soliDEOgloria!

Hello Beloved!

I am writing as a follow-up to this weekends NANC conference. It was a joy for me to fellowship and learn with you. It was a blessing to know that you were experiencing the same thoughts, convictions, and feelings I did when I went through the NANC conference for the first time. Your response to my request to attend NANC training was overwhelmingly encouraging to me. I felt like Sarah in Genesis 21:7 when I saw all the people from OPBC who sacrificed time and money to attend. Thank you and Praise God.

Just to make sure we are on the same page, I wanted to remind you of our vision to fulfill the Great Commission and NANCs' role in helping us along the way.

1)  Jesus gave Christians a very narrow mission to fulfill during our short time on earth.

• We are grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18). This growing in grace should lead us to love the Lord with all our heart and love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:37). 
• We are to preach the Gospel to those outside of Christ and teach those inside Christ to fulfill the Great Commandment (Matthew 28:18-20).

2)  Jesus gave Christians the Church to train them to fulfill "#1" and to train others to do the same (Ephesians 4:11-16). The mission of the Church is to train Christians for evangelism and discipleship. We understand that many things are accomplished in the Church, but all things should work towards the "mission."

So, why are we spending so much time and money going to a NANC conference?

NANC is a God-given tool that comes beside the local Church to help them accomplish the mission. We are not doing a "NANC" ministry at OPBC. We are doing evangelism and discipleship. NANC is a faithful friend along the way to help us become better equipped to accomplish the mission.

ALL Christians have the responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission. ALL Christians are equipped, at differing degrees, to help others grow and change. The Scripture and the Holy Spirit are God's primary means for change. The more we know the Gospel, the Scripture, and how to help others apply it, the more able we are to help people grow. The NANC training and biblical counseling is ONE WAY that we can fulfill the Great Commission. I love this way because we are being equipped to lead ourselves and families while learning to help others.

The NANC training process has five stages. If you complete any of the stages, you will probably be better equipped than you were. If you complete all five stages, you will become even better at making disciples.

Therefore, do what you can. The five stages are as follows:

1. Three weekends of classroom training.
2. An exam with two parts (theology and counseling).
3. You must observe ten hours of counseling on DVD (I have the DVDs).
4. You must read three books out of a pool of NANC's choosing. I would strongly recommend a) Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp b) Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams c) The Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay Adams.
5. You must counsel for 50 hours under the observation (distance through filling out a form and recording sessions) of a very experienced NANC fellow (Most of the speakers at the conferences are NANC fellows).

The Elders will be taking whoever is willing by the hand and leading them step-by-step through each stage of the process. For example, after the conferences are over, I will begin a Sunday School class that teaches through each question of the exam. I will then be watching the DVDs with those who are willing, etc.

As the months go by, we will begin formalizing the counseling ministry. When you reach the stage where you must counsel, I will begin referring my outside counseling requests to you.

You remember how it was when you taught your kids to ride a bike? If you don't have kids, do you remember when you learned to ride a bike? Someone stood right behind you, letting you pedal, but holding the seat. That is what it will be like for you to go through this process. The Elders will be right behind you, keeping things moving, coaching you along, and making sure you don't fall over.

What should you do now? Take your earnestness and begin reading. I would recommend you start with Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul Tripp. If you have read that already, I would read Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams. Also, I will not take outside counseling appointments (people outside OPBC) if people are not willing allow others in to observe. I have had several requests from you to observe. When I have new appointments, I will call those who have requested to sit in to come and join me. I have already loaned out the DVDs to MG. Whoever wants them next can let her know. Please be careful with them (they cost $120).

Pray for our Master Plan Committee. If we are to do counseling we need space. Also pray for our giving as we do not want to have debt. Every time we get together to hear God's Word, we are counseling. I would recommend that you get with someone else and read a chapter a week in a book that has been recommended. Talk about it. Pray about it. The best counselees are the best counselors. Let me know if you have any questions. More details regarding our vision and planning will be coming soon. God bless!

Pastor Brian