| I learned much of the LCI model back in the early 90’s in a Sunday school class taught by Bill Clark before the Lay Counselor Institute even existed. The model that I learned transformed the way I looked at my own life as well as the way I saw God. In time, it propelled me to graduate school and a career in counseling. Even armed with a degree in counseling, the truths I learned through LCI are really the bedrock of how I counsel and how I aspire to live.
But, it does not stop here. My pastor and his wife have been trained through LCI and this training colors the way they shepherd at Mid-Atlantic Community Church. Through the church, I lead a LCI consultation group made up of lay counselors from inside and outside my church. Our pastor routinely refers individuals to these lay counselors. It has truly been a ‘gift that keeps on giving.’ I can think of no more worthy organization to support! |
|
|
|
||
|
There is an apparent imbalance in the lay counseling community in that men seem to be disproportionately underrepresented. It is a curious paradox that men who will selflessly run towards an outwardly-presented danger, will flee from equally loud alarms that are sounding within their own hearts, homes, and relationships. In his book “The Silence of Adam,” author Larry Crabb suggests that this tendency in men goes all the way back to the story of the fall in Genesis 3; that the true “original sin” was not in Adam and Eve’s eating from the tree, it was when Satan tempted Eve, and Adam said nothing!
That is my own story: a Certified Tough Guy who could put his “man card” up against anybody’s, who found that the weightiest conventional challenges of manhood were positively lightweight in comparison to being exposed and convicted of his own sin. But I found the Gospel of grace to be weightier than all of it, and in it came a far more visceral and appealing understanding of what it means to be a man. As a lay counselor, my own story allows me to come alongside men as one who has experienced both brokenness and redemption. I am particularly drawn to the ministry of LCI because it authentically represents the Gospel in a way that is not sweet, but strong; not scary, but fierce; a manly way. |
|
|
|
||
| The training and ongoing supervision that our lay counselors have received from LCI has been invaluable in shepherding our congregation. While we respect the role that professional counselors play in personal Christian growth, and refer our members to professionals when appropriate, one of our bedrock philosophies at APC is the belief that God equips and gifts the local congregation to minister to one another in significant ways.
Counseling is an important ministry in every church. God has used our lay counselors to help bring about real change in the lives of members in our congregation. It has been deeply encouraging to not only witness true change in the lives of our members, but also to observe the impact in the lives of our lay counselors, as they witness the Holy Spirit using them in the lives of others in ways they could not have imagined. I am a firm and enthusiastic supporter of lay counseling ministry and am thankful that the Lord has placed this rich resource, LCI’s lay counselor training in our backyard. The shepherding ministry at APC is healthier and richer because of it. |
|
|
|
|
||
|
We had discipled individuals for years, but after a cross-cultural move to the city 20 years ago, we were out of our depth with the issues many of our neighbors faced. When God told me to ‘bind up the broken hearted…provide for those who grieve,’ I had no idea what to do. When we got an invitation to LCI training I knew this was the answer.
Rick and I have both been helped personally and in our ministry by LCI training. The Glorious Mess (Level I), Lab and Level II were invaluable for our own growth; supervision groups have helped us to keep growing in our understanding of ourselves and enabled us to help many others at a much deeper level. Recently, I was able to help facilitate about 40 women from our church who sat and wept together over one another’s stories. On another occasion, about a dozen men heard the story of one of our church leaders who Rick has been able to influence. One person said, ‘This is the first time I have been able to share who I really am with people from church!’ God has used LCI mightily to help us, our family and friends in our neighborhood and church community. We are better able to embrace our dignity and depravity and we share more openly about our struggles and victories. As I sat among those women, with tears falling freely, I saw the miracle of Bill Clark’s vision for lay people being able to minister to one another unfolding in our church. I can only believe it is making God smile. |
|
|
|
||
| LCI has helped me better understand the importance of our stories and how God works in amazing ways through those stories–first through my own life and now as I work with others. Sharon Collignon, Bethany Community Church, Laurel, MD Lay counselor |
|
|
|
|
||
|
My church and I are deeply indebted to Dr. Bill Clark and the work of LCI. Hurting people have found hope, marriages have been restored, and leaders have been given tools to help people discover the life Jesus offers to any who follow Him. Rusty Coram, New Hope Community Church, Lorton, VA Senior Pastor |
|
|
|
||
| One of the many things I received in LCI was a greater awareness and understanding of how much suffering and struggle takes place in the body of Christ. I was privileged to hear stories of immense woundedness from childhood and adult relationships, and how Christ is redeeming each of those stories for His glory. Lee, Alexandria, VA Level 1, Lab and Level 2 participant |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Lay counseling at McLean Presbyterian began as a grass roots effort by several members of the church family. We sent a survey around to the church members and learned that our church was not doing well in attending to the brokenness both of our members and the larger community. As a result, a group was formed to figure out how we could better care for others. We found that the LCI model was the best fit for us. Since we began our Lay Counseling ministry several years ago, the lay counselors have been one piece of the pie in how God is moving MPC to be a care station for the hurt and broken. We have seen lay counseling begin to change the culture of our church and it began by changing us. We have a better understanding of our own brokenness and the grace God has given each of us. We are able to live more authentically ourselves and in doing, so encourage others to live the same. We have seen God transform and redeem so many lives and situations in sometimes totally unexpected ways. LCI was, and continues to be, a driving force in this change process. |
|
|
|
||