Resource Recommendations for Counseling Ministry
By Kellye Carmack
Do you have a burden to care for the hurting people in your church? If you are a pastor’s wife, you know that much of your time could be spent in conversations with broken people who are looking to you for help and guidance. Maybe you are not formally trained in counseling, but you want to grow in your ability to minister to the people in your church. There are so many resources for people who want to develop basic counseling skills for use in your local church. Today, I want to recommend a few that have been helpful to me.
In Our Lives First: Meditations for Christian Counselors by Diane Langberg.
This work from Langberg was recommended to me when I first started counseling, and I think it’s extremely helpful to anyone in ministry as well as to those who simply want to care for those around them. The book contains forty short readings that show us how our own growth is necessary if we want to aid in the growth of others.
Shame Interrupted by Ed Welch.
I wish everyone serving in ministry would read this book, mainly because Welch does an amazing job describing the problem of shame. He explains what shame is, where it comes from, and how it deeply impacts our hearts and minds. He then points readers to God’s compassion and healing power through the gospel. I highly recommend this if you are struggling with shame, and especially if you are not affected by shame but are counseling people who do struggle with shame. Welch paints a clear picture of their struggle that can help you understand them more clearly. (Trigger warning: Welch addresses the shame we often have from past abuse and trauma, which is a good connection, but may be hard for some to read).
Speak The Truth Podcast
This podcast from Association of Biblical Counselors is full of wisdom and instruction on numerous issues you will face in counseling and caring from others. The hosts are experienced biblical counselors who take a compassionate, balanced approach to sin and suffering. Association of Biblical Counselors has other helpful resources as well as training and education opportunities that can be found on their website. (Spotify + Apple Podcasts)
Brad Hambrick serves as the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in North Carolina. He shares many helpful (and free!) resources on his website. You can even take free webinar classes from him where he teaches on how to address common counseling situations.
Learning how to care for the hurting people in your church is the first step to loving them well. If you are interested to learning more or want to talk with someone about how to minister to the specific needs in your church, we would love to talk with you! Please email us at kcarmackps@gmail.com.
Kellye is the Women’s Ministry Director for Practical Shepherding Women’s Ministry. She has an undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies and a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling. She served as a missionary in Western Europe for two years helping to share the hope of Christ with women in difficult situations. While in seminary, she met her husband Craig who is an associate pastor at their church in Louisville, KY. She loves helping women discover the unique ways God has gifted them to serve the church.