INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL COUNSELING

Objective of the College:
Our goal as a college is to motivate, train and send persons who can establish the glory and character of God; this through a process of restoration and maturity of individuals in their relationships with God, man and creation.  One essential point of this objective is to bring redemption and healing of individuals, families and communities.  The methods used to reach this objective are conscientious of the social and cultural environment in which relationships are established which permits the Gospel to be brought and to care for the whole person.

Objective of the school:
In the framework of training, we believe God has given us a broad spectrum of goals to reach in order to place challenges before the students.  Our commitment is to help each student to discover and grow in his capacity to bring healing to a wounded world through the message of the cross.

These goals are shared in three distinct but interdependent domains:

1 – Identity and knowledge of self
To develop a Christian identity and a healthy knowledge of self, understanding our own strengths and our uniqueness, as well as the domains of our personality in which there needs to be growth.  One of the biggest dangers that we face as a counselor is to confuse the inspiration of the Holy Spirit with personal perceptions and to transfer them to others (Matt 7:1-5 and Luke 6:44-45 speak to us of this).

The healthy knowledge of self is the process that permits the Lord to expose our weaknesses and to encourage our strong points.  It also protects us against the dangers mentioned above.  To know who we are in Christ helps us to establish a more authentic relation with others.  The teaching of the “Divine Plumb line” is a key tool to grow in our knowledge of self through God; the Lord reveals the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. 

2 - Relationships
To develop an appropriate level of maturity in relationships between students and staff.   Counseling works a lot towards reconciliation of broken relationships.  We believe that the message of the cross is the response to destroyed relationships.  However, to be effective counselors, this message must be inscribed “in our flesh”.  In this way we need to grow in our capacity to communicate, to listen, to forgive, and to confront, to be transparent to resolve conflict, to serve and esteem others as higher than our self.  We believe God will use the circumstances of our life in the school (work duties, interactions with speakers, students, personnel, etc.) to reveal areas in relationships in our lives that need to grow.

3 – Grace
To develop a personal revelation of the reality of the grace of God in our lives and the possibility of extending this grace to others.  An important element of our sinful nature is to miss the mark (Rom 3:23).  What is our response when we disappoint others because of an unrealized hope (or when it is our own hopes that are not realized)?  What is our reaction when someone disappoints us?  Scripture tells us that it is those who have sinned who will be saved by the grace of God (Rom 3:24).  Our reaction in face of failure, of imperfect systems and injustice, give important keys towards our experience of the grace of God.

Condition of Admission:
Have completed a Discipleship Training School
Be at least 18 years old.
Have 2/3 of the school fee at the start of school

Registration Fee:
40 Europeans Euros, non-refundable.

School Fee:
800 Europeans Euros beside cost of the practical phase
2/3 of the fee at the start