2025. The truth that IBCD Join is being regularly replenished with new on-demand content material makes it a invaluable addition to any biblical counselor’s toolbox.
2025 Summer season Institute & Pre-Convention
This previous June, we returned to New Life Presbyterian Church in La Mesa, CA, for our annual Summer season Institute & Pre-Convention. IBCD has a wealthy historical past with this location—we provided neighborhood counseling in its workplaces many years in the past! It was a significant and memorable homecoming, made all of the extra particular by the attendees, volunteers, audio system, and exhibitors in attendance. Whereas this 12 months’s main themes included trendy drugs and nurturing relationships, our 2025 themes sort out the subjects of grief and knowledge. Hosted by Calvary Bible Church in Burbank, CA, the pre-conference will characteristic Paul Tautges and others as they discover grief and gospel therapeutic for hurting hearts. For the principle convention, we welcome plenary audio system Keith Palmer, Kim Kira, Jay Underwood, Jim Newheiser, and Scott Mehl as they assist us contemplate tips on how to apply the Bible’s historic knowledge to a contemporary world. Discounted registration charges (each in-person and digital) can be found now by February 28th, 2025.
New Articles and Podcast Episodes
Not all the pieces IBCD has to supply is behind a paywall. We regularly hear constructive suggestions from those that make the most of our free audio useful resource library of their native church ministry. We try to make our assets free (or low-cost) at any time when attainable. And due to the continuing generosity of our donors and supporting church companions, we’re capable of accomplish that objective by the curation of latest content material on our weblog and podcast. Over the previous twelve months, our “Hope + Assist Podcast” has obtained over 70,000 downloads and produced 13 new episodes, spanning subjects akin to melancholy, perfectionism, church damage, abortion, pornography in marriage, ready on God, and unanswered prayer. Our weblog has provided biblical knowledge on serving to panicked folks, coping with tough in-laws, fathers and household worship, caring for these with church damage, encouraging mother and father of wayward kids, serving to a weary pal, course for post-lament moments, and extra.
One other 12 months, Identical Mission
The complete workforce at IBCD—Jim Newheiser, Scott Mehl, Don Roy, Lauren Sterling, Tanya Wilson, and I are so grateful for the Lord’s ongoing faithfulness to our ministry. We contemplate ourselves stewards of a beloved group that took root within the early Eighties below the management of George Scipione. As we enter into 2025 with a way of anticipation, we additionally replicate on the contributions of these upon whose shoulders we stand. Many brothers and sisters have invested their time, expertise, and treasure into IBCD. Constructing on the inspiration of God’s Phrase and the fellowship of His folks, we hope to proceed equipping the native church in one-another look after years to come back.
