Overview of Counseling Ministry at Copperhill Church (by Josh Sheridan)

The counseling program at Copperhill is committed to the sufficiency of the Word. This means, in essence, that this counseling ministry recognizes not only the validity of the Bible as a means of theological enlightenment, but also as essential to understanding, and handling the issues of life. This includes the wide variety of counseling issues that affect the Church.

In addition, a counseling ministry is not merely a separate entity that exists independently of other ministries. Instead, it is meant that biblical counseling is seamlessly integrated into the ministry, goals, and direction of the church as a whole. Biblical counseling, therefore, is really a form of focused discipleship based on ministering the Word of God.

The counseling ministry is dedicated to helping people in the process of conformity to the image of Christ through the loving, skillful, and practical application of biblical principles to the issues of life. This means that rather than "throw" scripture at a problem, counselors seek to partner with the counselee as in Galatians 6:1-3, coming alongside of them in order to work through the issues the counselee is struggling with. This involves a level of commitment, intimacy, and dedication seen nowhere else, but inherent in and particularly suited to the church.

It is also the believed that the ideal context for long-term growth as a believer and resolution of a given issue occurs in the context of community. Therefore ultimately the initial interactions and interventions of the counseling ministry at Copperhill Church serve functionally in a crisis management role, with long-term discipleship occurring through the shepherding done at the community group level. While no specific length of time is demanded with regards to how long a counselor spends with a counselee, it should be understood by both parties that the goal is to integrate the counselee into a community group for long-term growth and discipleship.

The principles of Matthew 18 also apply to the counseling ministry. This means that we take sin seriously, and do not seek to label it as anything other than what it is. On the other hand, it is essentially that counseling take place in a loving caring atmosphere where sin is confronted, but grace abounds. While genuine repentance is a vital aspect of true change, it is understood that some life dominating patterns that develop take time to change. With this in mind, the church discipline of Matthew 18 is applied with the spirit of grace it was meant to incorporate, while at the same time addressing an unrepentant heart in a biblical fashion.

The goal of the counseling ministry is to not merely help individuals out of difficult circumstances, or change behaviors, but to come alongside individuals so that they might grow in their maturity as a Christian and their likeness to the image of Christ. Ephesians 5:1,2 says, "Be imitators of God therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering, and sacrifice to God."

If you are interested, or know someone who might need counseling, please contact the Church office for further information.